Published on March 3, 2010

The sound of laughter permeating through a playground is music to the ears of any parent and that too in today’s world of computers when most children would be glued to their laptops. This is definitely a sign of a healthy and happy childhood. Playing with other children helps in the physical growth of a child by protecting them against obesity, inculcating in them the need to practice good social behavior and giving them an emotionally satisfying feeling of well being, thereby preparing them for the challenges of adult life.

Tips while purchasing a seesaw for your playground

When planning to set up a playground for their children, parents should consider the following points:

The playgrounds should be able to provide the requisite physical activity for the children that they desperately need and can also keep their imaginative minds active.

Structures like swing and seesaw must have a protective surface of at least 12 inches underneath them and at least 6 feet in all directions to prevent serious injuries in cases of fall.

Having enough grass is a good option to soften the impact when a child falls down but they are not a good option in the long term as the surface gets eroded over a period of time, therefore mats made of safety tested rubber are the recommended material for surfacing.

A seesaw or as it is fondly called ‘teeter totter’, is a great way to instill the values of partnership and cooperation in children. This simple playground classic makes a great do-it-yourself project, or you can purchase one of many commercial models. Either way, kids will enjoy teetering and tottering with friends and siblings.

The seesaw that you plan to purchase should be checked for protruding portions, sharp edges or points, or open "S" hooks that can cause injury or trap clothing. We should also ensure that the seesaw will not crush a small finger or hand.

The seesaw should be made out of a material that is not harmful to the health of the children and therefore wooden or plastic seesaws are the best option for playgrounds.

As adults, we are not only responsible for supervising the children when they play but it is our foremost responsibility to make sure that they are playing with safe equipment.

This article is written by an expert working for AAA State of Play, a leading provider of outdoor playground equipments like play structures, merry go rounds, seesaws and much more.