Backyard Playground Safety
Before you let your kids run amok on your backyard playground, you need to make sure the backyard is a safe and appropriate place to play. So get out outside before your kids do, and go through this safety checklist:
Thorns and Thistles: Remove prickly bushes, thistles, exotic plants, poison ivy and anything that would make barefoot running through the yard a hazard.
Rocks and Holes: Look for and remove big rocks, fill holes and plant grass where needed. Level holes with topsoil, and add gravel for drainage under areas in the yard that become swampy when it rains.
Bricks and Splinters: Check patio areas for cracked boards, broken bricks, rotting planks and worn-out braces. Replace those that need replacing, and repair where needed.
Bugs and Bees: Look for wasp nests, ant hills and areas infested with bugs. Call an exterminator, or treat them yourself before letting kids out to play.
Fertilizers and Chemical Treatments: If you are going to let the kids run around barefoot, or even run and play in the yard, do not use pesticides and fertilizers, but opt instead for safe organic alternatives.
Child Safety Articles, Videos & HowTos
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