6 Ways to Keep Children Safe on Jungle Gyms

Jungle gyms provide hours of outdoor fun for children, offering a variety of activities to suit a wide range of ages and interests. But they come with the risk of injuries, especially if you don't assemble them correctly or teach your children how to play safely. We know how stressful this can be for parents, especially if you have never owned a jungle gym before or have small children. Luckily for you, we are here to help with a guide that walks you through 6 ways to keep your children safe in jungle gyms. 

1. Set Ground Rules

Perhaps most importantly, your children need ground rules when playing in the jungle gym to ensure their safety. The rules you set will vary, depending on the age and behaviour of your children, but many rules will be similar, including:

• Not jumping off the swings while they are moving 

• Not swinging at an angle or swinging empty seats

• Not hanging upside down on the jungle gym

• Not grabbing other children or stopping them from playing 

• Not walking too close to swings or other items while they are being played with 

Constant supervision is recommended, as it allows you to ensure your children are following the rules and to intervene should there be any issues or risk of injury. If you have older children, we recommend involving them in creating the rules, helping them feel more in control of them. You should also consider setting consequences for non-compliance, helping manage any behavioural challenges. 

Consider using timers when multiple children are playing in the jungle gym to ensure the maximum weight is not exceeded and that everyone gets a fair chance to use all activities. 

2. Use the Equipment as Intended 

The jungle gym should be used as intended to prevent any injuries. You must teach your children how to use the equipment correctly, so they can engage in imaginative play without worrying about injury. You should remind your children not to twist ropes, chains, or swings, as doing so can cause injuries and weaken the materials, increasing the risk of breakage. 

While your children are playing, make sure you are supervising them to ensure they use the equipment as intended. Constant supervision allows you to intervene quickly before an accident happens. 

3. Add Safety Features 

Jungle gyms typically include safety features, but we recommend adding your own, where needed, to keep your children extra safe as they play. These features could include: 

• Handrails on platform areas

• Safety bars

• Fence boards

• Rubber mats underneath swings 

When you choose your jungle gym, we recommend carefully reviewing the safety features included to ensure it is the right choice for your garden. You will also want to see which additional safety features you can add and whether the brand sells them as a bundle, making it easier and cheaper for you to keep your little ones safe. 

4. Check the Weather Beforehand

Before your child plays in the jungle gym, check the weather to ensure it is safe for them to play. Wet and frosty conditions make jungle gym surfaces slippery, increasing the risk of your children falling and injuring themselves. Frost also makes the ground below harder, increasing the risk of an injury if they fall. Playing in the jungle gym should be avoided in this weather to ensure their safety. After rain, you will want to ensure the water has dried or is wiped away to prevent slipping. 

You also need to be mindful of using the jungle gym in hot weather, especially if it's metal. Metal does not absorb heat well, so it can be hot to the touch and pose a burn risk to your child. You should check the forecast and the jungle gym yourself in hot weather before allowing your child to play on it. 

5. Teach Safe Swinging 

If the jungle gym has swings, you need to teach your child how to swing safely to prevent any injuries. This includes reminding them to have only one child on a swing at a time, sitting in the centre of the seat. You will want to remind them to be careful when walking past anyone on a swing and to check the maximum capacity of the swing and jungle gym to ensure they are used safely. 

6. Follow the Maximum Capacity

Each jungle gym has a maximum capacity, and you need to ensure you stay within it. Overloading a jungle gym reduces its stability, increasing the risk of an accident or injury. Regularly overloading the jungle gym can cause components to split or break, resulting in injuries to your children. The maximum capacity will be stated on the jungle gym, its packaging, or its user manual, so you can ensure it is not exceeded from the first use. 

Add a Jungle Gym to Your Garden Today 

By using these 6 methods, you can easily keep your children safe in the jungle gym. These methods can be adopted on jungle gyms in the park or your own garden. Adding a jungle gym to your garden will provide hours of fun for your children and keep them entertained for years. Vuly has an impressive range of jungle gyms to choose from, with sizes and prices to suit every garden and budget. Choose your Vuly jungle gym and transform your garden today!