Metroparks’ parks have tons of amazing playgrounds for kids to enjoy. Bringing your kids to a local playground is an opportunity for exercise, social interactions, imaginative play, and fun. Fun, however, can quickly turn into minor or more serious injuries without proper supervision and attention to safety guidelines.
With more than 200,000 playground-related injuries treated each year, parents and teachers need to be aware of potential hazards. Understanding recommended playground guidelines and teaching children to use equipment safely goes a long way toward preventing injuries. Here’s how to ensure your kids have a blast while playing, exploring, and learning safely.
Arrive Prepared
Ensuring a fun and safe time at the playground starts before leaving home. Dressing in appropriate clothing can protect your child from injuries and weather-related illnesses. Avoid clothing that could get caught on equipment, such as drawstrings, necklaces, and baggy clothing. Have children wear sturdy footwear that is good for running and climbing. Sandals can be slippery on the equipment, and loose shoes could fall off, leaving feet exposed for potential injury.
Put on sunscreen before leaving the house and bring some to reapply. Make sure to stock up your bag with snacks, plenty of water, and extra clothing on a cold day. You can be prepared to treat minor injuries by bringing a small first aid kit stocked with bandages and cleaning supplies.
Asses the Playground
As tempting as starting to play immediately upon arrival is, doing a quick assessment first can prevent many unnecessary injuries. Keep the weather in mind as wet equipment can be slippery, and extreme heat on summer days can make certain equipment hot to the touch. Scan the area for hazards such as broken glass, damaged equipment, and other potential risks for your children. For new walkers, this could be changing ground levels or a tree root sticking up. With children under age 5, be aware of any openings with steep drops.
If you find broken equipment, alert the playground owner or municipal parks and recreation. In hot weather, look for playgrounds with shady areas for breaks. You’ll also want to choose playgrounds with age-appropriate equipment for your children. Many parks will have signs indicating age levels for each playground section. For the safety of all, kids should play in designated age and developmentally appropriate areas.
Teach the Rules and Boundaries
Every trip to a playground is an opportunity to teach kids about safety. Remind them of general rules before you arrive, such as keeping their hands to themselves and taking turns on equipment. Have a plan for taking a break or leaving the playground if they don’t follow the rules and are at risk of putting themselves or others in danger.
Once you arrive, take a few moments to review any guidelines about the equipment at that playground. If there are swings, let your children know they should sit, swing one at a time, and not walk too closely behind or in front of the area. Kids should only go down slides, not climb up the slide portion. Remind them to wait their turn and check that other sliders, especially younger kids, have left the area before going down the slide. When sliding, go feet first to avoid head injuries.
It’s typically best for kids to use climbing equipment one at a time. Help children who are not used to heights create a plan for getting down before they climb. Usually, climbing down backward with you to encourage and guide them works best. And let the more fearless children know which platforms are too high for jumping off to prevent injuries.
Provide Appropriate Supervision
All young children should have adult supervision while playing on playground equipment. The potential for injury is higher for children under age 3 who are less steady on their feet, likely to climb to heights higher than they can handle, and may not understand the danger of steep drops. It’s best to keep toddlers in areas designed for their ages and stay within arms’ reach.
Keep within eyesight of older children. Be ready to intervene if they are not following the rules or are having issues with other children on the playground. Sometimes, a break and reminder of the rules are enough to get back on track. Other times, it is best to leave and try again on another day.
All your efforts preparing for the trip and teaching your children about playground safety mean it is now time for some fun! Visit one of the 11 Huron-Clinton Metro Parks with playgrounds. Indian Springs Metropark features two playgrounds. North Meadowlark picnic area contains a splash pad, adventure maze, rock-climbing wall, cargo net, painted labyrinth, bucket spinners, and a hillside slide. The South Meadowlark picnic area has a large wooden play structure and swings. Kids of all ages will love exploring Lake St. Clair Metropark’s playground with two play structures for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, swings, and challenging rope structures.
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