The competitive advantages of opening a children's play area in a shopping centre or in a place such as a restaurant or a book store are many. Allocating a recreation space for the little ones makes your business more attractive for the whole family.
However, before you start buying playground or sensory play equipment from an indoor playground supplier and simply placing it in any available area, it is important to know about the most frequent safety risks of children's play areas.
You can then avoid them through preventive actions and correct planning. An accident that can be attributed to the lack of precaution or responsibility on the part of your company can be very expensive.
Therefore, we recommend that you take into account the following safety and maintenance checklist for children's games.
1. Correctly delimited playground
The first and most important thing is to make sure that the play area where you will place the modules and other amenities, is correctly defined. Shopping centres and stores are normally very busy spaces, as well as being open to the general public.When the play area is not physically separated from passageways or areas with general access, there is a risk of collisions with passers-by or losing sight of children.
The perimeter can be done with planters, fences, or other structures. The important thing is that they prevent the children from dispersing and allow the caregivers to have good visibility.
2. Sufficient space between the children's games and the perimeter of the play area
Because children are prone to running and being distracted while playing, it is not recommended that playground equipment be too close to the walls or other structures that define the perimeter of the area. At least a two-metre space should be considered between the modules and the walls to reduce the risk of accidents and collisions.3. Games suitable for different ages
Most playground equipment is designed for age ranges of one to two years, two to five years, or five to twelve years. A play area that has sections suitable for children of different ages will attract more families.In the event that there is not enough space or budget to place modules for each age, priority should be given to games for children of the age that most visit the premises.
4. Sufficient space between modules
Many playgrounds have two or more modules, which are designed for children of different ages. There must be a separation of at least three metres between them. The same goes for individual equipment and other amenities.5. Adequate capacity
All playground modules can handle a maximum weight, and that translates into a certain maximum number of children playing at the same time. It is important to consider the purchase of modules that can cope with the flow of children in the area. Indicate the maximum capacity and avoid exceeding it.6. Maximum fall height, protections and rails
No surface of children's play equipment should be higher than three metres. In addition, it must have adequate protection and handrails that significantly restrict any risk of falling. Before buying equipment, it is important to review all possible points where a child could climb, slip and fall.7. Shock and fall cushioning
The impact and fall zones are those that are under the children's play unit and those where slides end. These must be cushioning protection that can be made of a material such as rubber. It is considered that for every two metres of fall height, it is necessary to place at least a foot of non-compact padding. Some manufacturers include the cushioning in the installation of children's play equipment.8. Proper fixing of the installation
The modular playgrounds are subjected to continual mechanical impact, so if they are not properly secured to the ground, they risk damage which might eventually lead to accidents when the structure falters.To avoid this, it is necessary to supervise the correct fixing during the installation, as well as to check frequently that all the parts of the equipment remain firm and that there are no loose or bent parts.
9. Structural components without damage or risk of entrapment
As for general maintenance, it is important to carry out a thorough inspection looking for dangerous wear on the materials that can cause cuts or scrapes. Likewise, inspect that there are no spaces between parts where fingers, limbs or children's hair can get caught.10. Safety signs
Finally, we must not forget to place safety signs so that parents know what their responsibility is when leaving children in the playground and for what ages they are suitable. For indoor children's games, use without shoes is recommended.You can find a wide variety of modular children's games and play equipment to choose from. So it should be no problem to find those that best suit your needs and the space available. Make sure that all equipment is designed following the strictest quality guidelines and with very resistant materials that are easy to maintain.
