Setting swing set rules for your kids is important. It is important kids have fun. But it is equally important they remain safe too. Swing sets can provide hours of fun and entertainment. They are one of the best presents you can give your children. They provide activity and healthy exercise in an enjoyable way and create memories children will treasure all their lives. But if they are misused it can result in jury. That's where setting swing set rules for your kids comes in.
The Importance of Rule Setting for Your Family
By setting swing set rules you can ensure your kids have lots of fun and also stay safe. Setting rules for your children creates structure and help them learn what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Rules should be consistent, and, so that children don’t become confused, you should always make sure to follow through. It is important children don’t get mixed messages about what is okay and what is not okay. Learning to follow rules at home will keep your children safe and teach them the importance of following rules in other places.
It is normal for children to test rules by testing limits. This is why follow through with consistent consequences is important. Sometimes, of course, children will simply forget rules when they are having fun playing. Ensuring children are familiar with following rules will help prevent this from happening. Ensuring consequences always follow breaking rules will also help your child to keep rules at the front of their minds.
It is important that all caregivers in the household follow the same rules and consequences. Doing otherwise will only confuse the child. Discuss rules with other caregivers in the household so you can agree on a set of rules and any consequences. You may want to post rules in a prominent place where everyone can see them. Remind children about rules until you are sure they are clear on them and will remember them. Most injuries to children occur because proper safety procedures were not followed. Proper safety rules, such as setting swing set rules, can prevent most injuries to children from occurring.
Setting Swing Set Rules
Swing sets are great fun for your kids. But you want to ensure they stay safe as they play on play equipment. That is why setting swing set rules are so important. Ensure every child in your household, and their friends who play over, know the basic safety rules and adhere to them. This will set important boundaries to keep them safe. By setting swing set rules, the possibility of your child getting injured is decreased. Teach your child basic safety behaviour with these easy steps.
- Make sure they know the rules.
- Explain why you are insisting on the rules.
- Be consistent with ensuring children follow the rules.
- Follow through on consistent consequences if children do not follow the rules.
Most Important Swing Set Rules for Kids
Make sure your child knows proper swing set behaviour. Setting swing set rules is good common-sense that will ensure your child uses the swing set safely.
- Ensure your children know not to play on a wet swing set. Wet, slippery surfaces are a safety hazard. A wet swing set could cause your children to slip and hurt themselves. After a rain, make sure your children wait until the swing set dries. To avoid a slippery surface always consider these surface materials to put under a swing set. For further safety assurance, you could dry the swing set yourself with a dry cloth before they resume playing on it.
- Make sure your children know that never in any circumstances are they allowed to run behind or in front of a swing when it is in use except from a safe distance. Make sure they know what a safe distance is. And ensure they know how to safely walk away from the swing set while other children are still using it.
- Teach your children to take turns. This is a valuable social skill for children to learn with playsets like the swing set. Also warn children to never push each other too high on a swing, as this can lead to a higher risk of injury. Children should not be pushed to a height that is higher than they would be capable of safely jumping from. This is usually not more than double the child’s height when they are standing on the ground.
- Make sure children know never to stare directly into the sun as they swing. This could cause a temporary impairment of vision that could lead to a fall and injury.
- Ensure children know the dangers of pushing and shoving and showing off on a platform. Pushing and shoving from a high distance at the top of a play tower or at the top of a slide could lead to a child falling and injuring themselves or another child. Although swing sets have enclosures to maximize safety, accidents can still happen if safety procedures are not followed. It is important for children to know how to engage safely with each other to minimize accidents.
- Instruct children that only one child should use a swing at a time. Otherwise, they risk overloading the swing. The extra stress on the swing can cause it to collapse and cause injury.
- Make sure children know to sit safely on the center of swing. Kneeling or standing on a swing can be dangerous. And sitting on the edge of the swing can cause a child to overbalance. Make sure they know to hold on tight to the supporting ropes or chains with both hands.
- Ensure children know not to swing empty swings as this could cause injury. Twisting the ropes or chains can cause damage to the swing set. The twisted material could also unravel to quickly for the child to react and cause injury.
- Instruct children never to jump off a moving swing or jump from a slide or the upper platform. Ensure they know how dangerous this could be. Children should be taught how to use swing sets safely in the manner in which it was intended.
- Teach children to pick up after themselves. If the swing set includes a sand box, ensure your child knows to put buckets and spades and other accessory toys away after playtime. If the sandbox has a lid, make sure they know to cover the sand box. That way you will not be caught off guard with a sudden bout of rain ruining your sand.
- Children need to learn to respect their play equipment. Although swing sets are built to be durable, they will last longer if children are taught not to mistreat them. Children should be taught to respect property in general and getting your children involved in cleaning off dirt and debris will teach them a valuable lesson in caring for property for life.
- Additional safety rules if your swing set has a slide attached. You should ensure your child always slides down the slide feet first. And that they use the safety steps and never run up the slide. Children should not go down the slide while holding objects in their hands as this leads to increased risk of injury. Children should be taught to check there is no one at the end of the slide before they slide down, so they don’t injure another child. Teach children to wait their turn and not to slide down until the previous child has safely exited the slide and moved out of the way.
Setting swing set rules protects your child from injury. These simple rules will help ensure your child stays safe while enjoying all the fun of a swing set.
Other Considerations in Swing Set Safety
Before setting the swing set rules ensure that you have the best quality swing set. Buying a cheap swing set is never a safe or even a lasting solution.
Ensure swing sets are securely anchored in their foundations. Make sure there is adequate space around the swing set for your child to play safely. Swing sets should be positioned at least six feet away from other structures. Make sure the area around the swing set is free from obstructions that could injure a child if they should fall.
Inspect swing sets regularly for signs of breaks, rust and cracks. Swing sets will incur scrapes, dents and other signs of wear and tear after prolonged use. But ensure there is no major damage. Breaks, rust and cracks in swing sets could compromise the swing set’s safety. Routinely check that bolts and hooks are securely fastened and have not worked loose. Check for frayed ropes or other broken materials. Ensure there are no sharp or jagged edges your child could catch on and injure themselves.
It is a good idea to set your swing set on a protective surface such as rubber or mulch. Most injuries associated with swing sets come from falls. With a protective surface, a fall doesn’t have to result in tears. You will need to research how deep the chosen protective surface needs to be to protect a child from a fall as different materials require different depths. Covering exposed screws can prevent scrapes and cuts. You may want to cover your swing set in winter to protect it from weather damage. Taking good care of your swing set will ensure it remains in good shape so your child can enjoy it for years to come.
Small children should never be left unsupervised when using swing sets. Children should only play on swings that are appropriate for their age. Infants and toddlers under three years out should only use full-bucket swing seats.