Children deserve to be out in the fresh air, having fun. Playing outdoors is also a great way to exercise and burn off their energy. But how practical is it to visit the park every time to play?
Building a backyard playground can be a practical solution. However, while you may think your backyard background is safe for your child, as per the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report, around 50,000 kids get admitted to the emergency room yearly owing to injuries that occur on home playgrounds.
So it is crucial to think about the safety of your child while building a backyard playground and not only consider the fun factor. Here are five tips you can follow while building a fun and safe backyard playground for your kids:
1. Choose the right location
Start by surveying the lane. Before you design the playground, you should decide where to build it. Everything, including site dimensions, water levels, expectable weather patterns, and irregularities in the land, should be taken into consideration.
When it comes to space size, it will depend on your property.
Other factors to be considered include:
The location should be a safe distance from the streets.
It should be within view of your house. You should be able to see it through the windows as well.
Make sure that the location is free of hazards such as electrical wiring or low-hanging trees.
Avoid locations with things that could cause your child to trip.
2. Consider appropriate layouts
The item layout on the play structure will also play a central role in reducing injury risk.
Take these tips into consideration while making item layout:
Minimum Distance Between Swings - There should be 8 inches at a minimum between swings that don’t have a lot of sideways motion. Keep 12 inches at a minimum between the swing and the pole.
Separate Bay - If you are installing tire swings, disk swings, or items that rotate 360 degrees, there should be a separate bay. It will help you avoid collisions.
Distance Between Disk Swings With Lateral Movement - There should be 24 inches at a minimum between disk swings or other swings that have lateral movement and the poles.
Distance Between a Swinging Item and Ground - The swinging items should be hung 8 inches at a minimum above the ground’s protective covering.
3. Pick age-appropriate activities
Younger kids may enjoy digging in the sand or sliding down the slide, but older kids will instead climb walls or cross monkey bars. So you will have to keep age in mind while picking activities.
Moreover, younger kids will often lack body strength to climb walls or cross monkey bars without some serious injury risks.
Whichever activities you choose for your playground, ensure to double-check the equipment. For instance, if you pick a slide, see that the slide surface is smooth to avoid cuts. An enclosed tube slide will also decrease the risk of falling off the slide.
If you really need to install monkey bars for younger kids, experts say the bars should not be above 60 inches high, and the gaps should be 12 inches apart or less. Eighty-four inches in height and 15-inch gaps are suitable for older kids.
4. Ground safety
Though you may have grass, it isn’t going to offer the safety your kids need to evade injuries. Many homeowners cover the grounds with shock-absorbing materials as it can lessen the impact if your child falls while playing.
The rubber surface is also a good choice for ground safety. Luckily, you can make it appear pleasing to the eyes since it’s available in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. If anything, the surface will provide protection and simultaneously enhance the aesthetic appeal of your outdoors.
Rubber surfaces are also mold and moisture-resistant, shock-absorbent, slip-resistant, durable, versatile, and easy to maintain.
Since rubber surfaces are resilient, they can withstand heavy equipment and high impact activity. They are also sound-proof and relatively easy to install.
Just ensure that you pick the best-quality rubber surface and hire a certified flooring installer so that it is installed correctly.
5. Pick materials that are suitable for the outdoors
An essential aspect of building a safe and fun backyard playground is picking the right materials for the outdoors. Since the equipment is going to be exposed to elements, you want to pick materials that are durable.
If you are using wood materials, they should be treated with a solution that will safeguard them from decay, molds, and pests, but they should be non-toxic. Woods like cedar, redwood, and pine are great choices.
While choosing metals, ensure that they are galvanized or painted. This way, they will not rust or wear out ahead of time.
The hardware that keeps the equipment secure and stable should be chosen carefully. The bolts, screws, etc., should be corrosion-resistant as they are going to face different outdoor conditions. You can go for hot-dipped galvanized steel hardware as they are highly durable. If you find any exposed bolt ends, cap them to deter cuts and punctures.
Additional Tips
Supervise: Supervise even if it is in your own backyard. Having an adult nearby is crucial for your child’s safety.
Inspect equipment regularly: New equipment may be safe, but you need to ensure that they are still in good working order after you start using them for a more extended period. Check loose parts, exposed bolts, and so on and fix them.
Tighten bolts: You need to check for loose bolts every two weeks as, over time, they can loosen. Tighten the bolts once before your children start using the equipment in Spring. Winter can accelerate the bolt loosening process as the materials expand and contract.
Check S hooks: The S hooks are hooks that fasten equipment onto the structure. The hooks shouldn’t be loose as they will detach the swings and trap clothing. To check for loose hooks, slide a coin in the gap. In case the coin fits through easily, the hooks are loose. Make sure to tighten them using pliers.
Wrapping-Up
Having a backyard playground is convenient and a great way to keep your children engaged, happy, and healthy.
However, if you are not careful while building the playground, your kids may easily get injured. Follow the safety tips mentioned in this article to build a safe and fun backyard playground for your kids.
