Toddlers and even younger babies love the playground. Especially right now, while the weather is favorable, it's a great time to be outside, active, having fun in the fresh air. That said, you should always play it safe. Remember the following safe playground tips when at your local park...
A WATCHFUL EYE: No matter what your little one is doing at the playground, keep your eye on her. Children under the age of five years should always be fully supervised at the park. By supervised I mean by you - the parent. An older sibling should not substitute for a parent. BABY IT'S HOT!: Right now is perfect outside weather time, but be careful about heat and sun. Safe sunscreen should be applied to the entire family about 30 minutes before you head to the park. Watch for signs of heat exhaustion and always carry water in a reusable water bottle. Learn more about summer specific safety. SLIDING SAFETY: Consumer Reports recommends that children aged, preschool and under, "Should only use slides that are straight, or they may use spiral slides if they have only one turn of 360 degrees or less, since a child in this age group has limited ability to maintain balance or postural control." No sliding head first or on her belly either! Lastly watch for older kids who don't always wait to slide. Only one child at a time should be sliding. YOUR LIL' MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: Little ones love to climb. My son would climb legs, bookshelves and old porches as a toddler if you let him. When your child sees a climbing anything, she'll likely run for it, but make sure she is safe while climbing. Teach your little one to use both hands on ladders and to go slow. Always stay behind your child as she climbs. SAFE FALLS: All kids fall once in a while. To help avoid major injury choose a park that has a ground surface made of hardwood fiber or mulch, sand, pea gravel or suitable synthetic material such as rubber mats. This is much safer if your little one falls than concrete, dirt or grass. SWINGING!: Your little one may enjoy a baby swing but always push slowly and stand right there as she swings. Avoid parks with rope toys if you have a very young child as ropes can cause accidental entanglement and even strangulation. EQUIPMENT SAFETY: Playground equipment should be in great shape and secured to the ground. Look for well-maintained sand-boxes and check for splinters and rust on older playground equipment. If you see bolts and cracks, look for a safer park.
