| Finding a safe place for your child to play | | | | anchored at both ends. The swings should be |
| can be very hard sometimes. Slides, swings | | | | a bucket type, of soft shock absorbing |
| and jungle gyms are a dream come true for | | | | materials. To prevent head injuries the |
| most children, but can be a nightmare for | | | | swings should be twenty four inches apart and |
| parents when they come home with black eyes, | | | | thirty inches form the support posts. All of |
| bumps, bruises and broken limbs.Whether you | | | | the rings and other openings should be |
| are looking for a play set for home or | | | | designed to prevent head entrapment. All of |
| looking at a public playground, make sure it | | | | the metal should be painted or treated to |
| is age appropriate. If you are looking for | | | | avoid rusting. If there is any wood, it |
| equipment to use at home; look for something | | | | should also be treated to prevent rotting. |
| that is adjustable as your child grows. For | | | | The treatment used should be with shellac |
| your toddlers, look for something that is no | | | | paint because some wood treatment is made |
| higher than six feet at its topmost point. | | | | with arsenic-based material.The playground |
| The play platforms should be no higher than | | | | equipment should be in good repair and |
| four feet from the ground and have | | | | checked regularly for broken or missing |
| guardrails. They should also be easy to get | | | | parts. If you are at a park and see it in a |
| down from. The playground slide should be no | | | | poor condition, you should report it to the |
| more than a 30 degree incline. It should | | | | local parks department. You should avoid the |
| also be at least twenty two inches deep. If | | | | playground until it is fixed.The surfaces |
| the slide is more than four feet high, then | | | | under the playground should be soft. Remove |
| it should have raised sides.Make sure the | | | | all rocks and tree roots. You can either put |
| play equipment is safe. When you are looking | | | | down play sand, wood chips, sawdust, bark or |
| for a play system, look for a system that | | | | other shock absorbing material. Do not rely |
| says the manufacturer followed the guidelines | | | | on your grassy yard because it still could be |
| of the American Society for the Testing of | | | | dangerous, even fatal. Injuries are possible |
| Materials or of the Consumer Product Safety | | | | on this surface even if the fall is from a |
| Commission. The equipment should be sturdy | | | | foot above. The shock absorbing material |
| in construction. Make sure it is correctly | | | | should extend six feet from the play |
| assembled, follow the instructions exactly | | | | area.Make sure that your toddler isn't |
| and make sure it is firmly anchored in | | | | wearing a cape, floppy sleeves, flowing |
| concrete. The concrete should be covered in | | | | clothes or any other clothing that can be |
| earth or a soft padding. The play system | | | | entangled in the equipment. This can cause a |
| should be set at least six feet from fences | | | | strangulation hazard. Any play equipment is |
| or walls.You should avoid swings with S-like | | | | only as safe the supervision a child playing |
| hooks; these can pop out easily with vigorous | | | | on it gets. |
| swinging. The climbing rope should be | | | | |