Indoor playgrounds have always been the top choice for parents to taking their children out, offering a fun and interesting space for kids and allowing parents to relax. However, more and more accidents happens because of the unregulated ways of playing, leaving parents feel worried about their kids’ safety.
Next, I’ve listed about the latest injury statistics for indoor playgrounds in recent years, and with 10 safety tips, to help parents protect their kids’ safety together.
Indoor Playground Injury Statistics
According to statistics from the US and other countries, about 200,000 children under the age of 14 are medical visited each year to injuries from various playground equipment, a large number of these happen in indoor playgrounds.
Take common indoor trampoline and climbing equipment as an example, upper limbs injuries and fractures account for the highest proportion about 30-40%, followed by sprains, contusions and soft tissue injuries.
Inflatable play equipment has caused about 65,000 childhood injuries in the US over 20 years, with nearly 90% of the children under the age of 15.
Overall, indoor playgrounds are not a low-risk environment, it requires joint supervision from operators and parents.
10 Indoor Playground Safety Tips
To keep kids’ safety, parents should pay attention at all times. We’ve complied 10 safety tips for parents from choosing a playground to playing.
1. Check the Overall Environment Before Entry
Check if the floor is non-slip, the equipment is undamaged, and the crash mats are completely before taking your child into the playground. Parents should be vigilant if the area looks messy, the floor mats are displaced, or there are obvious safety hazards, you may stop the activity if necessary.
2. Choose Zones Based on Age and Height
Don’t just consider what your kid would like, check if the objects are suitable for them. Mixing younger and older children will easily make collision happen, especially in climbing and sliding zones. It is safer to strictly follow the site signs or regulations when choosing an play zone.
3. Avoid Crowded Times and Popular Rides
In many cases, children get hurt not because of the equipment, but from shoving and trampling when they rush to play. If the queue for a ride is untidy or there are too many people, it’s better to wait than to push your way in.
4. Explain Basic Rules to Your Child in Advance
Before playing, explain these indoor playground rules to your child that they can understand: no pushing, no walking against the flow, and no jumping from heights. Setting rules in advance is more useful than stopping after it happens, and it also reduces children’s bad moods and the occurrence of accidents.
5. Supervise Your Child Throughout the Playtime
Even though the playground has many professional staff, do not let your child out of your sight completely. Keep your child within your sight at all time, remind or stop them immediately when you notice dangerous behaviors.
6. Prioritize Safety in Dressing
Prepare the non-slip or well-fitting sports shoes for your child before leaving home, avoid loose clothing, accessories, or clothes with drawstrings that are easy to hook. Simple, close-fitting clothing is safer for play.
7. Avoid Letting Your Child Become Overly Fatigued
When children are tired, their reactions will slow down and their movements become more out of control. If your child is obviously panting or stumbling while walking, they should rest or stop playing immediately. The risk of injury will higher when children fatigued.
8. Pay Attention to Whether Your Child Is Influenced by Others
Different in size and strength are one of the common reasons of injuries in indoor playgrounds. If you notice your child bumped or squeezed by older children, you should take your child away from that area to prevent injuries.
9. Do Not Ignore Small Injuries
Even minor abrasions or sprain, stop play immediately, give simple first aid and observe the condition of the injury. If your child continues to feel pain, seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid a minor injury developing into a serious problem.
10. Choose Indoor Playgrounds with Strong Focus on Safety Management
Choose a playground with clear zoning, regular staff patrols and clear safety indoor playground rules. Safety does not depend on luck，but on whether the playground's management is in place. Good management can significantly reduce the probability of accidents.
True safety is not about completely restrict kid’s play, but about pay attention to safety details when choosing a playground, and keep accompany and observe during their play time.
With good safety design, standardized operation, and reasonable guidance from parents, indoor playgrounds can truly become a space for kids to play freely, training ability and enjoy happiness.
