How to keep children safe on the playground?

Wear the right clothes

Playground safety begins with your child wearing the right clothing. Go for closed-toe shoes and avoid laces that could loosen and get trapped in equipment. Loose clothing can also catch on equipment and cause falls or strangulation risks. Remove your kids' bicycle helmets before they play, as helmets can lead to head entrapment in tight spaces.

Set some ground rules

"Before you let your kids step foot on the playground, be sure to lay out some ground rules," Dr. Gina Posner, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, tells Betta. "Your rules might include taking turns, using equipment properly and keeping their hands to themselves." 

Keep it age-appropriate

The safest playground for your child is one that's geared toward their age group. "Always check out the age recommendations for the play equipment you let your little one explore," advises Posner. For smaller kids, choose playgrounds that have a separate play area for younger children, and remember that playgrounds with soft floors are better at absorbing the shock of a fall. 

However much you want to join in the fun, don't be tempted to take young kids down a slide on your lap. According to Posner, kids frequently catch a leg or other body part underneath the parent, leading to injury. 

Do a quick recon

As soon as you arrive at the playground, give it a quick once over. Check that the path to and from the play equipment is clear of hazards. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, elevated surfaces like platforms and ramps should have guardrails to prevent falls, play structures more than 30 inches high should be spaced at least 9 feet apart, and surfaces around playground equipment should have at least 12 inches of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel or be mats made of rubber or rubberlike materials. 

Keep your eyes open

Your kids might be happy to be left to their own devices on the playground, but that doesn't mean you don't need to supervise them. "The single most important tip I can give is to always watch your child," says Posner. "You don’t have to hover, but you should not be looking at your phone or distracted. Kids can get hurt anywhere, but if you see your child doing something that might be risky, you need to be able to stop it immediately." 

Watch the weather

A warm day may seem to present the perfect opportunity to visit the playground, but the combination of heat and metal equipment can end in tears. "Touch the equipment before allowing your child to go on," suggests Ganjian. "Sometimes, the sun can increase the temperature so much it causes children's skin to burn." To be safe, avoid bare metal slides and steps completely and go for playgrounds with plenty of shaded or covered areas. If you're heading to the playground after rain, watch out for puddles and stagnant water — according to KidsHealth from Nemours, it takes less than 1 inch of water for a small child to drown. 

Know your child's limits

You can encourage your child to be adventurous without putting them at risk. The key is to know their limits, says Posner. Make sure they're using the equipment how it was intended to be used, and consider it a good general rule that if they're jumping off a high play structure, you should probably stop them.  

Remember these tips, and you and your kids can enjoy your time on the playground — and keep out of the emergency room.