Playground Safety

  By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh  

Playground Safety

PLAYGROUND SAFETY TIPS TO TEACH YOUR KIDS

Each year, large numbers of kids visit hospital emergency rooms for playground-related child injuries. Learn what to look for in a well designed playground and play equipment and how to teach your kids about playing safely whether it be in a backyard playground or public playgrounds.

A well-designed playground will stimulate a child's imagination and encourage them to explore new and different ways to play. The majority of playground injuries are due to falls from playground equipment – these typically result in fractures, however they can also lead to more serous outcomes like head injuries.

With some careful planning, play environments can be both challenging and safe for children.

Inspecting the Playground Design and Equipment

1.      Select age appropriate equipment. Because sizes and proportions differ, safe playground equipment should be suited to your child's age whether they're toddlers or school age children.

Designating separate play areas keeps everyone safer, while some kinds of equipment are not safe for playgrounds and would never pass Australian standards no matter how careful kids are.

2.      Look for absorbent surfaces. Absorbent surfaces reduce more serious injuries and head injuries from falls.You want soft materials that will cushion an impact. Some of the best options are loose fill materials such as wood chips, mulch, pea gravel, and sand or synthetics like rubber mats which require less maintenance.

Footwear is an important safety item. Attipas soft sole baby shoes keep your baby's feet safe, supported and healthy while also providing a sound grip on the ground preventing accidents such as slips, trips and falls from occurring. 

3.      Ensure the playground equipment is well maintained. All play equipment should be anchored into the ground firmly and nuts and bolts should be tight and covered. Beware of rusted metals, splintering wood or any jagged edges or open hooks that could catch on kids clothing.

4.      Calculate safe spacing. Allowing for plenty of clearance will reduce the risk of falls and accidents. Check that moving equipment such as swings are a safe distance and at least 1 meter apart and at least 2 metres away from any wall or fence.

5.      Take special care with moving equipment. Equipment with moving parts, like seesaws and carousels, belong in separate play areas of the playground. Be vigilant around pinch points where a child's fingers can catch.

6.      Clear away debris and ropes. Get rid of broken glass, twisted metal, and any swinging ropes or leashes. Put backpacks and toys off to the side where no one will trip over them.

7.      Report safety concerns to the appropriate authority. Familiarise yourself with whoever is responsible for the upkeep of the playground, whether it's a local council, school or private organisation. If you see any hazards, warn others to keep away and report the issue immediately.

Teaching Your Kids to Play Safely on Playground Equipment

1.      Provide careful supervision. Most injuries can be avoided through adequate supervision. By playing with your kids, you get to spend more time together, talk about safety, and be on hand to provide first aid if needed.

2.      Require kids to use the equipment as intended. Even well-designed play equipment needs some cooperation from the user. Show children how to stay inside the guardrails, use the slide feet first, and sit facing each other on seesaws. Many devices are built for only one child at a time so keep it that way.

3.      Point out safety features. Help children understand the importance of guardrails and protective barriers on elevated platforms and ramps. Discuss how the hood on a slide reminds you to sit down and plastic slides stay cooler than the metal slides.

4.      Encourage caution when climbing. Most playground injuries are caused by falling, so climbing merits special attention. Practice falling so your kids learn to land on both feet with their knees slightly bent. Using both hands and keeping far behind the person in front of you are also important measures.

5.      Rule out roughplay. Use your playground outings to demonstrate the benefits of taking turns and sharing. Discourage shoving, pushing or fighting with other children.

6.      Enforce safe distances. Praise your kids for being observant of their surroundings and standing back from any playground equipment when it's in use. Make it a habit to check that there are no other kids at the bottom of the slide before descending. Pick a path that creates a wide berth between you and the swing set and beware of swinging feet. 

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.