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New Australian playground rules which promote fun and enjoyment over stringent safety requirements have been introduced to encourage more outdoor play and help kids develop skills in risk taking and decision making.
According to Standards Australia the changes will make playgrounds more fun, stimulating and exciting.
"One of the joys of Australian childhood is being outdoors racing around and having fun with your friends in playgrounds. Far from wrapping kids in cotton wool, this standard is all about challenging kids and developing important skills for life," said Dr Bronwyn Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Standards Australia.
Following an extensive public consultation process, Standards Australia has published Playground Standards, AS 4685 Parts 1 to 6, which is an adoption of the European Standard for Playground Equipment with some minor deviations that take account of specific Australian safety and design requirements such as higher UV exposure.
Associate Professor Eager, Chairperson of Standards Australia's Children's Playground Equipment Committee, CS-005, said the standard seeks to minimise risk of injury to children using playgrounds and specify minimal acceptable standards for equipment.
"The standard will allow Australian children to taste risk and excitement. They will perceive they are taking greater risks, and in so doing stretch and test their limits," said Associate Professor David Eager.
"The standard is not intended to provide risk free play environments. Research has confirmed that risk-taking is an essential feature of play and healthy childhood development. AS 4685:2014 is based on decades of injury data and accident patterns that have been observed in the children population around the world," he added.
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