Playground Safety Search

Whether going to a new playground or to your regular neighborhood playground, make it a rule to go on a Playground Safety Search.

What you need:

• Playground Safety Checklist (HTML | PDF)
• Ruler or meter stick

At the playground, you will:

Use the Playground Safety Checklist and the ruler or meter stick as you work with your child to check the equipment and playground surface.

Set up rules:

• Based on conditions at the playground, set rules for your child’s safety.
  For example:
  • If there is no guardrail around the slide platform, make the slide “off limits.”
  • If tree roots and rocks are exposed, then walk off “out of bounds” lines with your child to keep him/her away from tripping hazards.
• Give children the chance to act responsibly. If you have more than one child in your care, set up a buddy system. Each child looks out for another and comes to let you know if there is a problem.

Play Tip: Read "Play Day in the Park (PDF)," a Building Blocks Easy Reader, starring all the Friends. As you read the book with your child, talk about ways the Friends have fun and play safely.

Related Article: Monitoring Playground Safety

Quiz for Parents: Playground Safety Quiz