Safety checklist

• With younger children, ensure that equipment or materials are large enough to prevent them getting caught in the child's throat if they place them in their mouth.
• Babies in particular place objects in their mouth as part of their natural exploration of materials and their learning. A good rule of thumb is if an object can fit into a small 35 mm film container, then it is too small for young children (under 4 years) to be exposed to.
• The height of the climbing equipment is another consideration, particularly with young children. Although the younger child may be able to climb to great heights, they may not have the developmental skills to move around at that height and then climb down again. The adult needs to stand close to the child and assist if they observe the child having difficulty.
• All climbing equipment needs to be placed on a soft-fall area such as 20 cm of tan bark, rubberised surfaces or mats inside, to soften the impact if a child falls from the piece of equipment.
• Grass, artificial grass and sand may hide a very compacted surface that can cause injury and damage to the child if they fall.
• Regularly sweep away sand that has come out of the sandpit. After mopping floors, make sure the surface is dry before children and staff walk on it. These are very important safety considerations for all staff who work with children.
• Before allowing children to play outdoors, a staff member needs to check the outside play spaces for any syringes, used condoms, or bottles or cans, and dispose of these appropriately.