When we think about happy childhood memories, many of us recall busy playgrounds filled with children, sounds of laughter, and unlimited possibilities. For most of today’s children, the thrill of the park still beckons. Our sons and daughters clamor for climbing on her monkey bars, slipping down the slides, and swinging to the highest heights. However, our children with special needs are often excluded from the magic hiding in playgrounds due to safety concerns.
Regardless of abilities or needs, all children should be able to experience the joy and beauty of play in our parks. In recent years, most communities surrounding Cincinnati have made great strides in creating playgrounds that are accessible for all children. However, our children’s special needs can sometimes cause regular playgrounds to become dangerous if we don’t take basic safety precautions.
5 Pointers For Promoting Playground Safety
Thankfully, we can help ensure our children can safely enjoy playgrounds with the following safety tips:
- Supervise. Simply being present and engaged with our child can dramatically reduce the chance that an accident will happen.
- Check children’s clothing for strings or straps that can become entangled on equipment.
- Inspect all playground equipment for broken bits, accessibility, and hidden dangers. Structures do break and some lack the appropriate safety railings for children with special needs to rely on. As an added precaution, look for sharp edges or loose screws.
- Look For Soft Landing Surfaces. Children fall- a lot – and having a soft place to land can reduce injuries. Almost 70 percent of playground accidents are due to falls. Look for rubber mats, special turf, wood chips, and more.
- Choose inclusive playgrounds developed for all children and abilities. Thankfully, the Cincinnati area has the following recreation areas that were created to meet this criteria:
Springing Ahead…
Children deserve the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of sliding down slides or imagining an alternative reality in a land crafted from playground equipment. As the seasons change and Spring weather brings the promise of warmer days, take advantage of the local parks available and follow playground safety tips to ensure everyone has fun.
Do you know any playgrounds in the local area that are safe for children with special needs?
Born and raised in Austin, TX, Hilary Smith is a free-lance journalist whose love of gadgets, technology and business has no bounds. After becoming a parent she now enjoys writing about family and parenting related topics.
