Playground Safety and Design Resources
Tired of Playground Hassles and Headaches?
In addition to using books and magazines to find out about playgrounds, why not use the power of the Internet for other playground resources? The links below will get you started with information on safety, school playgrounds, kids websites, playground design and information for parents.
For more information on playground safety, contact The Consumer Product Safety Commission at (800) 638- 2772 or www.cpsc.gov . You can view the “Handbook for Playground Safety” (pdf) and the “Public Playground Safety Checklist” or get a free copy by writing to CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.
Peaceful Playgrounds Brochure
Why not request a Peaceful Playgrounds Product Brochure for your school or one of your colleagues? Looking for funds to implement our program in your school? Download our Grant Template. How has the Peaceful Playgrounds Program improved your school?
Right to Recess Campaign
Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.
Playground Safety
Safer Playgrounds for Young Children. ERIC Digest. – Why Playground Injuries Occur. Playgrounds can be exciting areas where children explore their environment while developing motor and social skills. Yet each year, almost 200,000 children are treated at hospital emergency rooms for injuries occurring on playgrounds (Frost, 1990).
Playing it Safe: June 2000 – The fifth nationwide investigation of public playgrounds by the Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG) and Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that a majority of American playgrounds pose hidden threats to our nation’s youngsters.
Public Playground Safety Checklist – Use this simple checklist to help make sure your local community or school playground is a safe place to play.
CPSC – Checklist Safe Playgrounds - When you drop your child off at school use this checklist to make sure these hidden hazards aren’t waiting to cause injury or death.
Playground Safety Tips – General tips and guidelines for planning a safe play area for children. S-A-F-E tips and guidelines: Supervision, Age-Appropriate design, Fall surfacing and Equipment maintenance are explored.
School Playground Behavior Report
School Playgrounds
KaBoom- Research citations on the importance of recess and play – Displayed in quick read factoids, KaBoom cites research on the importance of recess and play for today’s children.
The Dodgeball Debate
NASPE Position Statement on Dodgeball
According to NASPE dodgeball is not an appropriate activity for K-12 school physical education programs. The purpose of physical education is to provide students with:
1) The knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to be physically active for a lifetime.
2) A daily dose of physical activity for health benefits and
3) Positive experiences so that kids want to be physically active outside of physical education class and throughout their lifetime.
Some kids may like it–the most skilled, the most confident. But many do not. Certainly not the student who gets hit hard in the stomach, head, or groin. And it is not appropriate to teach our children that you win by hurting others.
