BY JESSICA PATENAUDE KIM SILVA

BRIAN LOVATTALYSSA DELGADO

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• Before allowing children to play on a playground, evaluate the safety of the playground by using Supervision and survey Age appropriate and design Fall surface cushioning Equipment and maintenance

• Clearly explain to children the proper way to play on the equipment

GRACE BRETHREN PRESCHOOL EAST BY JESSICA PATENAUDE

• This playground provides children with age appropriate equipment and opportunities to safely practice gross motor skills without putting them at risk for unnecessary injury. It is laid out to allow caregivers to keep track of the children as they move throughout the playground environment. Moving equipment, such as the swings are located toward a corner of the playground. Slide exits are located in an un-congested area of the playground.

• There are also several shading considerations utilized by existing shade (e.g., trees), the play structure design as a means for providing shade (e.g., elevated platforms with a shaded space below), and the creation of more shade (e.g., manmade structure are all apart of this playground design to help protect children’s skin from the sun.

• The slide chute has a maximum height of 12 inches above the underlying ground surface. While the chute exit region is at least 11 inches long and facilitates a smooth transition from sitting to standing when exiting.

• Projections on the playground are not able to entangle children’s clothing nor are they large enough to impale. Tripping hazards are minimal due to the contrasting colors of the equipment

• There are only two swings located within each swing bay. The distance between the swings at rest within the single swing bay are at least 24 inches and the distance between swings at rest and its support structure are at least 30 inches. The seats of the swings rest at least 12 inches from the ground. The swings are single axis with a pivot point of 8 feet or less. The swings have a resilient surfacing that extends 2 times the length of the pivot point to the surface below. The surfacing is to the front and rear of the swings. The swings support structure discourages climbing.

• Lastly the playground is organized into different sections to prevent injuries caused by conflicting activities and children running between activities. Active, physical activities are separate from more passive or quiet activities. There are clearly defined different sectioned areas for the playground equipment, the open field, and the sand box. Additionally there are four appropriate types of surfacing zones on this playground. Each is maintained to help reduce the likelihood of a life-threatening head injuries.

UPON REVIEW OF THIS PLAYGROUND I FOUND IT TO BE IN REGULATION WITH THE PLAYGROUND

SAFETY HANDBOOK.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE PRESCHOOL PERFORM A DAILY REDISPERSMENT OF THE LOOSE

SURFACING MATERIALS TO FURTHER MINIMIZE THE CHANCE

OF INJURY.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND TO

OTHERS. WE NEED TO RECLAIM OUR PLAYGROUNDS AND ENSURE

CHILDREN ARE GETTING THE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

THEY NEED TO GROW.

PHOENIX RANCH PRESCHOOLBY KIM SILVA

The playground equipment is age appropriate for the ages 2 1/2 - 4 years of age. Visibility is open for the teachers to watch the children

play and interact safely. The picture panel is provided for the

children to explore and create. The “standing leaf” under the tree

encourages the children to stop and read a book.

Shading considerations here in this playground are adequate. There is

plenty of shade provided by trees on the

playground itself, the tables and area under the

tree are maintained everyday.

The climbing and sliding equipment meets the

requirements.

The sensory table outside encourages children to

explore science ideas and concepts.

Climbing and upper body equipment is designed to create a greater degree of physical challenge. Dome climbers require the use of hands to navigate up or across the play equipment.

This type of equipment may be difficult for young preschoolers due to the fact that they have not developed some of the physical skills and upper body strength. None the less it is a important tool to help the child gain

coordination, balance and upper body strength.

This Dome climber on this play yard is situated where there is plenty of room for children to climb as well as enough room for swinging movements. The

Dome also is not in the traffic flow of other nearby components there by allowing free range of motion from

the child.

MOORPARK COLLEGE PRESCHOOL BY BRIAN LOVATT

Guardrails prevent falls, but also the bars must be close enough together to not allow children to stick

their heads in between them. For preschoolers at

least 4 yrs old, the top surface of the guard rails

should be at least 29” above the platform and

lower edge no higher that 23”.

Based on the information from the (CPSC), Handbook for

Public Playground safety, it states

“Equipment should not have sharp points or edges that could cut

skin”

This slide is much safer for preschoolers, in that it’s

made of plastic rather than a metallic substance.

Slides made of materials such as steel and aluminum can get really hot in warmer

weather causing the potentiality for burns to the

skin and elsewhere.

The surfacing on this playground is perfect for

the children at this preschool. It is the type

of rubber-like consistency and allows for great cushioning,

particularly if there is a fall by any children.

Pleasant Valley Park

Pleasant Valley ParkBY ALYSSA DELGADO

• Playground equipment must be age appropriate and should display signs such as these.This park states the ages which best suit this type of playground according to the equipment.Different age groups have different equipment expectations.

Age Appropriate:

• There should be no space in where a child can fit their body but not their head.This could cause a child to be strangled The park I visited followed these guidelines more than any other park I have seen.

Entrapment:

• There should not be any places children can catch their fingers or clothing in.There should be protective barriers over or around hard bolts, screws, ect

Catch Points and Protruding Hardware

• Every playground should have a barrier on elevated surfaces. This is a perfect example of keeping children safe on an area where falling could cause some real damage.

Guardrails:

• Every playground needs protective surfacing.This particular playground used sand and a rubber cushioned matting. These soft surfaces help prevent injuries from falls.

Protective Surfacing:

•Fall zones are areas that should be clear where a child is more likely to fall, trip, or run into something. For example; at the end of slides, under monkey bars, around swings, ect.

Fall Zone:

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• Sometimes through no fault of our own even though all precautions were taken…it’s just one of those days…Mamma said there would be days like this!

Thank you for your time. We hope that you found our presentation informative and

entertaining!