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OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
FUN, EDUCATIONAL AND SAFEPresented byPatricia Earle
Outdoor Environment as CurriculumGross/Fine Motor
Social/EmotionalScience and
NatureSensory
Creative
MathLanguage and
LiteracyDramatic Play
BENEFITS OF THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
For Teachers
For Children
For the CommunityFor the
Environment
FOR TEACHERS
Easier Classroom Management
Easier Clean-Up
Health Benefits
Teachable Moments
FOR CHILDREN
More Freedom/Fewe
r RulesHealth
Benefits
Learning Opportunities FUN
http://Nature Deficit Disorder
FOR THE COMMUNITY
www.childrennatureandyou.org
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAwareness • Of Nature
Knowledge • About Nature
Appreciation • Enjoyment
Action • Protect
Save the children Save the earth
http://www.childrennatureandyou.org/resources.html
WEB SITES FOR PLAYGROUND SAFETY
http://www.cpsc.gov/ Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.nrpa.org/ National Recreation and Parks Association
http://playgroundsafety.org/ Nation Program for Playground Safety
http://NPPS Safety Checklist
ASTM OFFICIAL STANDARDS
http://www.astm.org/Standards/F1487.htm ASTM 2-12 Years
http://www.astm.org/Standards/F2373.htm ASTM 6-23 Months
American Society for Testing and Materials
The Dirty Dozen
NRPA's National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) has identified twelve of the leading causes of injuries on playgrounds, and published "The Dirty Dozen - A Checklist for Safe Playgrounds," a brochure that identifies and discusses the twelve most common safety concerns and leading causes of injuries on playgrounds.
Explore-Parks-and-Recreation/National-Initiatives/The-Dirty-Dozen
Link to pdf
Safety Checklist for Active Play Areas The following checklist is based primarily on the recommendations of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as specified in their current Handbook for Public Playground Safety, and the current ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Standards. Not every recommendation is included in this checklist; refer to the handbook and the standard for complete information. Successfully completing this checklist will help you make your play area safer. You will need a yardstick and/or measuring tape to complete this checklist. By checking “Yes” below, you confirm that the recommendation has been met or that a hazard is NOT present. When you check “No”, be sure to make a corrective action plan on the last page of the checklist. ******Handout provided
S.A.F.E. — NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
SUPERVISION
AGE-APPROPRIATE
FALL SURFACING
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE
A QUICK CHECKLIST FOR PARENTSKEEP YOUR CHILDREN S.A.F.E. Place this list in a prominent area of your home for quick reference. Then, before your
children head out the door for the playground, check that: Supervision is present, but strings and ropes aren't. Adult presence is needed to watch for potential hazards, observe, intercede and facilitate
play when necessary. Strings on clothing or ropes used for play can cause accidental strangulation if caught on equipment.
All children play on Age-appropriate equipment. Preschoolers, ages 2 - 5, and children ages 5 - 12, are developmentally different and need
different equipment located in separate areas to keep the playground safe and fun for all. Falls to surface are cushioned. Nearly 70 percent of all playground injuries are related to falls to the surface. Acceptable
surfaces include hardwood fiber/mulch, pea gravel, sand and synthetic materials such as poured-in-place, rubber mats or tiles. Playground surfaces should not be concrete, asphalt, grass, blacktop, packed dirt or rocks.
Equipment is safe. Check to make sure the equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces
are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed, bolts are not protruding, there are no exposed footings, etc.
Safety checklists are available from the CPSC or the National Program for Playground Safety.
