TOP 7 PLAYGROUND SAFETY TIPS

A recent post by one of our favorite bloggers, Gwynn Cassidy, the mom behind Manhattan Mom.

In the last couple of weeks, NYC has enjoyed some seriously gorgeous weather which means we've been to our local playgrounds a lot more than usual--which is good news. Unfortunately though, not everything was in tip-top shape at one of the parks (ahem, Chelsea) resulting in what I felt was a potentially dangerous situation.

Do you know what to look for to make sure your playground is safe? Sometimes the risks don't appear as obvious as those associated with swimming or biking; but, they're there and easy to spot. You just need to know what to look for.

Here are a few simple tips to help you recognize whether your local playground is safe and ready for your little ones.

Top 7 Playground Safety Tips

1.    Playground surfacing material should be 12 inches deep and extend 6 feet in all directions around equipment.
   
2.    Look for playgrounds with shredded rubber, mulch, wood chips or sand. Grass and soil are not good surfaces.
   
3.    Make sure playground equipment is inspected frequently and kept in good repair. If it's not, report this to your local parks and recreations office.
  
4.    Remove hood and neck drawstrings from children's clothing and outerwear and don't let kids wear helmets, necklaces, purses or scarves on the playground.
   
5.    Don't allow your kids to engage in, or play near, any pushing, shoving or crowding around playground equipment.
   
6.    Keep toddlers under age 5 in a separate play area, away from equipment designed for bigger kids.
   
7.    Actively supervise kids on a playground. Just being in the same area isn't good enough--they need your undivided attention while playing on or around the equipment.

Gwynn Cassidy is a New York mother who blogs at Manhattan Mom.