It’s sunny out there! When kids use playgrounds, they not only burn off energy, they get exposed to the sun. Now more than ever, it’s important to provide shaded areas for kids on your playground. Some states have even passed laws to make sure that kids stay shaded. Here are some resources about this important subject:
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) “Policies to Promote Sun Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer,” a model policy for state boards of education to use to protect children from sun exposure on playgrounds.
Center for Disease Control’s Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer (.PDF format). The CDC followed up this 2002 report with a helpful report on how to implement its recommendations, “Shade Planning for America’s Schools” (.PDF format).
LINKS
For more information on sun exposure and playground shade, the following organizations offer useful facts and suggestions:
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA)
• National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI)
• American Society for Testing and Materials
• National Program for Playground Safety
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — factsheet on playground injuries
• National Safety Council
• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)