As children play, they learn. It is essential as a parent that you provide them with a safe place to explore their world, interact with other children and learn as they have fun. A great way to accomplish all this is to get a backyard kids playground. This provides your children with a safe enclosed area to play and get out of the house. In order for the investment to actually be safe and enjoyable, however, there are several safety factors that you must consider.
The most important part is selecting a proper surfacing material. Falls will happen, there is no doubt about that, and the material your children fall onto can make the difference between a scraped knee that a kiss can cure and a broken limb that requires a trip to the emergency room. A highly recommended material is rubber mulch. Perfect for breaking a fall, this spongy material lasts a lifetime, is low in cost and is easy to maintain. Whether you choose this material or another, it should be a foot in depth and extend out at least six feet from the kids playground equipment. This will help ensure the surface is adequate to provide proper safety.
Before you install a kids playground in your backyard, look for tripping hazards in your yard. This could include tree stumps, rocks, or uneven ground. Level everything out and remove obstacles to avoid an injury. Many families have more than one play structure. This can make for hours of enjoyable play, but it can be a safety issue. If you have multiple structures that have platforms which are more than 30 inches off the ground, make sure each is set at least nine feet apart. This will ensure that if a child has a fall, an injury will not be caused by running into another structure. Swings, teeter totters and others with large moving parts should be set in a separate area altogether.
As you select the right kids playground equipment for your family, keep in mind the age range of a specific set. Many sets try to accommodate as large of an age range as possible so it remains enjoyable for your children year after year. However, toddlers on equipment designed for older children are in danger because the proportion of the playground to them is not correct. Older children may have a tendency to be rough with equipment that is designed for younger kids.
Always ask the playground builder on the best options available.