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S A F E Playgrounds
What is a SAFE playground environment? According to the National Program for Playground Safety, a SAFE playground is one that is created around four basic principles: Supervision, Age appropriate equipment design, Fall surfacing, and Equipment and surfacing maintenance.
All childcare programs, whether large or small need to provide safe play environments. In smaller settings like family-based care, the adherence to SAFE principles may be especially critical, since these sites may not be covered by state regulations. Nevertheless, caregivers at these sites still have responsibility to provide a safe environment. The four SAFE characteristics can help all childcare programs provide safe play areas.
Supervision
Caregivers should always provide supervision when children are in the play environment or using play equipment. The equipment, no matter how expensive or how "safe" the manufacturer claims it to be, can still present risks. Outdoor play activities are a time to be just as attentive to the children as any other period of the day.
Children should be active and moving through the area. Encourage them to follow simple rules, such as respecting one another's right to the use of equipment. Usually, there is no need to interfere with play, but actively watch the children in order to prevent unsafe situations such as pushing and shoving. Being near enough to a child to avert problems by giving them the "eye" may prevent future encounters of the same kind.
Age Appropriate Design
The selection of equipment that is designed to be appropriate for the age of the children who will use it is very important. Two groups provide standards and guidelines for the selection of equipment. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) sets industry standards for playground equipment. In settings with limited space or where the play area may be in a backyard, it may be appropriate for providers to consider the ASTM's Home Playground Standard (F 1148). However, providers should also be aware of the standard for Public Use Playground Equipment (F 1487). The decision regarding which standard to follow will be based on what is required by specific state regulations.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has guidelines for appropriate play equipment in its Handbook for Public Playground Safety. While these are guidelines, as opposed to legal requirements, these and the ASTM standards should be strongly considered along with any state playground requirements. It is critical that the equipment meet standards. Ask for written evidence that the standards are met prior to purchasing the equipment. Adherence to these standards not only can provide a greater measure of safety for children, but also may offer critical legal protection for childcare providers if a child is injured.
When purchasing equipment, remember that most public use equipment today is built for either children ages 2-5 and 5-12. Home playground equipment, such as can be purchased at department stores, is generally built for children ages 2-10. There currently is no national standard for playground equipment for children ages 2 and under. The implication is that the play area for these very young children should be separate so that they do not have access to equipment intended for toddlers and preschool-age children.
When selecting equipment, decide what you intend for children to do and then determine which pieces of equipment you need. If children are learning to climb, then climbing apparatus might be appropriate pieces to consider. If they are learning to manipulate objects, then a sand or water play area might be a good choice.
Decide what you want children to do first rather than purchasing equipment and then determining how children might use it. Consider the age and developmental stage of your children and let that guide your selection of equipment.
Regardless of the size of your facility or its play area, there are certain hazards that should always be avoided. Any spaces or openings in equipment (such as areas between ladder rungs or railings) should be less than 3-1/2" or greater than 9" in order to reduce chances of head entrapment. In addition, children should not wear strings or string-like jewelry on their clothing in order to avoid the possibility of strangulation-this includes the necklaces made of macaroni and string they made in art time!
Fall Surfacing
Whether the setting is at home, in a small or large childcare setting, or in a park, children should play on surfaces that are designed to absorb falls with minimum damage. Although the Home Playground Standard does not require appropriate surfacing, it does recommend it. Appropriate surfacing is also recommended by the Public Use Playground Equipment Standard noted above and by CPSC. Surfaces such as asphalt, cement, dirt, and grass are inappropriate and should not be used. Instead, consider a more resilient, or yielding, surfacing.
The National Program for Playground Safety recommends 12" of loose-fill surfacing to provide an extra measure of safety so children are less likely to be hurt when they fall. "Loose-fill" choices include sand, pea gravel, wood products (chips, mulch), and rubber products (i.e., shredded tires). Preschoolers, however, may want to place materials in their mouths, so pea gravel, rubber, or wood products may not be a good choice. Sand is soft and fun, although it sticks to wet skin and clothes and tracks into the house or center. Remember, to be safe, the surfacing must cover a six-foot use zone under and around stationary equipment.
Equipment Maintenance
Finally, equipment and surfacing must be properly maintained. This means being sure that nuts and bolts are tightened and that equipment is clean and dry when children use it. It also means picking up trash that may be in the area and maintaining the loose-fill surface material at a proper depth to absorb a fall. Play areas and equipment should not be placed over cisterns, or near poisonous plants such as night shade. Animals should be kept out of the area.
Donna Thompson, PhD, Director
Susan Hudson, PhD, Project Associate
Mick G. Mack, Project Coordinator National Program for Playground Safety
Resources
The National Program for Playground Safety has pamphlets and videos on each of the SAFE topics and is available to answer questions about each area; 800-554-7529, www.uni.edu/playground
Internet Resources
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), www.cpsc.gov
American Society for Testing Materials, www.ASTM.org
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