Just because she's pint-sized doesn't mean your babe or toddler is also footling for the playground! In fact, you'll be helping to develop your child's gross motor skills as she explores the swings, sandbox and slide. And a visit to the playground can hateful you both might make some new friends, too.

But beyond practicing coordination, building muscles and honing social skills, your kid's safety should exist your top priority. Always supervise your baby or toddler and check each play area for condom earlier your child uses it. For safe tips by the ages, here's how to prowl the grounds with your fiddling cruiser.

Why is playground prophylactic so important?

Unfortunately, more 200,000 kids are injured on playgrounds each year, in office because of a lack of supervision by parents as well equally falls from equipment and other gear-related hazards. Safe on the playground is vital for kids as not every apparatus is designed for all age ranges and some items may have hidden dangers, including broken or worn out pieces that make them unsafe.

All kids too demand to be taught the ground rules (taking turns, no pushing) when they're on swings or climbing a jungle gym. And because playing is hard work, proper footwear similar sneakers or other sporty shoes is a must. Exist sure to skip hooded sweatshirts with strings, scarves and necklaces that may snag on play gear.

Exist mindful of playground surfaces and avoid concrete or asphalt. Instead, cull rubber substances underfoot like wood chips, sand, pea gravel, synthetic turf or rubber mats. Soft materials should exist 12 inches deep and all types should extend half dozen feet around in-basis equipment. For swings, safe surfaces should stretch to double the top of the set up's top.

Playground safe tips for babies

While your baby may non be walking or even crawling still, it'due south withal of import to keep safety in mind at the playground. Keep an hawkeye heart on her at all times and behave these safety tips in listen:

Go along Reading Below

  • Buckle up. If the park has babe bucket-manner swings, by month vii, your baby is probably one-time enough to have a gentle spin. Wait for seats made from rubber, plastic or canvas, and buckle your baby with the safety strap.
  • Cheque the clearance. Be sure the set is deeply attached to the basis with a half-dozen-foot swing clearance on the sides, at to the lowest degree 24 inches between seats and just two swings per section.
  • Assistance her slide… Virtually babies can't tackle the slide alone so stand at the side and glide her gently downwards on her bottom — and e'er position her anxiety first.
  • …just don't slide together. As beautiful as it seems, don't be tempted to ride the slide with your baby on your lap. Information technology'due south not safety, as kids' legs tin can get caught or hurt on the descent.
  • Sift the sand. Yup, do a quick cheque of this material for any cleaved drinking glass or other droppings. And since she'll no doubtfulness want to gustatory modality the sand, sit next to her to discourage the practice!
  • Climb with assist. Merely as with the slide, you'll need to guide your little climber (or literally support her the whole way) equally she attempts to climb playground gear.

Playground condom tips for toddlers

Older tots tin can do a lot more on the playground, but they still crave supervision from yous and some safety reminders (or a helping hand) when they use the equipment.

  • Sit down — don't stand up. Exist sure your toddler sits bottom downward on the swing, rather than dangle on her tum, kneel or try to stand up. But i person should swing per seat, and remind your tot to concur on while in move and let the swing stop earlier getting off.
  • Walk with intendance. Point out to your toddler that walking too closely in front of or backside the swings could knock her over. Show her how to brand a broad arc effectually the swing set.
  • Anxiety first. Some bigger kids are daredevils, and then be certain your child uses the slide on her bottom with her feet forward — not head first or on her stomach.
  • Leave rapidly. Kids should leave the bottom of the slide as soon as they arrive and never climb back up it (someone could be careening downwards at the same time).
  • Slide ane at a time. No teaming up on the slide, please. Toddlers should descend one at a fourth dimension and merely after the slide and bottom area are articulate of other kids.
  • Arise slowly. Teach your tot to hold the rails of any apparatus with both easily and climb the slide stairs and jungle gyms carefully.
  • Watch for sharp edges. Metallic equipment may sport pointy parts and nails or screws may beetle from wooden structures. Requite these pieces a once-over and and so a laissez passer if you spy annihilation sharp. Ditto for rusty patches or peeling paint, which may contain pb.
  • Seesaw smart. Older toddlers may have plenty coordination to endeavour this piece out, though the ane-per-seat dominion still applies. Discover a child of like age to sit opposite yours and show her how to concur the bar with two hands and point her feet out to the sides.

How to teach your child virtually playground safety

It's not as well early to point out some playground safety rules to your baby or toddler, like waiting for other kids to go off earlier you take a plough on a piece of equipment and never shoving or rushing someone on the slide or swings. Always explicate the right way to apply an appliance, which means sitting down to swing, never climbing up the slide and staying inside the railings at the acme of a slide or jungle gym.

It's as well smart to prove your kid how to exam the surfaces of jungle gym confined, swings and slides, as contact burns from hot metallic or plastic are possible. And avoid wet equipment and play surfaces, which may be slippery and could cause falls. Bikes and backpacks should be kept abroad from equipment to prevent tripping.

Kids dearest to jump, as you're rapidly learning, and so warn your child to brand sure no one is in the style if they're going to leap off the slide bottom or jump the last stride of a climbing structure. For the safest landing, have her end upward on both feet with knees bent. And don't forget to apply sunscreen and wearing apparel your babe or toddler in a hat — even on cloudy days — to foreclose sunburn.

Playground fun can merely be successful if safe is kept top of mind. With close supervision, the right clothing and shoes and some unproblematic rules confronting rough play around the equipment, your baby or toddler will take the time of her life at the playground (she may never want to go out!).