Backyard Safety
Playing outdoors in the backyard allows children to play creatively, use their imagination and be active.
Take some time to assess your backyard to ensure it is a 'kidsafe' place to play. Home play equipment should be strong, sturdy and firmly secured with no hard objects or sharp edges which a child may be able to fall onto. Always supervise young children playing in the backyard. Pesticides, fertilisers and other gardening poisons should be securely stored away out of reach of small children.
Plants and gardening are great for children to learn respect for nature and to stimulate sensory development - nature can provide the different smells, tastes, textures and sounds that are important for child development.
It is important that you check that the plants in your garden are not poisonous. Some plants can cause an allergic reaction or are dangerous because of their sharp prickles. Young children are at most risk as they often explore new things through touch and taste. You can ask your local nursery or download our poisonous plants fact sheet for more information.
Kidsafe NSW has developed the ‘grow me safely’ online resource for comprehensive information about safe gardening activities - click on the image below to learn more about what is/is not recommended for your garden.
Trampoline Safety - It's Flippin' Important
Hundreds of Australian children are taken to hospital every year for trampoline-related injuries such as cuts, sprains and fractures. Children aged between five and nine are most likely to suffer these injuries. While many of the injuries are at the lower end of the severity scale, some incidents can result in serious injuries and can even be fatal.
To help address this issue, the ACCC, in partnership with Kidsafe, has launched a national safety campaign - Trampoline safety - it's flippin' important. As part of the campaign, a fun safety video featuring Olympian Blake Gaudry and a fact card with a five-step safety checklist for trampolines has been developed.
Follow this five-step safety checklist to keep your kids safe on the trampoline
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One at a time - Make sure there is only one child on the trampoline.
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Supervise - Watch children at all times, and take extra care with younger children as they are more prone to serious injury.
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Safety padding - Always use safety padding on the frame.
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Check - Regularly check that the:
- Mat and net don’t have holes
- Springs are intact and securely attached at both ends
- Frame is not bent
- Leg braces are locked.
5. Hazard-free surrounds - Make sure:
- The area around the trampoline is free from hazards like fences or garden furniture
- There is an overhead clearance to avoid objects like trees and wires.
For more information Click Here to download the trampoline safety fact card
