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I have to admit I have an accident-prone child. Nearly once a week I receive a report from my son’s after-school care provider because my son has injured himself on the playground once again.
Since I do not blame anyone else when I slip and fall, I don’t expect any different for my son. Accidents are not intentional, but they do bring to light some risk-mitigation steps that may reduce the risk of injuries on playgrounds, especially for accident-prone children.
Playground Obstacles
Obstacles seem to be a large cause of injuries. An effective way to minimize the risk of children running into picnic tables or poles (writes the mother who has been to the emergency room with a son who knocked himself out on a metal pole) is to designate a play area in which to run around. Keep playground equipment in one section, and provide a clear, open area in another. Differentiate the two areas by changing the mulch color, or separating them with a fence.