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How to Make Your Backyard Safe for Kids to Play

Contributor
By C. Stewart
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

What good is having an outdoor space if it's not fit for your children to enjoy? Learn how to make your backyard safe for kids to play.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

    How to Make Your Backyard Safe for Kids to Play

  1. Step 1

    Pick up loose debris. No matter how insignificant items like rocks, glass, and tree branches seem, they can cause injury to children, and should be removed from the backyard play area.

  2. Step 2

    Anchor all play equipment. Children should not be allowed to play on structures such as swing sets if they are not properly anchored. Don’t take chances with your children’s safety--if you are unsure about how to install play equipment, hire a professional.

  3. Step 3

    Lock all outdoor chemicals in a shed. To prevent kids from ingesting or absorbing hazardous toxins through their skin, lock all outdoor chemicals in a place where your children won't have access them.

  4. Step 4

    Remove all standing water sources. It only takes a small amount of water to drown a small child, so buckets should be emptied, and ditches should be filled with dirt. After emptying a wading pool, it should be turned over to prevent it from filling with rainwater.

  5. Step 5

    Put lawn equipment out of the reach of children. Things like lawn mowers, garden tools, weed eaters and rakes can cause serious harm to children and should be put in a place where they won’t have access to them.

  6. Step 6

    Put soft material like sand or mulch under climbing structures to minimize the severity of an injury that may result from falling off of play equipment.

  7. Step 7

    Have a sturdy well-maintained gate that surrounds the perimeter of your swimming pool, and keep it locked at all times.

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