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Safe Playground Equipment for Early Childhood Programs

by Donna Thompson, Susan Hudson, Heather Olsen
March/April 2005
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Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/safe-playground-equipment-for-early-childhood-programs/5016220/

Playgrounds for early childhood programs are places where children can play freely �" exploring the natural environment, learning about their bodies, creating friendships, practicing physical skills. Many centers build in experiences not typically found outdoors by including opportunities to explore music, art, dramatic play, woodworking along with the physical play that involves playground equipment. However, in recent years, there is a sense of urgency to the questions program directors ask about playgrounds: What kind of equipment is available to the children? How safe is that equipment?

In April, 2000, The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) released the results of the most comprehensive national survey of child care, school, and park playgrounds ever undertaken. A total of 3,052 playgrounds were assessed. Of those, 1,163 (38%) were child care playgrounds.

NPPS sought to replicate this study in the Spring of 2003, by re-visiting the sites identified in the 2000 report. Again, all 50 states were visited. Overall, many states significantly increased their safety ratings as the nation improved its grade by moving from a C to a C+. (That report card for the United States is available on our web site: www.playgroundsafety.org). However, in the child care sector, the grade (C+) ...

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