A toddler’s play, no matter where or under what circumstances, involves certain dangers. A child does not have a sufficiently developed instinct for self-preservation to take care of his own safety during carefree time.

This is, of course, the job of parents. The playground is one of the places where special care should be taken. Why? First of all, because it is a public place – we have no guarantee that other users are using it properly, without harming others. In addition, you will find a lot of different equipment and structures that a child may use inappropriately. It’s a good idea to set a few rules and repeat them to your toddler before every outing. You can’t expect a several-year-old to remember them all at once.

Before leaving home, it is also important to dress appropriately. Of course, it should be appropriate to the weather. It is equally important that clothing should not be too tight, as it will restrict movement. On the other hand, too big, such as legs that are too long or a hat that falls over the eyes, can cause a serious fall. Avoid unnecessary accessories in the form of large buttons, protruding ornaments or dangling strings. Shoes should be built-in. This reduces the risk of direct contact between the delicate skin of the child’s feet and sharp edges or stones. If the footwear has laces, let’s check from time to time to make sure they are tied properly.

If the child gets hungry while playing, set aside an appropriate amount of time for the meal. The toddler should sit down and eat in peace. A sandwich chewed on the fly or a quick sip of water can lead to choking.

What to look out for while you are there?

Every public playground must have rules and regulations and an information board. Their absence should alert us. If the rules list is there, let’s read it carefully. There may be such important issues as age restrictions for the use of particular equipment, as well as conditions for the proper use of spring rockers, swings or other available equipment. From the board we will learn who is the manager of the facility, as well as who to contact in case of an emergency.

The playground should be fenced – by doing so we will avoid a possible escape of the child, and we will be more confident that animals have not had access to the area. Nevertheless, it is worth checking the cleanliness of the sand in the sandbox, because in addition to dirt left by dogs and cats, we can find pieces of glass, plastic bottles, and cigarette butts in it.

Even if we visit the same facility every day, let’s check its condition every time. Sometimes a quick glance is enough to spot dangerous damage – corrosion, cavities in the ground, splinters, unstable equipment, protruding parts, broken ladders. If we notice them, let’s not try to repair them ourselves. We may do it incompetently, exposing the equipment to loss of warranty. Let’s report defects immediately to the facility manager and move to another safe playground. Taking all precautions is not enough – a parent must never lose vigilance!