Important Safety Tips for Indoor Soft Play Equipment
Indoor soft play equipment for children is becoming ubiquitous everywhere from designated indoor playgrounds to churches. They are a safe, enriching, and healthy way to keep harried parents frequenting businesses and community centers where eager and curious children would otherwise tug ceaselessly at their sleeves. And with dozens of design iterations, themes, and combinations, installing indoor soft play equipment in your business, church, or community center is a rewarding option for improving traffic and promoting your brand. Read on for some benefits of indoor soft play equipment, as well as some tips on choosing, installing, and maintaining the safest possible indoor soft play equipment.
Benefits of Indoor Soft Play Equipment
It’s highly recommended that children aged two or older be engaged in at least one hour of moderate physical play. Vigorous play improves muscle and bone health, promotes growth, enhances cardiovascular function, and can increase social abilities in children, among other direct health benefits. In addition, studies have proven that young children who are physically active tend to maintain physically active lifestyles through childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood.
Safety Tips for Your Indoor Soft Play Equipment
Provide Sufficient Space
Be sure to design your indoor soft play equipment in a space that will accommodate the equipment and the children who will use it with space to spare. Avoid collisions among children and be sure that play areas and structures provide sufficient clearance on all axes. Leave space around the indoor soft play equipment for children to travel among structures or to and from structures and common areas.
Make Educated Choices
Consider safety standards and regulations for the indoor soft play equipment you’ll be installing. Purchase your indoor soft play equipment from an experienced dealer that demonstrates knowledge of both safety protocols and child development needs. As with auto bumpers and bicycle helmets, it may be counter to safety regulations to install used equipment: buy new equipment and learn as much as you can about it.
Install Age-Appropriate Equipment
Remember that some indoor soft play equipment can be safe and appropriate for one age group and a potential hazard for another. Considering the age range of the children who will be using your kids’ indoor play structure will also help you to choose the most appealing combination.
Don’t Overlook Surfaces
Rubberized or modular tile surfaces are not only safe for impacts and supportive for repeated activities, but they’re also novel and fun for young children. If your indoor soft play equipment will have climbable structures, it’s even more important to have flexible surfacing on your indoor playground. Also, long-term activity on hard surfaces such as concrete can eventually result in microtrauma and joint stress.
Maintenance
Designing and installing the safest and most appropriate indoor soft play equipment is only the first step. Remaining vigilant about its maintenance is just as important. Be organized about maintaining your indoor soft play equipment by creating checklists and dated charts. Be sure to learn and post the maintenance requirements for your indoor soft play equipment, and carefully track the completion of each inspection, repair, cleaning, update, or upgrade. Most importantly, inspect the indoor soft play equipment daily for hazards, wear, or damage. Be sure any compromises or hazards are tended to as quickly as possible. And replace your indoor soft play equipment with new structures when it becomes worn, no longer compliant with safety regulations, or its age becomes an issue.
Commercial indoor play structures are as popular with children as they are with parents. And choosing the very best combination of stimulation and safety will make your business or community center a fun destination for children who may otherwise grow restless with their parents’ diverted attention. It’s easy to find indoor playground equipment that can represent your brand and improve the lives of customers and children.