You’re visiting a new playground with your little one. You can see the excitement and anticipation in their eyes, and you’re excited too! But you can’t help but feel a little nervous. How can you tell if it’s safe? Does my child know how to use it properly? How can I make sure that they have fun while being as safe as possible?

Whether it’s a garden climbing frame or your local park, playground equipment is a wonderful way to test and develop your child’s physical skills. There are also inevitable safety concerns, but the risks can be minimised if you know what to teach your child, and what to look out for regarding the quality of the equipment.

Let’s have a look at some potential hazards whilst using playground equipment.

What should I look out for when my child is using playground equipment?

Here are the top things to look out for when your little one is playing:

Children under 5 should play separately from older children. This is because a younger child will want to mimic older children, even when they haven’t developed the physical skills to do so. This could lead to bumps and bruises.

If the playground equipment is surrounded by concrete or asphalt, they could injure themselves accidentally falling from climbing frames or swings.

Wooden structures can splinter if not made from the correct materials, and metal structures can get hot come the summer months.

Equipment wears down over time. Joints become loose, open chains could break and bolts can rust. The rusted bolts and pins can become sharp and pointy.

Swings can potentially be a hazard, as your child might get in front or behind someone on the swing, and get hit.

If it is hot enough, or not well maintained, your child could hurt their feet if they’re wearing open-toed shoes or running barefoot.

If a child stays at the bottom of a slide when they come down, they might get hit in the back by the next child coming down the slide. This can also happen if your child attempts to climb back up the slide, rather than using the ladder.

Seesaws shouldn’t be used by children under three, as they don’t have the arm and leg coordination to use the equipment. If your child uses it with someone whose age and weight are different, they can hurt themselves and others.

Trampolines, whilst fun, are a major hazard, and it is extremely hard to reduce the risk of injury, even when under constant adult supervision.

Now that we know the hazards to look out for, we’ve got some solutions and strategies to minimise harm to your little one.

How can I make sure the playground is safe?

Have a look at our top solutions for avoiding potential accidents in the playground:

Make sure there is well-maintained sand, wood chips, or rubberised material around playground equipment. This can stop injuries from any trips and falls, and is far safer than concrete or asphalt.

All-weather wood is less likely to splinter than regular wood. Check to see that wooden structures are smooth. In the summer months, check the temperature of metal equipment yourself before allowing your child to play on it.

Conduct regular inspections of playground equipment. If you see structures breaking down with rust, or bolts coming loose, report the hazards to the proper authorities. They should have the relevant contact information somewhere around the playground. At home, cover them up with protective rubber.

Teach your child never to walk in front or behind a swing when someone is using it. They might need to be told a dozen times before they really understand the rule and why it’s important!

Your child should be wearing closed-toe shoes to prevent hurting their feet whilst playing.

Teach your child that when they’re using a slide they should always climb up the ladder. Make sure they know how to wait their turn, and to move quickly when they get to the bottom of the slide.

It’s best to avoid trampolines altogether, but if they must be used:

Make sure it’s placed at surface level away from potential hazards.

Inspect it often and check for rust or broken parts. Replace parts immediately, or contact the authority in charge.

Only allow one person on the trampoline at a time.

Do not allow your child to do somersaults and flips, as they could land on their head or neck.

There must always be adult supervision.

How can I make sure my child is safe in a playground?

Playground safety tips for kids from Unii.