Editor: LaShonda Y. Brown, NTI Trainer Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

Playground Safety  List hazards most common to playground structures  Assess outdoor play areas and provide recommendations  Describe playground safety and supervision recommendations  Describe age-appropriate playground areas Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

Outdoor Learning Environments  Explain the developmental impact of a high quality outdoor play environment  List three components of a high quality outdoor learning environment  Describe the importance of having different types of outdoor play available  Provide recommendations on optimizing the playground Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Click on the “Next Section” button at the bottom of the page to continue with the course.  Follow this procedure for each subsequent section. Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

The Difference Between Risk and Hazard a RISK contains a decision or judgment a HAZARD cannot be seen by a child and therefore cannot be judged Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

There are three reasons why a child care provider should provide a safe playground environment: 1.It is morally the right thing to do 2.It is backed by child care requirements 3.Negligence could result in liability claims Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

It is the obligation of a child care provider to supply a physically and emotionally safe environment for the children in their care On the playground, a safe environment is one where the hazards are removed or addressed Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Emphasize the importance of outdoor settings as learning environments  Ensure that adequate space, materials, and time are devoted to outdoor learning  Encourage the use of a variety of outdoor projects and activities Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 1988 CPSC Data  More than 150,000 playground related injuries per year  A playground related injury = an emergency room visit  1994 CPSC Data  More than 200,000 playground related injuries  Estimate of 17 playground related deaths per year  1999 CPSC Data  More than 205,000 playground related injuries  Fractures were the most commonly reported injury Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Nationally nearly 70% of playground related injuries are from falls  Fall injuries are a result of two things  the height a child falls from  the material/surface the child falls upon  Provide “soft,” resilient, surfaces under and around stationary playground equipment Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Wood mulch  Double shredded bark mulch  Engineered wood fiber  Sand, both fine and coarse  Pea gravel (!!ONLY in play areas for children 3 years or older!!)  Manufactured/synthetic surfaces that meet the ASTM 1292 standard Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Critical height - the maximum height a child may climb, sit or stand on the play equipment  The depth of surface should be based upon the critical height of the equipment The higher the equipment, the deeper the surface!! Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Surfacing (at the appropriate depth) should be placed around stationary play equipment for a distance of 6 feet  This six foot area around stationary play equipment is called the “fall zone”  Stationary equipment anchors located in the fall zone must be covered with surfacing material and not exposed Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Fall zones may only overlap in certain situations:  Between two swing sets  Around spring rockers  All other play equipment that share a fall zone must be less than 30” in height  Special Fall Zones  To-Fro Swings  Tot Swings (enclosed seats)  Tire Swings Swing seats should be constructed from a soft, flexible material !! Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Fall zone should be equal to twice the distance from the pivot point to the surface (X), to the front and back of the swing X X =8 feet 2 x 8 (X) = feet Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Fall zone should be equal to two times the distance from the pivot point to bottom of the swing seat (Y), to the front and back of the swing Y = 6 feet Y 12 feet 2 x 6 (Y) = 12 Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Fall zone should be equal to six feet plus the measurement of the distance from the pivot point to top of the swing seat (H), to the front and back of the swing, and six feet around the support structure H H = 5 feet 6 feet 11 feet 6 feet + 5 feet (H) = 11 feet Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Guardrails prevent inadvertent or unintentional falls from elevated platforms  Barriers prevent attempts to climb over, around or through  Elevated platforms intended for different ages have different requirements  Both preschool and school age children  Preschool children only  School age children only Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

ABC If equipment is used by and height of elevated surface is then minimum height top surface is and height lower edge is Preschool and School Age > 20” but ≤ 30”≥ 38”≤ 23” Preschool> 20” but ≤ 30”≥ 29”≤ 23” School Age> 30” but ≤ 48”≥ 38”≤ 28” A B C Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

AB If equipment is used by and height of elevated surface is then minimum height top surface is Preschool and School Age > 30”≥ 38” Preschool> 30”≥ 29” School Age> 48”≥ 38” A B Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Sharp points  Play equipment should not be able to puncture a child’s skin  Open, exposed ends of tubes or pipes should be covered or plugged  Wooden parts should be sanded smooth and not produce splinters  Corners  Metal or wood corners should be rounded  Edges  Metal edges should have rounded capping or be rolled Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Paint  Metal surfaces should be painted or galvanized to prohibit rust  To prevent lead poisoning, paints or finishes used on playground equipment must meet the Federal Law - Title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1303 ▪ No more than 600 parts/million maximum lead by dry weight  If you are concerned about potential lead-based paint hazard with your play equipment, contact your consultant for guidance on lead hazard assessment and control Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Playground equipment components should not be able to entangle children’s clothing Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Play pieces or components that….  Move against one another  Move relative to a stationary component should not allow children access!  Equipment that might have pinch, crush, and shear points:  Steering Wheels  Tire Swing Chains  Tricycle Go-Rounds  Merry-go-rounds  Seesaws  Spring Rockers  Sand Diggers  Clatter Bridges Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Any opening on play equipment or structure where a child could get stuck:  Stairs  Decks  Ladders  Rope climbers  Barriers  To prevent entrapment, openings should be smaller than 3.5” or greater than 9.0” Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 A child’s torso is smaller than a child’s head Cross Section of a two-year old child’s (5th percentile) torso is 3.5” by 6.2” 6.2”3.5” Belly Button Back Cross Section of a five year old child’s head (95th Percentile) from the tip of the chin to the back of the head is 9.0” 9.0” Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Children’s clothing can become entangled in play equipment  Areas that can entangle clothing include  Protrusions and projections  Upright “V” angles of less than 55  Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Defined - any “V” shaped corner less than 55  formed by adjacent components of play equipment  Exception I - if one leg of the “V” is horizontal or sloping downwards Horizontal x X  55  Horizontal Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Locate yourself so you can see the children at play, and they can see you  Enforce proper use of play equipment!  Review playground rules with children in class and on the playground  If equipment is broken, prevent children from using by:  removing the equipment from the playground or  placing a barrier around the broken equipment Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Alert & attentive  Aware of age appropriate equipment  Observing signs  Know & apply safe playground rules  Having a plan  Training the children to use equipment correctly  Being consistent with ratios  Intervening  Ensure safe clothing Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Your field of vision should not exceed 180°  Make sure that one piece of play equipment does not block your view of others Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Supervise near high use or potentially dangerous areas  If more than one teacher, swap positions at least once during the play period Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

Supervision on the playground is just as important as supervision in the classroom! Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Sense of freedom for children and teachers  Health benefits from physical activity  Technology eating into outdoor time Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Getting out the door  Safety outdoors  Developing outdoor space  Program and materials for outdoor play and learning First aid kit Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Active physical play  Engaged in Observation  Quiet  Dramatic  Creative Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

Child Directed Teacher Directed Community Independent School, Chatham County Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 Play crates  Transition area  Observation opportunities  Semi-structures  Digging areas  Multiple age service Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

Engaging activities Storage space Water Access to emergency medical sources Access to restrooms Interaction with the natural environment Open space Inclusive environment Routine maintenance Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 In the next section, you will find a link to an activity that asks you to compare Caring For Our Children (CFOC) standards with Texas Child Care Licensing standards.  Download and complete the activity.  Submit the activity to your facilitator via e- mail. Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants

 This concludes the informational portion of the course.  Please click on the “Next Section” button to advance to the post-test.  To review previous sections, click on desired title in left menu bar. Healthy Child Care Texas adapted from © The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants