Important Playground Safety Tips for Kids

Like most children my kids enjoy playing at one of our neighborhood playgrounds. Within a 5 minute drive we have three different ones to choose from. Playgrounds typically offer swings, sliding boards, jungle gyms, ball fields, merry-go-rounds, etc. for children to play on.

I’m a protective mother and never send my children alone to a playground. If they go…they always have to have a responsible adult along with them. In addition, I talk to my kids regularly about playground safety and stranger – danger. Your kids are never to young to learn how to keep themselves safe.

Why are playgrounds so important for children? They offer kids the physical exercise that they need, allow them to learn social cues from other children, learn good sportsmanship, sharing, and of course they get outside into the fresh air.

Here are some Important Playground Safety Tips for Kids.

1. Always have a responsible adult present. This designated person needs to keep their eyes on the child and not stuck in their cellphone. It’s their responsibility to know where the child is at…at all times.

2. Stranger – Danger. Have that all too important talk with your child about not talking to strangers, don’t get into cars with strangers and to not be lured away by a stranger promising them candy, toys, baby animals, etc. Have kids play together in pairs or groups…never alone. There’s better safety in numbers.

3. Dress your child in appropriate clothing! They should wear shoes that are firmly attached to their feet (no flip-flops or sandals) and be dressed for the current weather conditions. Please keep in mind that during high temperature days that equipment can heat up and burn a child’s delicate skin. During bitterly cold days skin can get frost bitten quite easily.

4. Keep accessories at home. Some children like to wear jewelry, carry little purses, backpacks, etc. These type’s of items can cause harm to a child who’s playing on equipment. Don’t allow your child to wear ear buds or headphones while at the playground. They can’t hear a potential predator coming. Keep it simple and leave that stuff at home.

5. Health. If your child isn’t feeling well keep them at home. Children who over-exert themselves while feeling ill can cause themselves additional health problems.

6. Hydration. Kids can dehydrate much quicker than an adult. Bring along bottled water and remind your child to drink ~ especially during those hot summertime days.

7. Emergencies. Teach kids what to do if YOU should have an emergency. You could pass-out, become confused, fall and break your leg, etc. They should stay with you and YELL to get the attention of other adults. They shouldn’t run off to try to find help which opens them up to predator snatching.

8. Identification. Make sure your child has identification on them along with all of your contact information. If they should get separated from you…people need to know how to contact you. You can place all of this information on a piece of paper and tuck it into your child’s shoe. You can use a skin-safe marker and write the info on their forearm, etc.

9. The Extras. Bring along sunscreen, bug spray, antibacterial hand wash, snack bars, bottled water, change of clothes (if you’re going to be there for awhile), wet wipes, one cellphone for emergency calls, etc.

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Every time we go to the playground, an amusement park, to the shopping mall, a school or scouting outing, etc. I like for my kids to wear a reusable identification wristband which contains emergency contact information. This is especially important for younger children who aren’t talking yet or remembering the important things that you’re teaching them. You can buy them from Amazon for a really affordable price.

I make my kids use hand sanitizer as soon as they’re done playing. Once we get home I have them change their clothing and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water. Thousands of kids play on that equipment and you’re bringing all of those germs home!  Prevention is the key to the spread of germs and bacteria.