Keeping The Little Ones Safe Outdoors
In an increasingly frightening world, youd like to think your children could at least be safe at the playground
. Kids by their nature dont play as cautiously as many parents would like, making even playgrounds into a potential source of harm or injury. Unfortunately, far too many play areas are simply not protective enough for most children. While there are several playgrounds which have adopted safer surfaces, like synthetic turf, for children to play on, there are still some tips which can help keep your little ones safe while playing outside.
Check Your Surfaces
The surface of the play area is where your child will spend most of their time running and playing. Theyre probably going to take several spills on that surface as well, so its important to know which materials are best suited to protect your kids.
Asphalt or concrete, while becoming more rare, are still prevalent in older play areas. While these hard surfaces are great for playing basketball or foursquare, you definitely dont want hard asphalt lurking under your slide or swing set. If a child trips (or is pushed), theyll be in for a rude awakening when they hit that unforgiving surface. Abrasions and bruises are very common when playing on this type of playground. There is also the possibility that an awkward landing could result in a bad sprain or even broken bones. If you have the option to visit a different play area with more cushion, paved playgrounds are best to avoid.
Softer Landings
Sand, mulch or shredded tires are all a small step up from concrete or asphalt yet are still not ideal. Sand can be very abrasive and is impossible to clean out of clothes and toys. Children also have a tendency to throw sand at each other, which is messy and will almost certainly land right in your childs eyes. Sand lots are also the perfect place for stray cats to use as their litterbox, so sanitation may be an issue as well.
With mulch, the issues with abrasion and messiness are the same as sand, only in larger pieces. Mulch also includes the added hazard of huge splinters. And as for shredded tires... although they do offer more cushion than either mulch or sand, they get black marks on absolutely everything and will get scorching in warmer months. Plus, do you really want your children playing on old tires?
Natural lawn is another common option for playground surfaces. Theres not much damage done by throwing grass blades around, and the surface is certainly better for falling on than sand or concrete. However, natural grass is still not a very soft fall, as the ground tends to get very packed down in high-traffic areas. There are also concerns regarding pesticides which are necessary to keep the lawn green. Studies suggest there may be many serious potential health dangers related to pesticide exposure, and children are much more susceptible than adults. Although there are laws which require notification prior to pesticide use in a public area such as a playground, not all park management companies abide by these. It just isnt worth it to risk your childs overall health in exchange for a softer landing.
The Safer Choice
Artificial grass offers the ideal option for playground surfaces. The synthetic surface offers the same green invitation as a natural lawn, yet with a cushioned safeguard in case of accidents. Plus, artificial turf is entirely pesticide-and fertiliser-free. Kids will enjoy playing on the springy surface, while parents will appreciate the cushioned surface which gives safer, softer landing for their little ones. Kids will also be able to avoid the allergies which are so common with real grass, and the dust associated with sand, mulch or hard surfaces.
Kids need physical activity to stay healthy and happy, so its important that they have a place to run around and play. As a parent, you can feel better knowing that the safest surface for that play is synthetic turf.
by: Andrew Sullivan
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