A visit to the playground is more than fun. It lets kids exercise their bodies, brains and social skills. It also gives them a chance for unstructured, free play that’s important for healthy development.

Parents and families should still exercise caution at playgrounds. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children for playground-related injuries each year.

There are several things to keep in mind when taking children to a playground.

Choose a playground with equipment that is geared toward your child’s age, matched with their abilities, developmental level and size. For example, smaller swings intended for younger children can break if larger children use them. And smaller children using equipment designed for older children can have difficulty reaching and climbing.

Most playground injuries happen when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. That’s why the best way to prevent injuries is to make sure the surface underneath it can help absorb and soften the impact.

Steer clear of hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt. Although grass may look soft, it is not a shock-absorbing surface. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a thick layer of various materials, extending at least 6 feet in all directions, underneath play equipment. This list includes wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel that is 12 or more inches deep or mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like material

Kids love to climb. It helps build strength, coordination and depth perception while letting them see their surroundings on a different level.

Heights can become a potential hazard for children on playgrounds. To ensure safety, check to make sure playground equipment is an appropriate height, with guardrails if necessary. In addition, vertical and horizontal spaces, like those between the ropes of cargo nets, should be less than 3½ inches wide or more than 9 inches wide. This is to keep a small child’s head from getting trapped while preventing them from falling through easily.

When taking a child to a playground, check for sharp points or edges. For wooden structures, check for nails or screws sticking out. Metal structures should not have rust or peeling paint, which could contain lead.

Don’t let your child wear or play with anything that could get caught on equipment and become a strangulation hazard. Avoid sweatshirts with drawstrings or necklaces, for example, and keep jump ropes and pet leashes away from equipment. If your child rides a bike or scooter to the playground, they should take off their helmet while playing.

Slides are a playground staple. Straight, wavy or twisty, slides give kids a gentle, confidence-building thrill.

However, metal slides can get very hot from the sun and seriously burn a child’s hands and legs. Plastic slides can get very hot, too. (Asphalt and other dark pavement can also cause serious burns if a child falls.) On hot, sunny days, look for playgrounds where slides and other surfaces are shaded.

Slides should have a platform with rails at the top for children to hold. There should be a guardrail, hood or other structure at the top so that the child must sit before going down the slide.

Make sure there are no rocks, glass, sticks, toys, debris or other children at the base of a slide. These could get in the way of a child landing safely. The cleared area in front of the slide should extend a distance equal to the height of the slide platform.

Teach your child to go down the slide feet first to avoid head injuries, and to make sure anyone in front of them is all the way down before they go.

Don’t go down the slide with children on your lap. While it might seem safe if you are holding them, research shows children’s legs often get caught and injured on the way down.

Another playground staple is the swing set. Swinging is shown to calm kids, build sensory skills and even help them better cooperate with other children.

To avoid injuries, make sure the cleared distance in front of and behind a swing, and the shock-absorbing surface beneath it, is twice the height of the suspending bar.

Swing seats should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic or canvas and securely and deeply anchored to prevent tipping. Swings should not be too close together with at least 24 inches between swings and no more than 2 seat swings (or 1 tire swing) in the same section of the structure.

Children should also be discouraged from swinging on their tummies or jumping off. Teach them not to run in front of swings while other children are using them.

Even on safe, age-appropriate playgrounds, adult guidance and supervision is the best way to prevent injuries. In fact, researchers say lack of supervision is linked with nearly half of playground-related injuries. So, as your child climbs, slides, swings and glides, keep an eye on the action and be ready to step in if they are using the equipment incorrectly!

Julie Gilchrist, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician and researcher who serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. She studies how to prevent childhood injuries such as concussion, drowning, falls, poisoning and suffocation. Dr. Gilchrist spent 20 years at the Injury Center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and now serves as a consultant./Tribune News Service