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