Early childhood programs strive to provide good-quality care and education as young children develop their physical, emotional, social, and intellectual skills. In order to provide children with positive, developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, educators ensure the safety and security of children, indoors and outdoors. The outdoor…

The principal, teachers, custodial staff, parents, and students must cooperatively create a play environment that meets four critical safety requirements: supervised children, age-appropriate design, falls to cushioned surfaces, and equipment and surface maintenance. The National Program for Playground Safety has developed a model incorporating…

Reports results of random survey of principals in 105 Iowa elementary schools about playground supervision practices. Recommends that school boards take a leadership role in creating safe playgrounds by requiring all elementary schools to have at least two supervisors with safety training on the playground at all times. (PKP)

Discusses supervision of children on playgrounds, addressing rationale, ratio of supervisors to children, and training of supervisors. Training issues covered include what to look for in the setting, how to actively move through the playground, and how to respond. Includes a list of video and print resources. (EV)

Examines issues surrounding playground safety, noting the role that the journal "Leisure Today" and the American Association for Leisure and Recreation have played in improving playground safety standards. Some of the safety issues include: age appropriate design, playground surfacing, adult supervision, and maintenance. (SM)