Playgrounds provide a great source of exercise and a place where children can socialise, play creatively and test their skills.

Ensuring that while children play, they are safe cannot be ignored on the playground as this will contribute to a healthy active lifestyle in the long run.

Injuries are often thought of as a normal part of play at the playground. While minor injuries, like bumps and bruises, will happen, some injuries are more serious and can prevent a child from getting the most out of healthy, physical activities. Therefore such serious injuries should and can be prevented.

Children aged 14 and under are usually taken to the hospital because they are badly hurt from falls on the playground. But there is something you can do to keep them safe. The first step towards ensuring this is by choosing playgrounds that have safer designs and supervise your children at the same time.

Here are a few tips on how to ensure that your children have a good and safe play on the playground.

. Start with equipment that young children can use safely, instead of expecting your children to grow into the equipment. Young children are often injured on equipment designed for older children. To help make sure that your home equipment is appropriate for the age of your children, build your play space in stages. A good rule to follow: If a child is too small to reach and use equipment by himself, it is not designed for children his age.

. Falls are the number one cause of injury. There are several ways you can keep children from getting badly hurt from falls from playground equipment:

A deep, soft surface will cushion falls and prevent many injuries. Provide a loose-fill surface, such as sand or wood chips, of at least six to 12 inches deep under swings, climbers and slides to cushion falls. Higher equipment needs deeper surfacing and ensure that you keep heights low.

. Swing seats should be made of soft material such as rubber. Many injuries occur when children are hit with a hard swing seat.

. Make sure there is lots of space around equipment. TIt is recommended that there be 6 feet (1.8 metres) between any two pieces of play equipment, as well as between equipment and fencing or other structures. Swings and slides require even more space. Many backyards will not allow this much space so you may need to adjust your design. Keep spacing in mind when you plan your yard and playground.

. Equipment should be firmly anchored in the ground.

.There should be no points which can catch children's clothing.

.Take off anything that could strangle your child before he goes out to play. Take off any strings or drawstrings on your child's clothing.

. Always supervise young children when playing near water as toddlers can drown in a few inches of water. Empty large pails and wading pools when you leave the play area. If you have a backyard swimming pool, make sure you surround it on all four sides with a fence that is at least four feet high, and that has a self-closing, self-latching gate. Other water features like fountains and small ponds should also be kept separate from children's play spaces.

. Inspect your backyard playground regularly (several times each month) and make repairs or remove broken equipment.

*Supervise actively. For children younger than five years, stay very close to them as they play. Be ready to catch them when they are on equipment. Keep them on equipment under five feet high. And keep an eye on older children too; they like to take chances but do not necessarily understand risks.