THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDREN’S PLAYROOM INTERIOR ASPECT IN REGARD TO PARENTAL SAFETY PERCEPTION. CASE STUDY: CHILDREN’S PLAYROOM AT 23 PASKAL BANDUNG, INDONESIA

Children’s playrooms in public spaces need to consider the safety of their interior elements. Previous studies also discussed about things that need to be taken into account to assure the children’s safety while playing. However, some parents join their children playing in public spaces due to the cautiousness of playground safety level. This study was conducted to understand how far the interior aspects of children’s playgrounds can affect parents’ safety perception to let their children play by themselves in public spaces, for example, the children’s playroom in 23 Paskal Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The result shows that sufficient light, interior finishes, and noise or sound intensity in the children’s playground at 23 Paskal Bandung, Indonesia can make parents feel safe to let their children spend time there.

Safety of School Playgrounds: Field Analysis From a Randomized Sample

Research supports recess, however, playground injuries are prevalent with more than 200,000 cases per year requiring medical attention. School playgrounds are among the leading location for injury. The purpose was to identify the safety and risk factors of playground environments and impact attenuation characteristics of surfacing materials. Results demonstrated 46% playground spaces protected students from traffic. Results found 75% of playgrounds were exposed to full sun, and unitary surface materials were up to 49°F warmer than the air temperature. There was an increase in the probability of risk whether equipment height was over 9 ft for loose fill surfacing materials or over 6 ft for unitary surfaces. Loose strings or ropes looped over equipment were found on 23% of playgrounds. This study provides discussion and data pertaining to numerous aspects of playground safety. Strategies for school nurses are shared to shape policies and education for playground safety practices.

Brief Communication on Parents’ Perception towards Favourite Play Equipment, Satisfaction Level and Safety of Public Climbing Equipment in Malaysia

Public playground injuries caused by unsafe climbing equipment is a public health concern. This study aims to measure Malaysian parents’ perception towards their children’s favourite play equipment and satisfaction level on public equipment safety. A self-administered survey was employed among 50 Malaysians citizen, aged between 18 to 45 years. Data was descriptively analysed using SPSS version 21.0. The results showed that climbing equipment was favourite playing equipment among children. Furthermore, our study revealed that (90%) of parents were dissatisfied with public climbing equipment. We found that while (92%) of the parents agreed that safety levels of the climbing equipment should be improved. In addition, the study revealed that more than three quarters of respondents agreed to reduce free fall height, improve product materials, focus on reducing falls, and implement effective safety inspection including regular maintenance to improve the safety level of public climbing equipment. Results from this study could assist in advanced urban recreation safety for controlling injuries and regain parents’ trust on playground safety.

Injuries in Norwegian Early Childhood and Care (ECEC) Institutions

Children’s play and exploration involves risk and a possibility for being injured. Early childhood and care institutions (ECECs) should provide children with physical challenges in a safe environment. Over the past years, the attention towards playground safety and injuries in ECECs has increased. Norwegian practitioners have a liberal approach to children’s risk taking in play, raising questions on injury prevalence in Norwegian ECECs. The aim for this study was to gain knowledge about the injury prevalence and characteristics of the injuries in Norwegian ECECs. Managers from 2105 institutions completed an electronic questionnaire retrospectively asking the managers to report injuries and accidents the past year. The results indicate that injuries are rare in Norwegian ECECs, and that most of the injuries are minor and do not require a follow-up from professional medical personnel. The moderate and severe injuries are very rare, and often mishaps. There are some indications that boys experience injuries more often than girls do. The main cause of moderate injuries is falling, both outdoors and indoors.