Paranoia can only get you so far, and then you get into the absurd.
Posted: July 31, 2013 | Author: Recreation Law | Filed under: Minors, Youth, Children, Playground | Tags: Barefoot, Climbing, Handrail, playground, Rules, Sign, Signs, Slide, Whirl, Whirls | 3 CommentsIs this sign designed to keep kids safe or protect someone from litigation?
If you can’t read this, here are the rules that are posted on this sign.
Rules of the Playground
Follow the Rules – Play Carefully
Do not use equipment when wet
No running, Pushing or shoving
Do not use play equipment improperly
No bare feet, wear proper footwear
Do not use equipment in this playground without adult supervision
Do not use equipment unless designed for your age group
Climbing
Do not climb down unless area is clear. Watch Carefully to Avoid other climbers
Do not climb without using both hands. Use correct grip, fingers and thumbs for holding
Do not push, shove or crowd. Wait your turn
Slides
Do not climb up sliding surface
Do not slide down improperly. Slide sitting up, feet first one at a time
No pushing or shoving. Wait your turn. Wait until the slide is empty before sliding down
Whirls
Do not jump off or on a moving whirl. Hold on with both hands to handrail
Do not lean back over edge. Hold on to handrails with both hands
Do not stand close to a moving whirl. Keep a clear distance.
First of all, lets looks look at the individual rules.
Do not use play equipment improperly. What is improperly? What is improperly to a five-year-old?
No bare feet, wear proper footwear. No bare feet is easy. However, what is proper footwear? Wingtips, are Nike’s ok or do they have to be a specific brand?
Do not use equipment unless designed for your age group. What is my age group? Is the age group listed on the equipment? There is none listed on the sign.
Use correct grip, fingers and thumbs for holding. What is the correct grip? Am I allowed to wedge my hand into a crack? Should I be taped up before climbing? What if I don’t have some fingers or a thumb?
So some of these rules are absurd, even for adults. If an adult cannot understand the rules, how is a kid?
Rules as a hole?
Slides appeal to kids of all age groups. So unless you have reached the second or third grade (age 7-8?) you can’t read. You are walking along the street, see a playground and go running to the slide. Do you stop and stare at something you can’t understand?
Do you stare at something built at a height way above your head? Do you even slow down as you pass the sign? Do you really think that this is going to prevent a kid from getting hurt?
Seriously
Maybe a sign like this has some legal value, but I would think that anyone would blow that issue out of the water. How can you expect someone who cannot read to obey the rules.
If you really want to stop injuries, you better design your playground so that on one can get hurt. Or better, you figure that kids are going to figure a way to get hurt, no matter how low to the ground and how padded.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
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Copyright 2013 Recreation Law (720) Edit Law
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By Recreation Law Rec-law@recreation-law.com James H. Moss #Authorrank
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