Playgrounds and outdoor play equipment provide fun, fresh air, and exercise, but they also can pose some safety hazards. Faulty equipment, improper surfaces, and careless behavior are just a few of the hazards of playgrounds. Many of these could be prevented with the proper supervision. You can make the playground a place that’s entertaining and safe for your kids by checking equipment for potential hazards and following some simple safety guidelines. And teaching kids how to play safely is important: If they know the rules of the playground, they’re less likely to get hurt. Playground injury is a serious and common childhood event.

The natural environment provides great opportunities for creative play. Creative play is essential for the development of children. Its a big learning experience for kids and give them essential development skills like:

• Learning about people, pets and the environment.
• Stimulating their imagination and satisfy their curiosity.
• Understanding the importance of rules and in different situations and environment.
• Developing logical thinking processes and extend and enhance their present abilities.
• Development of general social skills and self esteem.
• Learning from the failure and developing the art of not giving up.
• Ability to interact with the adults and developing team player attitude

To provide children with this learning environment a play space should incorporate areas for active, free, quiet, social, imaginative, creative, exploratory and natural play. This will allow children to learn while playing and using their imagination.

Safe Play Rules

• Always supervise your child and play fair.
• If you are paticipating in the game as well, than let the kids win, its good for their morale and they will not push themselves to the limits, causing accidents.
• Use equipment safely, sensibly and for their intended use.
• Adults should not try any stunts while kids are watching, kids will try to copy those stunts.
• Share with others and wait for your turn to use equipment.
• Play gently without violence, pushing and pulling can cause falls.
• Proper footwear and clothing to be worn while using play equipment to avoid any entrapment or strangling.
• Always inform the proper authority, if you find any equipment malfunctioning or broken, Don’t try to fix yourself, but put the sign up to inform others that its broken.