How to keep kids safe on a swingset

Swingsets provide years of fun and entertainment for your children, but they can be dangerous. If your children are not supervised or fall, they can seriously injure themselves, which is why it's important that you know the best way to keep your kids safe on a swingset. To help you, we have our top tips to keep your kids safe on a swingset, including setting ground rules and placing rubber mats under the swingset. We have detailed each tip below to ensure your little ones are safe!

Assemble the swingset correctly

The best way to keep your children safe is to assemble your swingset correctly. A correctly assembled swingset reduces the chance of injuries, as it won’t break while your children are using it. Not assembling the swingset correctly can also damage it, leaving you with expensive repairs or needing to replace the swingset sooner than you would like.

To ensure the swingset is assembled correctly, follow the instructions in the user manual. Most swingsets will come with detailed instructions that make it easy for you to build the swingset correctly. We also recommend having a second pair of hands to help with the swingset, as they can be heavy and too large to handle without assistance.

Add rubber mats

Rubber mats can be added underneath the swing set to provide cushioning support should your children fall. Falling on the rubber mats will absorb some of the shock and reduce the chance of serious injuries. You won’t need to worry about your children hurting themselves too much, and the mats will also protect the ground under the swingset! You don’t need to worry about muddy patches or holes in the grass.

Make sure that the mats in your garden cover the area underneath and around the swingset, as this will offer the most protection for your children and the ground by the swingset.

Secure your swingset

Your swingset should also be anchored and secured to the ground, preventing it from rocking or tipping over while your children are using it. Most swingsets will come with an anchoring system to help keep the set in place. We recommend using them to make the swingset more sturdy and keep your children safe. If your swingset does not come with an anchoring system, you can buy one to keep it locked in place. We do not recommend letting your children use a swingset without it being properly anchored and secured to the ground.

Carry out regular maintenance

Regular maintenance should also be carried out to keep your swingset safe for your children. Regular maintenance allows you to spot any issues before they become more serious and address them, helping to keep your children safe. As part of your regular maintenance, you should tighten any bolts and screws, remove any exposed nails or sharp items, and check that the chains for the swings are free from damage.

Should you notice any issues, you should stop using the swingset and carry out any repairs to prevent your children from hurting themselves on the set. You can speak to the manufacturer directly if you need any repairs or replacements. Before parting with your money, check your warranty to see if any of the repairs or replacements will be covered.

Supervise your children at all times

While your children are using the swingset, make sure they are supervised at all times. Constant supervision allows you to monitor your children and intervene before an accident happens, reducing the chance of any serious injuries. While supervising your children, you need to ensure they are swinging safely and that other children are a safe distance from any swinging legs. If there is other equipment attached to the swingset, you also need to ensure children are playing safely on it and that they are not exceeding the maximum capacity.

Older children might not need regular supervision, but we still recommend keeping an eye on them to ensure they are safe while they play and following any rules you have set.

Set rules for your children

To ensure your children are safe on the swingset, we recommend setting some ground rules that each child has to follow. These rules aren’t designed to reduce the fun of the swingset, but ensure that every child is safe and gets a fair opportunity to play on the swingset. The rules you set might vary depending on your children, but they need to be fair, and every child needs to be aware of them before they use the swingset. You might create the rules together with older children, but with younger children, it is better to set the rules yourself, prioritising their safety. Your rules might look like:

1. Only one person can sit on a swing at a time
2. Hold onto both ropes when swinging
3. Stay sitting on the swing at all times
4. Ensure the swing stops moving before you get off (no jumping off mid-air)
5. Keep a safe distance from children swinging to prevent them from kicking you

Find your new swingset today

By using our tips, you can easily keep your children safe on the swingset, reducing the chance of injuries and ensuring everyone can enjoy the swingset. When choosing your new swingset, look for one with an anchoring system and added safety features like grab rails to keep your little ones safe. Vuly has an impressive range of swingsets, all with these added features to keep your little ones safe. Head to Vuly to see which of their backyard swingsets is right for you.