A garden is not just for planting and relaxing, it is often also a playground for children. It is therefore important that you pay close attention to safety here.
A lovingly designed garden is something beautiful. If children can also play in it carefree and, above all, safely, then that is of course even better. After all, it can happen so quickly that something happens to the little ones while playing. Not only that they could fall and injure themselves. No, a garden generally poses risks for children here and there. That's why it's important to make your garden safe for children. But of course you also have to pay attention to a few points regarding safety with the playground equipment on a playground you have created yourself. So that nothing happens to your children, we have listed the most important points here.
By the way:
If your children have friends over, you are responsible for their safety and are liable for them accordingly. So you are responsible around the clock to ensure that nobody gets injured in your garden or on your children's playground equipment.
How to make the playground in the garden safe
❶ Do not integrate poisonous plants in the garden:
The garden is a fascinating place for children. Here they can not only romp and be creative, but also learn a lot about plants, animals and the seasons. Of course you should always keep a watchful eye on your children, but sometimes you can't keep your eyes on everything at the same time. It is therefore very important that you do not integrate any poisonous plants around the playground and preferably also in the garden in general. These include, for example:
- Ivy
- Laburnum
- Holly
- Deadly Nightshade
- Spindle Hat
- Monkshood
- Lily of the Valley
- Foxglove
- Larkspur
- Christmas Roses
- Autumn Crocus
Important: there are also poisonous weeds. Therefore, be sure to pay attention when new plants suddenly appear in the garden that you did not plant.
❷ Pay attention to safety when buying play equipment:
Only buy playground equipment that has the TÜV GS mark for tested safety. Also look out for:
- as stable as possible designs/woods
- solid and custom-fit constructions
- Cracks where entrapment is possible
- Galvanized steel fasteners and screws
- sharp corners and edges
- weather-resistant and colourfast plastic
In principle, it makes sense to use play equipment made of wood. If they are pressure-treated, for example, they are not only extremely robust, moisture and cold also do not affect the wood's statics. The wood for playground equipment is usually resistant to mould, rot and pest infestation. Wooden swing frames, sandpits and playhouses are therefore very durable and require little maintenance. Playground equipment made from robinia, for example, has a lifespan of around 30 years. Then even the grandchildren can play with them.
❸ Set up play equipment safely:
You can already do quite a few things wrong when setting up or laying out the playground in the garden. First of all, you should make sure that you set up the playground equipment on a level surface.
When assembling, you should also remember that you anchor all parts firmly in the ground. For example, by burying the posts deep enough or, even better, embedding them in concrete. In this way you can effectively prevent the devices from tipping over later. You should also keep a safety distance of at least two meters from play equipment to play equipment or trees, walls, etc.
When purchasing the playground equipment, also make sure that all wooden components are rounded and firmly glued and that all screw connections can be recessed and protected. This is the only way to prevent your children from getting caught on the protruding parts with clothing, jewelery or hair. Therefore always prefer screwing to nailing the parts.
❹ Think about fall protection:
Wherever children play, you should always think about so-called fall protection. In order to avoid injuries when romping around, it is advisable to place natural materials such as bark mulch, sand or fine gravel under the swing and climbing frame or to spread out so-called fall protection mats. The only important thing is that the water can seep away underneath so that the playground equipment doesn't stand in puddles for a long time.
Such fall protection is really extremely important, because it has to be done every yearAccording to Zürich Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft, for example, around 9,000 children in Austria are hospitalized after accidents involving playground equipment.
❺ Maintain playground equipment regularly:
Just like you do with your garden shed, garden furniture, etc., you also have to regularly maintain your children's playground equipment and check it for damage. Check if:
- the playground equipment is still secure
- Protruding screws or nails
- Wood splinters are visible
- Ropes, ladders, etc. are secure and in good condition
If you integrate a sandbox in the garden, it is best to always cover it with a plastic tarpaulin during the cold season and regularly check the ropes or chains and seats on the swing. The same applies to the safety net on the trampoline.
Conclusion:
So that you can watch your children playing in the garden without worrying, you should definitely follow our safety tips. This reduces the likelihood that your little ones will injure themselves slightly or even seriously while playing. More about:
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