There are few sounds in the world sweeter than the laughter and joy emanating from a child while they are playing on the playground. While we love that joy, we also know that there are some hazards that you should be aware of and should make your child aware of when they are playing on the playground. There are ways to avoid a Connecticut slip and fall accident while at the playground so everyone can go home happy and healthy and come back for more later in the summer.
First it is important to know that you should set the rules and expectations for the playground with your child BEFORE you arrive at the playground. It will be very challenging for a young child to pay attention to your safety rules when the slide is calling her/his name. You can set clear instructions on the way to the playground so they are attentive and aware that these rules need to be followed.
Some of the pitfalls that you should encourage your child to watch out for while spending time on the playground include, but are certainly not limited to, the following;
-
Running while on pavement/wood chips. Many playgrounds now utilize pavement or wood chips as pathways between apparatus. These types of materials are good because they require very little maintenance and are relatively inexpensive to install, however they present additional issues. Both pavement and wood chips make it significantly easier for your child to trip and fall. It is critical that you encourage your child to walk between the playground elements. This will be easier said than done, but it will save a lot of headaches in the long-run.
-
Walk up the stairs. There can be a lot of excitement when your child is climbing the stairs to go down the biggest and best slide that the playground has to offer, but if she/he runs up the stairs of the playscape they are more likely than not to trip and hurt themselves. It’s important to encourage your child to slow down and take her/his time climbing the stairs so they can enjoy more rides down the slide and less rides home with an injury.
-
Skip the running at the splash pad. Many playgrounds these days have installed a splash pad for kids to get some relief from the hot summer sun. These are wonderful and heavily utilized by kids of all ages. There is one downside though, the slippery surface after it has been soaked in water. Kids should be encouraged to move slowly on the pad so they can have more time to enjoy their outing.
It may be one of the biggest challenges that parents of young children face, slowing them down on playground equipment. Of course, kids want to get to everything, all at once, and don’t think of the potential risks. It is for this reason that it is so important to encourage your child to follow the safety rules on the playground before you get there to have the best chance that your child will avoid a Connecticut slip and fall accident.
From all of us here at Leighton, Katz, & Drapeau we wish you and your children a happy and safe summer.
