Playgrounds provide an opportunity for children to develop a wide variety of skills, including physical coordination and strength; social skills such as interacting with others, teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution; and self-esteem. Many commentators believe that children learn better through play, and free, spontaneous play is the most beneficial type of play.
Modern playgrounds are often designed to be stimulating and exciting, using a wide range of recreational equipment. These include the seesaw, merry-go-round, swingset, slides, jungle gyms, chin-up bars, sandboxes, trapeze rings, and playhouses.
Safety is a critical element of playground design. Having an adult (supervisor) present to help facilitate play activity is important, as is having a safe surface around the playground and appropriate equipment for the age group of the children who will be playing there.
Risk aversion is also a common consideration when designing playgrounds. The fear of lawsuits over injuries may be the primary reason playground designers prioritize injury prevention above other considerations, such as promoting developmental benefits or cost savings.
The most common source of playground injuries is falls to the surface. This is a major concern for many playground owners, as it can result in severe injuries to children.
One way to reduce the risk of falls is to install a more flexible surface under and around the playground equipment, so that children who fall are less likely to break bones. This will help improve the quality of life for injured children and their families.
Other methods of reducing the risks of falls to the playground are to ensure that the equipment is age-appropriate and has been built to the right height. This is done by making sure the equipment is compliant with ASTM standards for impact-attenuation and fall-height requirements, ensuring proper installation procedures are followed and having certified playground inspectors who are certified to the specific level of playground inspection.
It is also a good idea to ensure that the surfaces under and around the equipment are installed properly, preferably to the ASTM fall-height standards for each piece of equipment. Then, they must be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
For example, it is important to have the surfacing material drain well in order to reduce impact attenuation and to protect against standing water, puddles, and a hard surface in cold weather. This will also prevent the surface from deteriorating over time and reduce maintenance costs, said Robert Zeager, a sales manager for a Middletown, Pa.-based company that specializes in playground surfacing.
According to Zeager, some of the most common causes of unsafe surfaces are poor base preparation, inadequate maintenance and inappropriate surfacing. The base should be a mix of soil and aggregate to provide a textured, soft surface that is resistant to wear.
The surfacing should be placed under the equipment so that it is in line with the height of the railing, said Zeager. If the surfacing is not, the railing may not be high enough to support the weight of the equipment, which can cause serious injury.