kids outdoor play gym

The Ground Beneath the Children's Feet

Not only does outdoor play equipment need to meet safety standards, but so does what is under it. Allowing preschoolers to play on equipment that is over plain dirt, soil or a grassy area isn't safe. Playgrounds should have a minimum of 12 inches of mulch, wood chips, rubber mulch or sand underneath it, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. All outdoor play areas, whether they have equipment on them or not, should have obstacle-free surfaces. This means that concrete shouldn't have cracks in it, teachers should remove all rocks and debris from play areas, and the space shouldn't contain any natural obstacles such as tree stumps.