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Tips for home playgrounds:
When purchasing home playground equipment, choose a set that is labeled as meeting safety standard ASTM F1148.
Carefully supervise children using playground equipment. Keep children from shoving, pushing, or fighting.
The surface under playground equipment should provide cushioning to help protect a child from injury with a fall. Use safety-tested mats or loose-fill materials (such as shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches.
Install the protective surface at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.
Swing seats should be made of something soft, like plastic or canvas, not wood (can cause splinters) or metal (gets hot and can burn your child).
Children should not twist swings, swing empty seats, or walk in front of moving swings.
Put home playground equipment together correctly.
It should sit on a level surface and be anchored firmly to the ground.
You may need help from a professional to install the equipment properly.
Cap all screws and bolts. Check periodically for loose nuts and bolts and broken, rusty, or sharp parts.
Install playground equipment at least 6 feet from fences or walls.
Check for hot metal surfaces on equipment, such as those on slides, which could cause burns.
If possible, orient slides so that they are shaded from sunlight.
Even plastic slides can become hot enough in the sun to cause burns.
Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to playground equipment because children can get strangled on them.
Children should always wear shoes and should not wear helmets or clothing with long drawstrings while playing.
Any loose strings or helmet can place your child at risk of being strangled.
This publication was adapted from information within American Academy of Pediatrics Patient Education Handouts, and Healthychildren.org.
Reviewed by: RM, M.D., TT D.O. | 08/2024