Are Indoor Playgrounds Safe for Kids?

There were roughly 15,000 indoor playgrounds in the United States, per 2020 Family Entertainment Center data. This number included inflatable and trampoline parks as well as climbing centers. Indoor playgrounds offer kids a chance to socialize, play, exercise, and explore in a contained, supervised area, which is why they’ve become a popular choice for family fun, school field trips, and children’s parties.

Festooned in bright colors and offering elaborate climbing structures and slides, these playgrounds certainly look like a kid’s paradise.

Still, parents may be left wondering: Are indoor playgrounds safe for kids?

The Appeal of Indoor Playgrounds

Indoor playgrounds have surged in popularity due to their convenience and versatility. They allow children to enjoy playtime regardless of weather, and they’re often packed with diverse play structures like slides, ball pits, trampolines, and climbing walls. As entertaining as they are, they also offer distinct developmental benefits, including encouraging children to engage in physical activity, developing motor skills, and social interaction in an in-person environment.

Given the growing focus on keeping kids active, especially in colder months or urban areas where outdoor play might be limited, indoor playgrounds serve an important purpose.

While recent post-Covid years have seen these facilities growing again in popularity, indoor playgrounds are also facing increasing scrutiny, especially regarding their ability to ensure the safety and well-being of the children using them, as well as addressing premises liability concerns.

Common Hazards in Indoor Playgrounds

Despite the advantages of indoor playgrounds, accidents can happen. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 200,000 U.S. children younger than 14 are seen in hospital emergency rooms for playground-related injuries every year. Like outdoor playgrounds, indoor ones can pose a number of potential risks that may not always be obvious at first glance.

Some common hazards to consider include:

Inadequate Supervision

Many playground accidents occur due to inadequate supervision, as parents or caregivers sometimes can’t monitor kids throughout every moment of play, especially in areas that are crowded or have line-of-site limitations.

Some facilities struggle with limited on-site staff and rely on parents to keep an eye on their children, which can lead to lapses in attention. Play areas that lack full-time supervision may allow children to climb or use equipment in ways it wasn’t designed for, run in places where it’s unsafe, or push their physical limitations, leading to injuries.

Poorly Maintained Equipment

Indoor playgrounds experience high traffic, with children climbing, sliding, and bouncing on various structures. This constant use may lead to wear and tear that can weaken parts and materials, leading to potential hazards like broken or loose equipment, exposed nails or screws, or missing padding, all of which can pose additional risks.

The more reputable indoor playground owners conduct frequent inspections and maintenance, but not every facility strives to meet such high safety standards. When routine or emergency maintenance isn’t being practiced, the risk of children being injured increases dramatically.

Overcrowding and Space Constraints

Overcrowding is common in popular indoor playgrounds, especially during weekends or holidays. Too many children playing in a confined space can lead to collisions, pushing, and falls, and also make it difficult for parents and caregivers to keep an eye on individual children, which also increases accident and injury risk.

Key Safety Features To Be on the Lookout For

A safe indoor playground isn’t just about attractive play structures and vibrant décor; it requires effective design and rigorous safety measures. Here are some safety features parents should look for when choosing an indoor playground:

• Flooring and Padding: The National Safety Council reports that as many as 80% of playground injuries result from falls. Most playgrounds install soft flooring and well-padded surfaces to create a safer environment for kids. Rubber mats, foam padding, or soft synthetic flooring reduce the impact of falling and help prevent injuries. Look for facilities that offer protective surfaces around climbing areas, slides, and other high-activity zones.
• Clear Age-Specific Areas: Safety-minded playgrounds usually include separate play areas that are designated by the children’s age groups. These age-specific play zones not only reduce overcrowding but also help make sure that younger children can play in spaces suited to their developmental level and size, while also protecting smaller ones from older kids who may play harder and more aggressively.
• Visible Safety Signage: Posting clear, visible signs that communicate safety rules is essential in any responsibly-maintained playground. Rules like “no running” or “one child at a time on slides” remind everyone (kids and adults) to play safely. Some also post their full guidelines for safe behavior, which can help keep everyone aware of common risks and how to avoid them.
• Dedicated Staff and Supervision Policies: Some indoor playgrounds employ staff members to help supervise play areas, enforce safety rules, and intervene in case of any incidents. Trained staff can reduce risks, help parents with younger children, and ensure the play areas are used appropriately. Before visiting, parents can ask about the facility’s supervision policies to see if extra assistance is available.

Are Indoor Playgrounds Safe?: Understanding the Pros and Cons

Indoor playgrounds can be safe for children when facilities choose to enforce proper safety practices and parents supervise responsibly. By maintaining a controlled environment, protected play surfaces, and adequate safety measures like those above, playgrounds can increase kids’ fun while minimizing injury risks.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge that risks can never be eliminated entirely, and much of the safety responsibility falls on parents and caregivers, though facilities that maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, communicate their rules clearly and perform regular safety checks and maintenance are typically going to be much safer, and have fewer accidents, than those that overlook these basic elements.

Choosing a safe playground can involve a bit of research, but reading online reviews, asking questions about their maintenance practices, and visiting during both busy and quieter hours can help parents select safer facilities. Of course, setting clear ground rules with children and being actively involved with them during playtime will also go a long way in reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.

Indoor playgrounds offer a fantastic setting for kids to learn, explore, develop new skills, and just have a great time, but safety should be the highest priority.

In the end, the question of whether indoor playgrounds are safe depends on both the facility’s standards and the level of supervision from parents and staff. When both work together, indoor playgrounds can offer a safe and enriching experience, allowing children to enjoy all the benefits of play in a safe, secure environment.

Steps To Take If Your Child Was Hurt at an Indoor Playground in Reno

If your child has had the misfortune of suffering injuries at an indoor playground in Reno or elsewhere in Nevada, you may not need to foot costly medical bills for the injuries on your own. Our premises liability attorneys can evaluate what happened and advise you of your right to recover compensation from a negligent facility owner or operator.

Get in touch with us at the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp to schedule a free consultation. A meeting with one of our personal injury attorneys who can explain any rights you may have to take legal action is free.