Playground Safety

In recognition of National Playground Safety Week in April, Dignity Memorial® Escape School® encourages adult supervision of children at playgrounds.

Playgrounds help children build strength, coordination and social skills. They also make children more vulnerable to predators who frequent public areas. Though the victims' ages and circumstances may vary, the Department of Justice estimates that more than 50,000 children fall prey to non-family abductions each year. While the rate of recovery in such kidnappings is high, the trauma of abduction may affect the victims for the rest of their lives. Abductions and attempted abductions have occurred on playgrounds, which are havens of fun to children but are also attractive to predators.

In addition to guarding against the physical injuries that could occur on a playground, parents must guard against this human hazard. Here are some playground safety tips:

• Keeping track of more than one child at a playground can be challenging. If the playground is very large, encourage kids to stay within a few yards of each other.
• If an adult is responsible for several children but a mishap or injury focuses attention on one child, the other children should be called over to "help."
• To keep busy at the playground, choose activities that allow you to also keep your eyes on your children, like returning cell phone calls or getting pictures of the kids at play.
• Some playgrounds may seem like perfect spots for endless games of hide-and-go seek. Too many hiding places, though, can spell trouble. If you're not comfortable with the visibility at one playground, switch to another.
• A visit to a public restroom always requires adult supervision. Sadly, unattended children have been abducted or assaulted in public restrooms. Should the child be of the opposite sex, the parent can cover his or her eyes on the way to the stall, if necessary.
• Never assume that another adult is watching your children. This sometimes happens when two or more families go on outings together. Instead, think of yourself as an extra set of eyes for the other family's kids, and vice-versa.
• Never assume that your spouse is watching the children. Children have been lost more than once because each spouse thought that the other was watching. You and your spouse should watch the children as a team. If you have to leave for a moment, always communicate to your partner that you are leaving the children in his or her care.
• To keep busy at the playground, choose activities that allow you to also keep your eyes on your children, like returning cell phone calls or getting pictures of the kids at play.
• Some playgrounds may seem like perfect spots for endless games of hide-and-go seek. Too many hiding places, though, can spell trouble. If you're not comfortable with the visibility at one playground, switch to another.
• A visit to a public restroom always requires adult supervision. Sadly, unattended children have been abducted or assaulted in public restrooms. Should the child be of the opposite sex, the parent can cover his or her eyes on the way to the stall, if necessary.
• Never assume that another adult is watching your children. This sometimes happens when two or more families go on outings together. Instead, think of yourself as an extra set of eyes for the other family's kids, and vice-versa.
• Never assume that your spouse is watching the children. Children have been lost more than once because each spouse thought that the other was watching. You and your spouse should watch the children as a team. If you have to leave for a moment, always communicate to your partner that you are leaving the children in his or her care.