Outdoor Learning Environments and
Risk Management
2011 Birth To Three InstituteBethann Smith
Kansas I/T and Education Manager
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Outcomes
Become knowledgeable of children’s abilities, linking domains with outdoor environments.Gain knowledge of Safety Recommendations for children ages 6 months to 4 years. Be aware of outdoor environment hazards to reduce the severity of life & debilitating injuries.
Outdoor Time - Reduced
• Emphasis on academic learning has led to changes in some programs.
• Research indicates that removing outdoor play may actually undermine intended achievement-oriented outcomes.
• Play enhances attention, memory, self-regulation, and overall academic achievement throughout childhood .
• (Castelli, et. al., 2007; Pellegrini, & Bohn, 2005).
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Physical Play
Research studies have determined that play contributes to cognitive, perceptual and language development.
It has been long understood by educators and developmental scientists that motor play contributes to healthy physical development.
Quality Outdoor Learning Space
Quality outdoor environments must be challenging to promote children learning.
The highest predictor of increased physical activity level in young children is the quality of the program they are enrolled in.
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Infant and Toddlers
An important intellectual accomplishment of the first 2 years of life is learning about cause and effect.
As babies develop they differentiate between actions & consequences and intentionally make things occur.
Motor play contributes to this thinking.
Infants solve problems by using “tools” to achieve their goals.
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Moving and Thinking
Young children’s motor development is a powerful predictor of cognitive abilities in the elementary years (Piek, et. al., 2008). Movement is tied to processing speed and memory.
Why? Movement facilitates the development of new connections (synapses) among brain cells & the overall organization of the brain.
(Gabbard, 1998; Rakison, & Woodward, 2008).
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Selection of Motor Play Equipment
Researchers believe…Equipment should be chosen to carry out specific activities that meet motor learning goals.
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MovementMore parts of the brain are activated when children are moving.Activates the part that allows the processing of visual information (visual association cortex).Develops the ability to accurately interpret information being received by different senses at the same time.Promotes the ability to coordinate the different regions responsible for sensory-based learning.
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Moving & Social-Emotional Development
Toddlers are;• Becoming more expressive.• Learning about others…feelings,
temperament and abilities.• Beginning making friends.• Beginning acceptance or rejection by
peers.• Beginning to see conflicts.• Beginning verbally expressing feelings.
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Children with Disabilities
Adults should model motor behaviors for children.
More complex movements may require direct guidance and instruction particularly for children with disabilities.
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Equipment Used by Several Children
Enhances social development of children with intellectual disabilities, and visual impairments.
…Rocking boats, swings, tubes children can crawl through.
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Age of Children
Younger children require more attentive supervision and assistance on how to use equipment.
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Travel Patterns
Children’s brains are focused on emerging or refining motor skills
May not be focused on safety (running in front of a swing) .
Balance…going up is easier than coming down.
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Public Playground Risk Management
Very few states have regulations that are law.Goal is to reduce life-threatening and debilitating injuries.Reduce lawsuits.Identify non-compliant or damaged playground environment.Show good intent to the public.
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General Playground Considerations
Toddlers 6 months to 24 monthsPreschoolers 24 months to 5 yearsSchool Agers 5 years to12 years
NO hope of having injury-free play areas!Knowledge & application improve safety!
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Playground Injury Overview
More than 220,000 US, children 2 to 12 years are injured annually
76% occur on Public Playgrounds45% on school sites10% in commercial daycare31% on park sites
24% on Residential Playgrounds
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Playground Injuries
79% of Injuries are FALLS68% to surface10% to other parts of the equipment1% to unknown reasons
11% of injuries are Caused by Impact8% Impact with stationary equipment3% Impact with moving equipment10% Miscellaneous causes
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Causes of Death & Debilitating Injuries
Cause of death in order;
1. Entanglement (clothing, strings or ropes).
2. Falls to hard underlying surfaces.3. Head and neck entrapment in
equipment openings.4. Impact by tipped or loose
equipment, or moving swings.19
Priority 1 Hazard
Safety Goal -Reduce the number & severity of life threatening & debilitating injuries.
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Risks and Hazards
Risk is a challenge that involves a choice by the user
Hazard is something unknown, hidden, unforeseen, or unexpected
Children are not expected to be aware of hazards….
That is Our Job!!!21
Factors for Injuries
Improper use of equipment and poor supervision - 44% of injuriesPoor maintenance of surfaces or equipmentInappropriate designs -71%Equipment installation issues – 6%Site planning issues
Drainage Swing location
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Playground Supervisors Must
Understand the basics of playground safety.Be aware not all equipment is appropriate for children of all ages.Realize younger children require more attentive supervision.Know what the posted signage at the entrances of the playground says.
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General Playground Considerations
Age SeparationSeparate areas should be provided for all ages of children.
Site LinesPlaygrounds for different age groups should be visible from younger children's area.
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Site Selection Considerations
Travel PatternsVehicular traffic,
Lakes – ponds - streams
Cliffs - drop-offs - contaminated areas
Site well drained - no standing water
Sun Exposure and ShadingLocate in shaded areas or provide man-made shelters
Provide warning labels about potential burn25
Not Recommended
For Any Age…
Swinging Gates or DoorsTrapeze BarsMultiple Occupancy SwingsSwinging Exercise Rings
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Not Recommended
Under 2 yearsBalance Beams
Log Rolls
Horizontal Ladders
Track Rides
Parallel Bars
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PlatformsNo higher than 32” from the ground.
Stepped Platforms –Maximum height between platforms of 7”If space between platforms is less than 7”, infill should be used to reduce the space to < 3”
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Access to Equipment
Easiest to most difficult egress
1. Ramps/Slope < 1 to 8; Width 19”2. Straight stairways – Slope ≤ 35 degrees3. Step ladders – used with 15 months and
older
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Playground Considerations
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Guardrails and Barriers
Guardrails Not recommended for ToddlersBarriers must be a minimum of 24” high
Used on all elevated walking surfaces above 18”, however do not apply if the barrier would interfere with the intended use of the equipment such as climbing equipment.Fall height of layered platforms should be 7” or less
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Playground Considerations
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Playground Surfacing Considerations
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Critical Height
Approximation of the maximum fall height from which a life-threatening head injury would not be expected to occur.
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Surfaces (Unitary or Loose Fill)Materials should not be used over hard surfaces.
Acceptable Unacceptable Rubber Matting GrassSand DirtShredded Wood Products Water
ConcreteAsphaltGravel
Refer to manufacturer for equipment requirements.35
Play Equipment “Use Zone”
Area beneath and immediately adjacent to a play structure.
Must meet criteria for;Critical Height in relation to the fall height of the equipment.Placement under and around play equipment.Use zone must have an accessible route of travel per ADA/ABA.
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Labels and Signs
Label Warnings
Informs….
Alerts…
Educate…
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What is Wrong with this Playground?
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To and Fro Arch Belt Swings
2 to 5 Years
5 to 12 Years
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Maintenance
Manufacture must provide the owner/operator with clear and concise inspection, maintenance, and repair instructions
When…How…What…Repair…
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Records of Maintenance
Owner/operators shall establish and maintain detailed records of;
Installation, inspection, maintenance and repair of equipment.
Maintenance of keeping play area surfaces from extraneous materials that could cause injury, infection or disease.
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Next Steps
Contact Resource and Referral in your areas to locate a certified National Playground Safety inspector (NPSI).
Listen and correct what is broken in a timely manner according to standards.
Utilize all persons (staff, volunteers, parents) to check to make sure playgrounds are safe at all times.
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Questions or Comments
Ah-ha momentsOh-oh’s moments
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Resources
NPSI Certification Course for Playground Safety Inspectors Manual, October, 2009.Annual Book of ASTM, www.astm.org.Public Playground Safety Handbook, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Publication #325, April 2009. Synopsis of Safety Recommendations for Toddlers, US Consumer Products Safety Commission, Handbook for Public Playground Safety. 1304. 21(b)(1)(iii )
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