Archive for the ‘Playground safety’ Category
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Rubber mulch is making itself known as the safest option for playground flooring. However, many public parks are slow to change the flooring that is already there. In Penny Park in Tulsa, Oakland, this may have cost a little girl her life. Hannah Todd was a vivacious nine-year-old who loved to play in the city park, which had sand flooring. The children had spent a while digging a huge hole in the sand, and police suspect that on November 12 Hannah tried to tunnel inside when the hole caved in, and she was trapped.
Outraged parents are requesting rubber mulch flooring from the city, the ultimate in playground safety, but the parks department is reluctant to move quickly because of the cost. Rubber mulch is more expensive than other options, but it is more economical in the long run because the rubber does not decay or blow away; it needs virtually no maintenance. Aside for the fact that it is safer than sand, rubber mulch provides a bouncy surface that prevents injuries with extra shock absorbency.
Rubber flooring comes in various forms, with rubber bond, a unified surface that is poured, rubber mulch chips, rubber wearmats for areas of high impact, and rubber curbs, to enclose landscaped areas. Each city must evaluate their parks and playgrounds and decide what will work best for them, but it is quickly becoming clear that rubber flooring for playground equipment is a necessity.
In a faltering economy, budgets are running dry, and many cities’ Parks departments are asking themselves if an investment in rubber flooring is necessary. As injuries run high, the answer is quickly becoming a resounding yes. Rubber mulch can save lives, as well as countless injuries from falls as children do what they do best – play.
Tags: playground rubber mulch, playground safety, rubber mulch flooring
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, tire mulch | Comments Off
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
Autumn is blowing in, and as the kids walk to and from the bus stop, it’s important that they are dressed warmly to battle the cold weather that is on its way. Your children, teenagers especially, may have very defined ideas about how they want to dress, but when it comes to protection from the cold, you have to put your foot down. A big part of warm dressing depends on where your child will be.
Layering
Layering is a great way to keep kids warm even in the coldest conditions. For example, a thermal undershirt topped by a turtleneck, sweater, and coat will keep the cold from reaching their bones. It’s also great if they’re going in and out of the cold; when the kids get hot they can simply take off the top layer or two.
Coats
A down coat is one of the warmest coats you can find. Many cheaper versions are imitation down, and are made of synthetic fabrics. This is one area where you shouldn’t scrimp. When spending money on a coat, a dark color is the more practical choice. This decision should be made based on the child’s surroundings. In a school with rubber mulch flooring in the playground, the Playsafer mulch does not get coats dirty, so you may be safer with a more adventurous color. Playgrounds with dirt or wood chips, however, will get the coat dirty.
Accessories
Make sure that your kids have hats, scarves, and gloves in the cold weather. Body heat is mostly retained in the head, so a hat is vital. As with a coat, kids will throw down their clothes anywhere. Be prepared that playgrounds that don’t have rubber surfaces will get the clothing dirty.
You may have to fight with your kids to dress warmly, but you can take pride in knowing that they are toasty and warm as they go about their day.
Tags: playground safety, rubber mulch flooring
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Schools | Comments Off
Thursday, October 6th, 2011
The kids have just gone back to school, and many mothers are breathing a sigh of relief. Now is the time to make sure that the school year is off to a good start, so your kids will grow academically and socially, and enjoy a productive year.
First, be sure that your children have good backpacks. An ill-fitting backpack, or one that is too heavy, can cause back problems years down the line. Buy a book-bag that has two straps that allow the pack to be carried on the back. The straps should be wide and well padded. A good backpack needs many pockets, and should be very spacious. A drink pocket on the side is always great for a spare water bottle. Check the bag periodically throughout the year to ensure that is not too heavy, and to adjust the straps so that it is worn correctly. Going through your child’s knapsack with him or her will also help them be more organized.
Check with school policies to ensure that there are playground monitors present whenever necessary, and that playground equipment is safe. If they don’t already have it you may want to mention to the authorities at your child’s school to consider using rubber mulch for the playground surface. Rubber flooring is eco-friendly, as it is made from recycled tires, and has an extra measure of shock absorbency, resulting in fewer injuries. Rubber flooring is quickly becoming the ultimate standard in playground safety.
Set up a system with your child regarding lunch. Many children skip lunch altogether, and find it harder to learn as the day goes on, because they are hungry. If your child is happy with school lunches, make sure that they are paid for so that lunch is readily available. If not, come up with a system to ensure that he or she has lunch ready to take to school each morning. You may want to prepare it the night before. Get your child involved, so lunch is as much their responsibility as it is yours.
Check in with your child’s teachers periodically to ensure that everything is okay. Be sure to attend parent – teacher meetings, and carefully read any notes sent home by the teacher. Be sure to ask your child every night what they have for homework, and to sign it, if necessary, before they go to sleep.
Tags: playground safety, playground surface, rubber mulch flooring, school playground
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Schools, tire mulch | Comments Off
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
A recent article in the Sun-Advertiser lauds a childhood play program called Playful City USA. This program is a national program that advocates more play opportunities for children. It has been organized by KaBoom!, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to children’s play. The Sun writes that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, only twenty percent of children living in the United States live within walking distance of a playground. Playful City USA and KaBoom! looks to reward cities that come up with creative ways to promote play in children.
One of the recipients, the city of Alvin, Texas, will run Eyes in the Park, a neighborhood watch program that will watch over cities and parks. They will also launch Ready Set Recreate, a no cost physical activity program for kids. Cities that are found eligible will receive multiple grants over a three year period.
Every city is trying to come up with creative ways to enhance play for children in their city. Of utmost importance is making sure that the parks where children play are safe. The safest playground flooring on the market is Playsafer rubber mulch, manufactured by Rubberecycle.
Rubber mulch gives kids more traction, reducing slipping, and added absorbency for a cut in injuries from falls. It is also non toxic and odorless, and comes in many colors for kid-friendly décor. The rubber mulch floors used in playgrounds are also weather resistant, resulting in little or no maintenance and replenishing. This last feature is a sure winner for taxpayers who are donating their hard earned money toward their children’s enjoyment and education through play.
Cities receiving grants from KaBoom! and the Playful City USA program should use the grants they receive to invest in rubber flooring for all the cities’ parks, first and foremost. After that, city organizers can decide how to spend the money, whether on extravagant playground equipment, or other kid-friendly gear.
Tags: Playground flooring, playground safety, Playsafer rubber mulch, rubber mulch floors
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer, tire mulch | Comments Off
Monday, September 19th, 2011
Autumn is one of the few seasons when injuries in children are at a lower rate. There is no ice for kids to slip on, and no risk of dehydration, drowning, heatstroke, and sunburns. With the weather crisp and cool, many a child revels in jumping in freshly raked piles of leaves and feeling the wind in their hair as they speed down the street on bikes. With other preoccupations aside, it’s the perfect time to take stock of your backyard playground and ensure that it is as safe as can be.
The first thing to consider is playground flooring. The White House has led by example in showing that the most eco friendly flooring option that is also at the top in playground safety is rubber mulch. Rubber mulch playground floors come in many different forms and colors. In fact, the White House playground boasts green Playsafer rubber mulch. With an extra measure of shock absorbency, rubber chips help prevent injuries in children at play.
Do some research to determine whether you require rubber wear mats, rubber mulch bonding, or rubber mulch chips. Each has benefits for specific situations. Rubber mulch will offer your playground a cheerful, fresh look, while keeping your children safe.
The next thing to look at is the age of the playground equipment. Rust can be a cause on infection. Rusty parts should be oiled and cleaned. If the rust persists, it’s time to say good bye. Old toys can also be weak and dangerous to play on. Check that screws are tight, and that the playground equipment easily holds your full weight before allowing your child to play on it.
Although you may not have noticed it, children grow, and their needs change as they develop. You may want to consider updating your playground toys with more age appropriate apparatus in order to further enhance your child’s development. As long as it’s in good condition, you can easily sell your old playground equipment on Craigslist, Ebay, etc.
Playground equipment that has been neglected and broken with time must be gotten rid of, as it poses a safety hazard. You never know when your child may decide to reminisce about his younger years in an old playground toy. This is asking for trouble.
Tags: Playground flooring, playground safety, rubber mulch flooring
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Environment, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle | Comments Off
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
Children today are a lot more protected than they were in days of old, but not everyone thinks that’s a good thing. The Post-Gazette states tha
t children today are subject to a lot more structured play and time when they’re told what to do, rather than free time to run around, explore, and use their imaginations. Recess time has been cut down in order to make way for more education and practice for standardized tests.
School playgrounds are used a lot less used than they once were. The flip side of the coin is that playgrounds are a lot safer, with rubber mulch flooring and innovative playground equipment. As opposed to hard blacktop, grass, or wood chips, rubber flooring in playgrounds adds an added measure of shock absorbency, and prevents injuries in children. Experts see it as a waste that schools and cities invest so much effort in providing playground safety, with rubber wear mats and rubber mulch flooring, but the playgrounds are not used to the fullest extent.
Child development experts bemoan the tragedy of children who sit inside pushing buttons on a game that somebody else created, rather than pumping their legs on swings or running around in a game of tag. Adults are all for protein shakes and yoga classes, but where is some good old running in the park with the kids?
In the same vein, the amount of children enrolled in structured sports has greatly increased, with every parent hoping their child will be the best by enrolling them in everything from soccer practice to ballet classes. As important as actual book learning is, music, art, and sports classes where children can allow their minds to expand and be creative is vital. Homework has increased dramatically over the years, with educators hoping to cram in all the learning while children are still young. Developmentally, it is important for children to learn through their own unorthodox means, through exploration and discovery.
With more knowledge available today about vaccines, germs, and other important risk factors, kids are definitely safer. The Playsafer rubber mulch used in playgrounds also contribute to this. But are we raising a generation of safe and healthy adults who will be zombies, with no creative ideas? As important as safety and structure is, it is vital for children to have free time to play and learn naturally.
Tags: Playground flooring, playground safety, Playsafer rubber mulch, rubber flooring
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer, Schools | Comments Off
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
Playgrounds are meant for children to play in and enjoy, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be eyesores. There are companies devoted to designing the most aesthetically pleasing playgrounds for the area, as well as providing the best that playground equipment has to offer.
The first step for any playground is the purchase of rubber mulch. Rather than the wood chips or blacktop of old, rubber mulch is the playground flooring of the future. Constructed from recycled rubber, the chips are made to resemble wood, with an extra shock absorbing quality that makes them the best option for playground safety. Unlike wood, rubber mulch also does not freeze in the winter, maintaining a cushiony softness that is the perfect texture for children’s antics.
From a design perspective, the playground flooring comes in a variety of colors, including green, orange, rust, and many more. Rubber mulch is also odor free, and is non-staining and non-abrasive. The color does not fade over time, maintaining a healthy, vibrant look. It is important to coordinate the color of the rubber mulch with the surrounding fence of the play area, if there is one, and its relation to the rest of the playground gear. Depending on the area, it may be a good idea to cordon off one section of the playground with rubber mulch, and landscape the rest with grass, or vice versa.
Playground equipment is constantly being improved, with more creative ways for children to play, and innovative designs that keep the equipment pleasing to the eye. The options are endless, with jungle gyms in futuristic designs and color codes to match any design specifications. There are playground sets that also come with thematic elements, boasting a wood look, futuristic appeal, and much more. It is important to take into account the wishes of the children who will actually use the playground in question.
If this is an option, it is always nice to design the playground in tandem with the surroundings, taking into account the landscaping. Bushes and natural hedges are a classic way of encircling the play area, with rubber mulch surrounding the center jungle gym.
The options when designing a playground are endless, and as a considerable investment, it’s worth taking the time to do thorough research. Rubber mulch is a staple in any playground, and then the rest will follow.
Tags: Gardening, landscape, playground safety, rubber mulch
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Environment, Gardening, landscape, Mulch, Parks, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, Playsafer mulch, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, tire mulch | Comments Off
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
Clovis schools Superintendent Terry Myers shared the following vision and provided an update on district projects:
Our focus is on student performance in our classrooms. Every child is important and must succeed in our schools. Every child — every time will be our standard.
We also appreciate the continued support of our community. The quality education we provide for our children in Clovis would not be possible without this support. We hope to continue to provide a quality education for our children at CMS. It is our sincere desire to set the standard, in and outside of the classroom for public schools in New Mexico.
We are pleased to continue to honor our construction commitment to our community. Major construction is nearing completion at Marshall Middle School and La Casita Elementary.
A first-day-of-school visit to La Casita Elementary’s ribbon-cutting ceremony represented so well the sheer joy that comes with new beginnings. While much of the major construction is still under way inside blocked-off wings of the main building, student enthusiasm remained undimmed. The ribbon-cutting was to celebrate the official opening of the new playground equipment, installed on a bed of Playsafer rubber mulch, providing a soft and safe playground surface under the equipment, a great use of 21st century resources and frequently used on school and public playgrounds http://www.rubberecycle.com/.
The prospect of the completed new playground was clearly tantalizing for students. As the ribbon was cut, students surged forward, cheering in delight as they charged onto the play area, grade by grade, and attacked the attractive recreational equipment. It was one of those laugh-out-loud moments, watching the utter joy of those students.
Robert Brault said, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
source: http://www.cnjonline.com/news/forward-44703-looks-superintendent.html
Tags: Commercial playgrounds, playground safety, playground surfacing, rubber mulch, School Playgrounds
Posted in commercial playgrounds, Environment, playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, rubber mulch, Rubberecycle, Rubberecycle Manufacturer, Schools, tire mulch | Comments Off
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Do your kids love the outdoors? Do you worry when they spend their days outside? Now’s the time to stop worrying and start enjoying life! Let your kids enjoy their childhood and be their carefree selves! Lucky for those worriers, there’s an amazingly safe playground surface that will keep your kids safe and let you sit back and relax.
Rubber Mulch is available for community playgrounds and for your own backyard too! Parents are raging about these great rubber flooring and Rubberecycle Rubber Mulch is making its way into backyards all over the USA. Parents are trying to encourage their kids to go from their iPod’s to the outdoors. Making the outdoors exciting is a fantastic way to get them out there. You can choose from a few different colors to liven up your play area! Unlike wood mulch, Playsafer Rubber Mulch is odor-free. You can also say good bye to splinters! Rubber Mulch is by far the safest alternative.
Worry no more when your kids play outside! The rubber mulch will be there to catch them when they fall. With the bouncy and soft texture, your kids will just get up and go! It’s especially safe for young kids who are just getting to explore the outside world. Rubber Mulch is simple to install. Just put it in once and leave it alone. It’ll stay in place, stay clean, and look great and neat for years! As a parent looking to keep your kids safe outdoors, Rubber Flooring is the way to go!
Tags: playground protection, playground safety, playground surfacing, playsafer, rouuber mulch
Posted in playground flooring, Playground safety, playground surface, playground surfacing, Playsafer mulch, Rubber | Comments Off
Monday, July 18th, 2011
School is out, and most teachers and school administration are enjoying their brief break. After a few short weeks, the time will come to start thinking about the upcoming school year! So much goes into the planning of the new school year, and with that, lots of things get overlooked.
For starters, making sure that all the teachers have their curriculum set up early is a great way to avoid last minute aggravation. Plus, the classrooms should be refreshed by taking down all the old posters and charts that may have been hanging all year long. Desks and chairs should be cleaned thoroughly to insure a pleasant learning experience. Also, double checking that the A/C and heating is working properly before school begins, is a smart move on your part, in order to avoid the hassle once school has begun.
Last but not to be forgotten, is the outdoors! Making your school look attractive and safe on the outside is a huge plus that teachers, students, and parents alike, will definitely appreciate. It’s not too pricy, and if you install Playsafer Rubber Mulch, you won’t need to maintain it, which is perfect for the busy school.
When it comes to School playgrounds, it’s important to have a nice size area where the kids can run around freely. It’s the time for the students to reenergize, which makes it very important to have a well done playground. The surface of the playground is just as important and be sure not to leave a bear cement floor for them to play on.
Rubberecycle manufacturers rubber granulated mulch for flooring, special for schools that want to do their utmost to keep their students safe. It’s safe and ADA approved which is a great aspect for schools. Students will definitely love it; it’s colorful, bouncy, and neat. Parents will love it too, knowing that their kids are safe at school. So Schools, Daycare centers, and Township, make a safe and smart investment for your playground today!
Tags: Playground flooring, rubber mulch, School Playgrounds
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