Adding a jungle gym to your home comes with the added worry of keeping your children safe while they play. We have all heard horror stories of children sustaining serious injuries while they were playing and want to avoid this for our little ones, but how do we keep them safe? Well, we are here to help you! With our top tips, including setting rules for children and adding safety features, you can keep your children safe in a jungle gym and reduce the risk of any serious injuries. Read on to find out how.
1. Consider the weather
First, you need to consider the weather and only play in the jungle gym when it is safe to do so. Wet and frosty conditions can make the surfaces of jungle gyms slippery, increasing the risk of your child falling and hurting themselves. Frost can also make the ground below the jungle gym harder, increasing the chance of an injury if they fall. You should avoid letting your child play in the jungle gym in these conditions and ensure any rainwater is cleaned or has dried before they play.
You also need to be careful in extremely hot conditions. Not only could your child burn if they are not wearing sunscreen, but metal jungle gyms don’t always absorb heat well and can be very hot to the touch. Your child might burn themselves, and you will want to ensure the jungle gym is not too hot before they head out to play.
2. Use the equipment as intended
You should ensure that all children using the jungle gym are playing with the equipment as intended. While you want to encourage imaginative play, using the equipment incorrectly can cause an injury. You will want to remind your children to avoid twisting swings, chains, or ropes. Doing so can injure them, but it can also weaken the materials, increasing the chance of an accident.
Supervising your children while they play in the jungle gym will ensure they are playing with the equipment correctly and allows you to intervene if they are not.
3. Set ground rules for your children
It is easy for children to get carried away when they are having fun and forget about safety, so make sure you set ground rules for children when they are playing. The rules you set might vary depending on the equipment on the jungle gym and the age of your children, but the rules might include:
- Not jumping off the swings while they are moving
- Not swinging at an angle or swinging empty seats
- Not hanging upside down on the jungle gym
- Not grabbing other children or stopping them from playing
- Not walking too close to swings or other items while they are being played with
For older children, it can be a good idea to set the rules together and create consequences for when the rules are broken, like not being allowed in the jungle gym. Setting these rules and supervising your children as they play will help to reduce the chance of accidents and keep everyone safe.
4. Add safety features
Most jungle gyms will come with plenty of safety features, but you can also add your own if needed. You might want to add fence boards, safety bars, or hand rails to platform areas to increase your child’s safety. Adding hand rails and other safety features will put your mind at ease and ensure that your children are safe while they play.
When choosing your jungle gym, consider the safety features included and whether the brand of jungle gym offers additional safety features that you can add to your jungle gym.
5. Instruct them on swing safety
Swings can be dangerous for children, so if your jungle gym comes with swings, make sure they are aware of the safety instructions they should follow. These include only having one child on a swing at a time, and that they sit in the centre of the seat. When using the swings, make sure you check the maximum capacity of the swing and the rest of the jungle gym while the swing is being used to keep them safe.
You will also want to remind them not to jump off the swing mid-air and to keep a safe distance from other children while they are swinging.
6. Don’t exceed the maximum capacity
Each jungle gym comes with a maximum capacity which needs to be adhered to. Overloading the jungle gym can reduce its durability and stability, putting your children at risk of an accident. You will find the maximum capacity stated on the jungle gym and you will need to make your children aware of it. While supervising them, make sure they do not exceed the maximum capacity. You might want to set a time limit so that every child gets to have their time in the jungle gym.
7. Keep a clear area around the jungle gym
Finally, you need to ensure the area around the jungle gym is clear. You do not want to put it near any buildings, fences, or trees, as these can pose a safety risk for your children. You will also want to keep the floor area clear and free from toys and any other outdoor furniture. Falling on a toy or garden chair will be very painful for your child and could increase the severity of their injuries.
Find your jungle gym today
Now that you know how to keep your child safe in a jungle gym, it’s time to add one to your garden. When choosing your jungle gym, we recommend checking out Vuly. They offer an impressive range of jungle gyms that provide hours of fun for your children while keeping them safe. Find your Vuly jungle gyms today.
