   
Swing Set Safety
While swing sets can be great fun for your children they also can pose some serious
risks if proper care is not taken. Parents should always be on hand to supervise their child's use of swing set
equipment as well as establish some swing set
safety rules that your child must follow to use the equipment.
Making The Swing Set As Safe As Possible
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The first thing that parents need to do is to make the swing set itself as
safe as possible. This means anchoring the legs of the swing set into cement and then covering the cement
with sand or layers of soft materials made for playgrounds in order to ensure that the the swing set does
not decide to take a walk while your children are playing on it.
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If an infant or toddler will be using a swing set designed to be used by
older children make sure that they have the appropriate swing and a seat belt to protect them from
falls.
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Make sure the ground underneath the swings is soft or place soft materials
under the swing set to reduce the risk of serious injury should your child fall.
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Use chain covers on swing chains to prevent small fingers from getting
pinched and replace them when necessary.
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Inspect metal and wooden swing sets for rust, splinters, and loose bolts
and nuts twice a month during the heavy use seasons. Make any necessary repairs immediately.
After you have assured yourself that the swing set is safe to be used by the
appropriate age children then discuss with your children the safety rules you expect to be followed and make it
clear that any breach in these rules with result in their not having use of the swing set for a designated period
of time. Some important safety rules your children should follow are:
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never walk close to the swings when they are in use.
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Never swing an empty swing especially if other children are playing near
the swing set.
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Remain seated until the swing stops. While jumping from a moving swing may
seem like fun it can be extremely dangerous.
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Only climb on the parts of the swing set meant to be climbed on.
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Never attempt to climb up a wet metal slide or one made of slick
plastic
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Never push another child who is on a slide or try to rush them.
Teach your child to take turns so that every child present can enjoy spending time
on the swing set. You may also want to teach them to watch out for your toddlers before beginning to swing as
toddlers don't always understand the need to stay away from moving objects.
You also want to make sure that your child is dressed properly for playing on the
swing set. Scarves can pose a choking hazard if they get caught up on a slide or the chains of a swing. Little legs
can get burned if a child tries to slide on a metal slide on a hot sunny day.
By implementing a few swing set
safety rules with your children, both you and they will enjoy that swing set for many years
to come.
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