By Todd Leavitt
Warmer air will soon be causing kids to hit the grass in hard active play. Whether it's playing football, basketball or exploring the wonders of a swing set or rough housing in the front yard, the first priority should be to keep our kids safe. Accidents can happen in a blink of an eye, that's why smaller children should be supervised during play. Many homes across America have decided to add excitement to their yard by the addition of playground sets. While this can bring many hours of family fun and excitement, care should be taken to keep the play a happy experience. There are a few things that you should look for on new sets and old.
If you have wooden swing sets, you should inspect the structure of the set. The corners should be rounded to avoid a nasty injury due to trips or falls. Any wood that is cracked and splintered should be replaced.
Swing sets are assembled with many nuts and bolts. As a precaution you should do a walk around and make sure that there are no protruding or loose bolts that can pierce skin or snag clothes. Carefully tighten any loose connectors and replace any rusted parts. A light oil can be applied to bolts to prevent rusting.
If your set has a rope ladder, rock wall or rope swing, inspect each of these for signs of weathering and replace if needed. Check the handholds on the rock wall to make sure that they are secure.
Swing set chains should be covered with a thick coating to prevent hands and fingers from getting a nasty pinch, and the seats should be inspected for cracks that can cause a dangerous fall.
While it is important to inspect the playground sets, it is also important to make sure that each child remembers to play safe on the set. When it comes to a child's safety, make sure that they aren't wearing any clothing that can get caught and cause a choking hazard. Children should wear well-fitting shoes- flip flops and sandals can get caught in planks and make them trip.
Inform children that pushing and pulling isn't tolerated on the equipment. Many accidents happen this way simply because they become over excited. On hot days it is a good idea to keep an eye on the kids to make sure that they are not getting over heated. Encourage them to take a break and enjoy a cool beverage while playing.
Wooden swing sets are a great addition, keeping kids safe should be the most important.
Warmer air will soon be causing kids to hit the grass in hard active play. Whether it's playing football, basketball or exploring the wonders of a swing set or rough housing in the front yard, the first priority should be to keep our kids safe. Accidents can happen in a blink of an eye, that's why smaller children should be supervised during play. Many homes across America have decided to add excitement to their yard by the addition of playground sets. While this can bring many hours of family fun and excitement, care should be taken to keep the play a happy experience. There are a few things that you should look for on new sets and old.
If you have wooden swing sets, you should inspect the structure of the set. The corners should be rounded to avoid a nasty injury due to trips or falls. Any wood that is cracked and splintered should be replaced.
Swing sets are assembled with many nuts and bolts. As a precaution you should do a walk around and make sure that there are no protruding or loose bolts that can pierce skin or snag clothes. Carefully tighten any loose connectors and replace any rusted parts. A light oil can be applied to bolts to prevent rusting.
If your set has a rope ladder, rock wall or rope swing, inspect each of these for signs of weathering and replace if needed. Check the handholds on the rock wall to make sure that they are secure.
Swing set chains should be covered with a thick coating to prevent hands and fingers from getting a nasty pinch, and the seats should be inspected for cracks that can cause a dangerous fall.
While it is important to inspect the playground sets, it is also important to make sure that each child remembers to play safe on the set. When it comes to a child's safety, make sure that they aren't wearing any clothing that can get caught and cause a choking hazard. Children should wear well-fitting shoes- flip flops and sandals can get caught in planks and make them trip.
Inform children that pushing and pulling isn't tolerated on the equipment. Many accidents happen this way simply because they become over excited. On hot days it is a good idea to keep an eye on the kids to make sure that they are not getting over heated. Encourage them to take a break and enjoy a cool beverage while playing.
Wooden swing sets are a great addition, keeping kids safe should be the most important.
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