• The playground can be a wonderful place for children to get some exercise, but remember safety precautions.Playground fun image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
  
  Each year, more than 200,000 children go to hospital emergencies rooms across the country with playground-related injuries. About 45 percent of the injuries are considered severe---internal injuries, broken bones, dislocations, concussions and even amputations. Many of these incidents are preventable. As caregivers, nannies are responsible for ensuring the children they care for are safe on the playground.
  
  

Choosing a Safe Playground

• Before taking a child out to play, a nanny should first make sure the playground is safe. Many injuries are related to falls, so a safe playground has soft surfaces under play equipment. Soft surfaces should extend at least 6 feet past the equipment. Rubber, sand or wood chips are all safe surfaces. The playground should be free of broken glass or debris that could cause a child to trip and fall. All equipment should be in working order.
  
  

Supervising

• The nanny must always supervise children at the playground. Make sure the playground is designed so caregivers can easily see the playing children, and keep a close watch for dangerous behavior. Children are not always aware of dangers themselves and can easily misjudge distances. Some children also like to test the limits of rules, and must be reminded of safe behavior.
  
  Make sure children are playing on age-appropriate toys. Children who are younger than 5 years might not have the upper arm strength to play on some climbing toys.
  
  

Teaching Children Safety

• Before going to the park or playground, nannies should talk to children about appropriate behavior. Children should never push each other or roug-house on the equipment. Nannies can teach children to slide feet first, and to make sure the slide is clear before they go down. Standing on swings is also unsafe.
  
  Make sure children know the importance of using sunscreen, and help them apply it before playing. Remove any loose clothing, necklaces or other items that could get caught on equipment.
  
  

Other Considerations

• Everyone can do their part to make playgrounds safe and clean. Nannies can play a special role, teaching children to clean up debris and garbage when they see it and teaching proper use of equipment. Caregivers should also report any broken equipment or other hazards to the appropriate authorities.