Understand the Play Environment
Understand the Play Environment
Know the Children’s Abilities It is imperative that a playground supervisor understand the abilities of the children that he or she will be responsible for supervising. Infants, toddlers, and preschool children as well as children with disabilities may require a greater level of support than school-age children. The physical, cognitive, communicative, sensory, and social/emotional abilities of children on the playground may vary, and playground supervisors should be familiar with the skills and needs of the children in order to best support their development. (Playgrounds are typically intended for ages 2-5, 5-12, or 2-12.)
Very young children can often climb up before they have developed the ability to back down a climber. They are still developing their understanding of cause and effect, depth perception, and their sense of balance, and they may be unsteady on their feet when attempting new challenges. When supervising young children, be aware of the challenges they may face and be available to facilitate their development in appropriate ways while allowing for them to develop independence. Children with disabilities may have needs that impact their ability to fully independently access equipment on the playground. Assistance should be provided as needed while still encouraging the child to be as independent as possible. Some children may need additional support to help them actively participate and engage in play. Playground supervisors should be aware of any medical needs that might impact a child’s safety on the playground and guide them in choosing activities that would be most appropriate. (Example: sensitivity to sun exposure or temperature, heart conditions triggered by exertion, etc.) Supervisors should be informed about the needs of the children they are supervising so they can encourage and promote inclusive play and fun for everyone. Confidential information should be shared only with members of the child’s support team. When supporting older children, ensure that they are playing on age-appropriate equipment and are using the equipment correctly. Older children that become bored with equipment that does not provide developmentally appropriate risk and challenge may attempt inappropriate uses of the equipment.
This vandalized bubble panel has been damaged and should be replaced.
In addition to having unacceptable suracing under it, this metal slide may become superheated on excessively hot days.
Identify Facility-Related Hazards Children can be injured on playgrounds as a result of interaction with the facility or with each other. Facility- related hazards are hazards within the play environment. During active playground supervision, it is important for the supervisor to identify such hazards and take steps to remedy them.
Children with disabilities may need additional support and/or specialized equipment on the playground to promote active play.
Conditions to Look for During a Pre-play Site Inspection Due to the variation of sites and equipment, this list should not be considered to be all inclusive. Each facility should evaluate its unique needs when creating the pre-play site inspection criteria. Request the Playground Inspection and Maintenance Guide to understand the importance of playground maintenance and learn how to plan guidelines for maintenance procedures. The guide can be found at playcore.com/maintenance. 1. Environmental Hazards Weather ¨ ¨ Is there any impact from rain, snow, wind or excessive heat? ¨ ¨ Does the surfacing and equipment show good drainage (no puddles)? ¨ ¨ Are the surfacing and equipment free from ice? ¨ ¨ Is all equipment, including slides and surfacing, a reasonable temperature?
In addition to the regular maintenance staff inspections of the playground, pre-play site inspections should take place before each use of the playground. Changes are constantly occurring to the playground as a result of climate, use, and/or vandalism. The pre-play inspection only takes a few minutes of time but is vital to improving the safety of the play environment. During a pre-play inspection, the supervisor is looking for anything that seems out of order or abnormal. If a condition is found that may present a hazard and it cannot be corrected immediately, the playground or a portion of it may need to be closed temporarily. Clearly communicate any playground closures to all staff and children. Playground supervisors should work with the owner or their representative to determine the best method of closing the playground. The organization may benefit from developing a formal work order process or a simple maintenance request form to remedy any facility-related hazards.
Group Activity #2 Playground supervisors should go outside to become familiar with the playground equipment using the map they drew in Group Activity #1. Note the following areas on your map. • Explore abilities that might influence how and/or whether particular age groups should use varying play components. Note components or areas that are “off limits” to certain age groups. • Discuss ways to promote inclusion and promote active engagement among children with and without disabilities. Often, children can participate in the same activities even if they participate in a different way. • Identify equitable play activities for children of all abilities.
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Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
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