28.3: Considerations for Creating Safe and Stimulating Outdoor Play Spaces

Safe but Stimulating

It is important to know what makes a good outdoor play space for infants and toddlers. Outdoor play spaces should be treated as an extension of the indoor environment. Suitable outdoor play spaces:

• Provide safe and stimulating places to play and explore
• Accommodate the differing needs, skills, and interests of young infants, mobile infants, and toddlers, including those with suspected delays and identified disabilities
• Support nurturing adult-child interactions
• Accommodate adult needs for comfort
• Reflect staff and family beliefs, values, and culture
• Incorporate natural elements and native plant life

Easy access to the outdoors is desirable to accommodate the daily rhythms of toddlers. Access to a playground allows caregivers to respond to a child's changing needs, but in many centers, time on the playground is rigidly scheduled and may not accommodate the toddlers’ needs. Programs can individualize their outdoor play spaces: caregivers, other staff, and even families consider what they want infants and toddlers to experience in the outdoor space. They decide on the materials, equipment, and other design elements that support these experiences. Whether programs modify an existing space or create a new one, designing outdoor play spaces provides an excellent opportunity to involve families and collaborate with local resources and partners. Programs may find partnership opportunities with agricultural extension agencies, plant nurseries, landscape professionals, playground architects, artists, civic organizations, and businesses.

Center-based outdoor play spaces should be designed according to the guidelines in the most recent edition of the Public Playground Safety Handbook from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Home-based programs that provide socialization spaces with outdoor areas or public playgrounds during socializations may also look at the Public Playground Safety Handbook for relevant information. Family childcare providers who have backyards can review Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook.

All programs can review relevant sections of the Caring for Our Children (CFOC) special collection, Caring for Infants and Toddlers in Early Care and Education (I/T).

A Closer Look at Safety Considerations

Safety is perhaps the most common concern that interferes with active participation in outdoor play. Infants and toddlers are budding scientists. They actively investigate the world using their senses and appear to possess no fear when exploring with their hands, mouths, or bodies. Infants and toddlers are just beginning to understand what is and is not safe and how to protect themselves. They need responsible adults to minimize outdoor health and safety risks and eliminate the most dangerous hazards so they can explore and play safely.

Risk and Challenge

As caregivers consider safety, it is important to realize that no one can eliminate every possible risk. Minor bumps, cuts, scrapes, and bruises are commonplace. Some risk-taking is important and necessary for young children's growth and development. (Almeras, Creating a Nature-Based Culture, slides 34–36.) Risk-taking teaches young children what is and is not possible. It also sets the stage for managing challenging situations later in life. What is considered safe or unsafe depends partly on children's ages and developmental levels (e.g., sand is deemed safe for toddlers but not for young infants, even with close supervision).

Reducing risk does not mean limiting play equipment or enforcing rules that restrict young children's movement or ability to explore the environment. An ideal outdoor play space encourages children to challenge themselves while also presenting little risk for injury: ideally, an area with high challenge but low risk. Studies show high challenge, low risk playgrounds are the best at promoting the goals of outdoor learning. Children get more physical activity; develop better physical, cognitive, and social skills, including respect for others; and are happier and more resilient. (Farmer, et al., "Change of School Playground Environment on Bullying: A Randomized Controlled Trial.")

Outdoor Policies

Balancing outdoor play and exploration with safety means first implementing active supervision for all children, then reaching a common understanding with all adults of what it means to keep infants and toddlers healthy and safe while providing appropriate challenges. This includes identifying the benefits of risk-taking and defining reasonable risks.

Here are examples of what to include in outdoor policies:

• Requirements related to Active Supervision (U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start, Active Supervision.) are essential in keeping children safe outdoors. For example, caregivers need to:
• Maintain a 1:4 staff-child ratio at all times.
• Use mobile phones or walkie-talkies to communicate between adults outdoors and indoors quickly and easily and, if necessary, emergency services.
• Position themselves to see and hear children and use the time to observe children and engage with them rather than visiting with each other. During socialization, parents should interact one on one with their child.
• Continually scan the outdoor play space to know where everyone is and what they are doing, and count children frequently, especially during transitions to and from the outdoor space.
• Use what they know about each child's interests and skills to predict what they will do.
• Create challenges children are ready for and support them in succeeding.
• Offer different levels of assistance or redirection depending on each child's needs.

Weather-related policies define when it is acceptable to take children outside. Outdoor experiences can occur in all kinds of weather conditions, including rain, snow, heat, cold, and wind, if common-sense precautions and safety procedures are taken. For example:

• Monitor air quality. Some air quality levels pose significant health and safety risks for young children and adults.
• Do not take children outside when there are blizzards, lightning, thunderstorms, or extremely hot or cold temperatures.
• Know the appropriate types of child and adult clothing for different weather conditions. Whenever possible, provide extra outdoor clothing for children and adults. The lack of proper clothing often reduces the time spent outside rather than the weather condition itself. (Williams, "Exploring the Natural World," 21).
• Use shade, sunscreen, and protective clothing for infants younger than 6 months, bug repellent, and other protective substances.
• Ensure safe, sanitary water play and sandboxes.
• Arrange appropriate storage of medications when children are outdoors (e.g., EpiPens^® and inhalers for children with allergies and asthma). Medications should always be readily accessible.
• Identify steps for handling insect bites and stings.
• Research what to include in outdoor first aid kits.

In addition to outdoor policies, there are other important safety practices and procedures to consider. [1]

Weather

To stay up to date on current conditions:

• Check the Air Quality Index at http://airnow.gov and subscribe to EnviroFlash. This service from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state or local environmental agencies provides daily emails about local air quality. Poor air quality can negatively affect children with asthma and other special health care needs.
• Check the forecast for the UV Index to limit exposure to the sun on days when the Index is high.
• Sign up to receive hourly weather forecasts from the National Weather Service on a computer or mobile phone.

Sunscreen

Children need protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays whenever they're outdoors. Shade and sunscreen protect children from sun exposure and can help to reduce the risk of some skin cancers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even a few significant sunburns can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). Make Summer Safe for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/family/kids/summer/index.htm) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following guidelines ⁽American Academy of Pediatrics (2015). Sun Safety: Information for Parents About Sunburn & Sunscreen. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx) regarding sun safety and the selection and application of sunscreen:

• If possible, use play areas that provide shade to help children stay cool.
• Protect infants under 6 months from direct sunlight by keeping them in a shady spot under a tree, umbrella, or stroller canopy.
• Limit children's sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are the strongest.
• Encourage families to dress children in cool clothing such as lightweight cotton pants and long-sleeved shirts. A hat will protect their faces, ears, and the back of their necks.
• Obtain written permission from children's parents/guardians to use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen to screen out UVB and UVA rays
• Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outdoors to allow ample time for absorption into the skin. Children will need sunscreen reapplication every 2 hours if they are outside for more than an hour and more frequently if playing in the water.
• For children older than 6 months, apply sunscreen to all exposed areas, including children's ears (if they are wearing a cap instead of a hat).
• For children younger than 6 months, use sunscreen on small body areas, such as the face and the backs of the hands, if protective clothing and shade are not available.

Hydration

Toddlers and preschool children cannot regulate their body temperatures well and need additional water when hot. Provide regularly scheduled water breaks to encourage all children to drink during active play, even if they don't feel thirsty. Caregivers may offer additional breast milk or formula to infants as water is not recommended, especially for infants younger than 6 months of age, see CFOC Standard 4.2.0.6.

Water Safety

Water play is a favorite activity for many young children throughout the year. Families may ask about opportunities for children to engage in outdoor water play during the summer months. CFOC does not recommend using portable wading pools as they do not permit adequate sanitation control and promote the transmission of infectious diseases. Sprinklers, hoses, or small individual water basins are safer alternatives than wading pools. Always use active supervision when children play in or around water.

If using water tables, ensure staff clean and sanitize the water tables and use toys safely. All children should wash their hands before and after play. It is best to provide an individual basin for children with cuts, scratches, or open sores on their hands.

Insects and Insect Repellent

Protect children and adults from insect bites by checking for and removing insect nests under slides, in bushes, and in the ground. Ensure there is no standing water near play areas for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Check for ticks after outdoor play. The CDC provides instructions about Tick Removal. To prevent insect bites on children, programs may consult with their local health department, Health Services Advisory Committee, or a childcare health consultant about using insect repellant when local insects are likely to carry diseases. Obtain written permission from children's parents/guardians before applying insect repellant and follow the instructions on the label. These products often use different levels of a chemical called DEET. "The AAP recommends that repellents should contain no more than 30% DEET when used on children. Insect repellents also are not recommended for children younger than 2 months." (American Academy of Pediatrics (2012). Choosing an Insect Repellent for Your Child. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx).

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[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ECLKC. Active Supervision. is in the public domain