Hey Savvy Auntie! Did you know that April 21-25 is National Playground Safety Week?

Each year about 500,000 injuries occur from playground equipment. And climbing equipment with an ensuing fall accounts for most of the injuries.  Show your siblings and friends when you take your niece or nephew to play on that sunny Sunday afternoon, that you are savvy to the safety features that every good playground should have.

Here are five tips for playing it safe:

1. Make sure you your niece or nephew plays on age appropriate equipment,  if the equipment is too high, or has too large a handgrip for little kids to hold on, to it can be dangerous!

2. Avoid playgrounds that have hard surfaces made of concrete, asphalt or hard packed dirt and grass. Surfaces should be soft to absorb any impact, so look for playgrounds with surfaces made of wood chips, mulch or shredded rubber.

3. Swings should be made of plastic or rubber, not metal or wood! And please steer clear of any equipment that could entrap a child's head!

4. Make sure there is adequate room in between the equipment so kids don’t collide with swings and merry-go-rounds when getting off the slide.

5. And make sure your niece or nephew is dressed appropriately. Drawstrings on jackets and hoodies can pose a strangulation hazard!

Now hit the monkey bars with those little sweethearts and have a savvy (and safe!) good time!

Originally published on April 19, 2009