It's getting more and more important for kids to be able to play. It's vital to their development as it promotes children's intellectual, physical, social, and psychological health. Fortunately, it isn't difficult to carry through, since youngsters like playing and being outside. The only challenge is finding or building a safe and secure space for your children to play.
While outdoor play environments provide numerous learning opportunities for your children, they can also pose several risks. Backyards, in particular, may be very hazardous. Finding ways to reduce such hazards will allow your kids to be free to explore and make discoveries as they play outside safely.
Here are some great ideas to make a child-friendly and safe outdoor play area for your children.
-
Install A Fence
It's easy to overlook the importance of safety when thinking about playtime. Keep your child safe and avoid potential injuries to let the fun continue. As your first step toward a kid-friendly backyard, you may need to hire a professional fence contractor to install a fence. This way, strangers and unauthorized guests will be kept out of your backyard, while your children will be kept in.
-
Set Safety Guidelines
Let your children join you in developing guidelines for safe outdoor activities. Put the guidelines in writing and display them somewhere prominent. When their playmates come over, be sure they're aware of your household's guidelines for outdoor play.
For example, you may restrict chasing and pushing when playing on the slides or swings in the regulations. Also, you may require them to wear close-toed footwear and never to wear clothes and items that might become entangled when playing.
-
Always Keep An Eye On Your Youngsters
Youngsters, especially young children, aren't always capable of recognizing potentially unsafe conditions. This is one of the reasons why they should be monitored by an adult when playing outside. If an accident occurs, the adult in charge can instantly attend to the harmed child. Furthermore, by monitoring your children's outdoor pursuits, you can ensure that they take rest breaks, remain hydrated, and reapply sun protection or insect repellent as necessary.
-
Examine Your Yard For Potential Risks
Before your children go outside to play, remove any potentially dangerous things such as gardening equipment, hoses, ladders, and pesticides. Put these tools in a safe area where your child or friends cannot reach them.
In addition, look for natural dangers such as thorns, pits, fire ant mounds, and low tree limbs in your yard. Additionally, check for stinging fly nests in play areas such as tree forts and playhouses.
-
Get Rid Of Poisonous Flowers And Plants
Young teens and adolescents usually are wise enough not to ingest unfamiliar plants. However, some typical plants and flowers can be harmful if eaten, especially if a younger child ingests them out of curiosity.
In that case, be sure you know the hotline number of your state's poison control center. They'll help if you think your child has ingested a highly toxic plant or flower. So, if you have potentially hazardous plants growing in your backyard, eradicate them and consider making a kid-friendly play garden instead.
-
Examine The Play Structures For Indicators Of Deterioration
Playsets with several play stations, such as slides, swings, and climbing walls, promote physical activity and imaginative play. However, they must be well-maintained and examined for indications of wear regularly. Rotting woodwork, protruding bolts, worn-out floorboards, and unsafe stairs and railings are all risks to look out for. Use a playground safety checklist to detect potentially dangerous components swiftly and then repair them before allowing your kids to use the equipment.
If you're looking for a playset, ensure it fulfills the residential playground equipment guidelines. Be aware that secondhand playsets may not fulfill these requirements and may be structurally deficient. So, it would be best to purchase a new playground to ensure your child's safety.
-
Enhance The Security Of Your Pool And Its Surroundings
Do you have a swimming pool or an outdoor fountain in your yard? If this is the case, know that pools can be unsafe, especially for small children. Drowning is the most significant cause of death among children under four. Furthermore, most of these drowning incidents occur in household swimming pools. Even hot baths are dangerous to a child's safety. When not in use, make sure your hot tub's lid is properly secured.
Keep windows and doors connected to the pool area secured to avoid pool mishaps. Also, install door and window detectors for an added layer of security. You may also choose to invest in one or more safety devices designed expressly to reduce the hazards connected with swimming pools. Still, whatever measures you take, keep in mind that nothing can substitute adult supervision.
Final Thoughts
Outdoor play is essential for your child's physical and emotional development. It's also one of the most effective ways to promote your child's overall health and mental well-being. For your kids to have fun outdoors accident-free, follow the safety tips mentioned above to ensure a safe and secure outdoor space.
