6 Tips for keep daycare kids safe in indoor playground.

Every year, many children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries sustained on playgrounds, so it is important to ensure that playgrounds are safe.Injuries to children are caused partly by unsupervised children falling off equipment or hitting hard surfaces, and partly by poor design and lack of maintenance of play equipment.

Here are 6 tips I’ve compiled on how to ensure playground safety for children in daycare:

1.Design play areas for different age groups.

1. You can choose to create separate play areas for different age groups (such as toddlers and school-age children) to ensure that toddlers do not come into contact with difficult play equipment and avoid injuries.
2. The size and complexity of the playground equipment needs to match the physical ability of the children. For example, toddlers are suitable for playing with primary equipment such as soft bags and small slides, while school-age children are suitable for playing with equipment with a certain degree of challenge such as ninjas and zip lines.
3. You can mark the appropriate age and height range on each piece of play equipment to encourage children to play on playground equipment suitable for their age.
4. You need to maintain a safe distance between play equipment and avoid overcrowding to prevent children from colliding during play.

2.Regularly check whether there are any safety hazards in the playground

You need to arrange staff to regularly check the following:

1. Check whether the amusement equipment is faulty or damaged, whether the screws, parts, and guardrails are old and loose, and whether the equipment is rusty or corroded.
2. Put away small toys on the ground and clear the debris to prevent children from falling when running on the field.
3. Check whether there are sharp corners on the edges of the amusement equipment to prevent children from getting injured while playing.
4. Clean and disinfect the touchable surfaces in the playground every day to prevent the spread of diseases.
5. Ensure that the passages and exits in the playground are unobstructed to prevent collisions.
6. Lay anti-slip and shock-absorbing materials on the ground to reduce the impact of falls and reduce the severity of injuries.

3.Guide children to wear clothes that fit them properly

You need to avoid having children wear scarves, necklaces, clothing with strings, or loose or ill-fitting clothing when going to the playground, as these items can get entangled in play equipment, causing falls or even strangulation.

4.Establish clear daycare playground safety rules

Daycare playground staff need to pass on safety rules to children and supervise in the playground to ensure that the rules are strictly enforced and unsafe behaviors are corrected in a timely manner.

Specific rules:

Avoid children from pushing and shoving, and avoid physical contact. Do not let children use playground equipment incorrectly, such as standing on swings, climbing guardrails, etc. Do not let children stand on high places and jump down. Remind children and parents to keep their personal belongings. When using amusement equipment, children should line up in an orderly manner and use them one by one. When the swing is in use, do not let children stand in front of or behind the swing.

5.Strengthen adult supervision

Encourage parents or guardians to accompany children in the playground and monitor their behavior to ensure they are always within safe limits. Pay special attention to unaccompanied children to ensure they are properly cared for and supervised. Provide parent rest areas so that parents can rest within sight while keeping an eye on their children's activities.

6.Playground safety training

1. Staff members need to use a checklist to conduct daily visual inspections to check for small animals, debris, and to maintain the normal operation of the equipment.
2. Staff members should be proficient in supervising children, including anticipating dangerous situations, responding to accidents in a timely manner, and ensuring that children comply with playground rules.
3. Staff members should be trained in first aid and CPR to fully respond to injuries and emergencies
4. Staff members should be trained to learn how to identify worn or damaged parts and the corresponding treatment methods