Playing in playgrounds is great for your child’s physical, social and intellectual development.

Most playground injuries are minor – cuts, bruises and a few tears are the most likely dramas. But every now and then falls from playground equipment can lead to more serious injuries.

The most common playground injuries are fractures and dislocations. These injuries happen when children fall from equipment such as jungle gyms, jungle gyms, and slides.

Children are most commonly injured when falling off climbing play equipment such as jungle gyms, mainly because these types of equipment are high up. But children also injure themselves when they fall off slides, swings and trampolines.

Preschool and elementary-age children are the most vulnerable to injury because they’re still developing the physical coordination, muscle strength – and judgment needed to figure out if jumping off the monkey bars is a good idea!

Playground Safety: Monitoring and Skills

The best way to help your child avoid bumps and bruises on playgrounds is to actively supervise your child while they are playing.

By staying close to your child, especially when they are trying something new or complicated, you can help ensure that playground visits are safe and give your child the confidence to develop movement skills.

It's also important to choose activities and equipment that match your child’s abilities and skills. These guidelines can help you decide which gear is best for your child:

• If your child is younger than three years old, try to stick to playground equipment that is less than 1m high.
• If your child is 3-5 years old, try to stick to playground equipment that is less than 1.5m high.
• If your child is older than five, try to hold on to devices that are no higher than 2m from the floor.

Giving your child plenty of opportunities to play and practice will keep them developing the skills they need to safely use and enjoy jungle gyms, jungle gyms, swings and slides. For example, once your child can safely climb, they could attempt to climb a short ladder with your help.

Safe play equipment and environments

To protect children and prevent injuries in playgrounds, it’s a good idea to check the safety of playground equipment and the surrounding area:

• Buckle your child in swings when buckles are available. Your child will be less likely to fall out.
• Make sure the equipment is in good condition and the general area has no obvious safety hazards such as sharp sticks.
• Check the temperature of play equipment such as metal slides, bars, barriers and surfaces. Materials like metal, rubber and artificial turf can heat up in the sun and become so hot that they burn.
• Look for a safe surface in your playground. Equipment should be wrapped in a thick layer of material such as organic mulch that cushions falls. It could also be a soft rubber floor. If hard surfaces are exposed or the mulch level is too low, report this to your local council.
• Look for a playground that has some or all equipment covered in shade, or at least some shade nearby.
• Look for a playground with a fence around it. This will prevent small children from running onto nearby roads. It also makes it a lot easier when you are caring for multiple children at the same time.