Playground Resources

Playground Inspection Kits include the equipment necessary to check for head and neck entrapment hazards, as well as protrusion and entanglement hazards, on playgrounds.

Whether you are a park and recreation professional, caregiver or parent, NRPA provides resources that will help you to keep the children of your community safe when exploring their local playgrounds.

Playground Inspection Kits

Playground Inspection Kits include the equipment necessary to check for head and neck entrapment hazards, as well as protrusion and entanglement hazards, on playgrounds. To learn more, visit nrpa.org/PlaygroundSafety.

The Daily Dozen

The Daily Dozen Playground Safety Checklist is a 12-point checklist designed for parents and caregivers to help identify safety hazards within play spaces to ensure children have safe places to learn and explore. The checklist provides safety information on the following: 1. Proper surfacing – Maintaining proper surfacing is one of the most important factors in reducing the likelihood of playground injuries. 2. Accessibility – Equipment selection and location, along with the type of protective surfacing, are key componenets to ensuring opportunities for children with disabilities to play on the playground. 3. Adequate supervision – Play areas should be designed so it is easy for a parent or caregiver to observe the children at play. 4. Age-appropriate equipment – It is important to make sure the equipment in the playground setting is appropriate for the age of the intended user. 5. Proper equipment – There is some playground equipment that is not recommended for use on public playgrounds. 6. Adequate-use zones – These zones are the area around playground equipment onto which a child may fall and must have proper surfacing.