It all begins with choosing the right playground set for your family. While there are many tempting options—including bargain prices and exciting add-ons—you must put safety as your first priority. Here are five ways to choose a playground set that is safe and fun.

#1. Select a safe construction material.
When considering a playground set, you can choose from plastic, metal, and wood. Plastic is colorful and eye-catching but isn’t durable. Be prepared to replace it in a few years. Metal can rust and crack. The weight of a child on a playground set with an unseen crack is a formula for danger. In addition, metal conducts heat—which you know if you ever sat on a metal slide on a hot, summer day! A playground set that is “too hot to handle” is a risk for your child.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends wood, because it presents the best option for a safe, lasting playground set. Avoid any woods, like southern yellow pine, that have been chemically treated to resist decay and insects; instead, choose a wood that does this naturally, like cypress, cedar, or redwood.

#2. Size matters.
About 70 percent of playground accidents occur from falls. You can minimize the injury risk by installing a swing set that is sized for your family. Choose a slide that doesn’t have a tall ladder; a five-foot deck height is just right. Look at the height of the crossbeams; if it’s higher than seven feet, it’s too high for monkey bars for young kids. Also be sure to provide at least 22 inches between swings to avoid turning your swings into bumper cars.

#3. Choose activities that match your child’s age.
Bigger swings, climbing walls, and hurricane slides might have your children begging, “Please!” when you are shopping for your family’s playground set, but pay careful attention to the age guidelines for the activities. Also be sure that ladders and handles are sized for your child’s feet and hands, and feature non-slip grips.

By choosing a modular set, you can add on as your child grows, swapping out a bucket swing, for example, to a rope swing. Expand with a climbing wall, monkey bars, or other age-appropriate option when your child is ready for bigger challenges.

#4. Make room for the playground set.
Before you start shopping for your playground set, determine where you will install it in your yard, and how much area you can dedicate to it. For safe play, you need to allocate sufficient space beyond the footprint of the set. The CPSC recommends you allow at least six feet beyond the end of the slide for safe landings and four feet on either side. The swinging area should be equal to twice the height of the crossbeam. If you have a seven-foot crossbeam, be sure you have at least 14 feet on either side (front and back) of the playground set.

#5. Create a safe surface.
Just as you would carpet a playroom, you need to pay attention to the surface where you will install your playground set. You can cushion the inevitable falls by covering the area with shredded rubber, cedar chips, or loose fill. A six- to eight-inch depth is a good rule of thumb for effective cushioning. A rubber mat is another option for a gentle surface. Also, keep the area clear of branches, rocks, toys, skateboards, bikes, and any other items that could present a hazard if a child falls on it. If it isn’t part of the playground set, keep it out of the play area!

The most important aspect of child safety during any play activity is proper supervision. Your playground set should be situated in your line of sight from the house so that when the kids are outside playing, you can keep an eye on the activity. By playing it smart, your kids can play it safe.

Your first decision is a choice between wood, plastic, and metal. Plastic can be colorful and inviting, but simply can’t provide long-lasting quality. Metal may seem to be a sturdier option, but unless it’s anchored to or cemented in the ground, it doesn’t offer the stability you need for your child’s safe enjoyment. In addition, metal doesn’t withstand the elements as long as wood. Metal can rust, crack, and weaken, exposing sharp edges or breaking. If you’re considering metal, also remember that it can become very hot or cold to the touch, a hazard for young hands!

Your best option is a wooden playset. Wood is not only the most eco-friendly choice, but it is also more durable than both plastic and metal. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends wooden play systems because the material is naturally strong, which means it can stand up to both the great outdoors and the rough and tumble world of youthful vigor.

When evaluating your choices for a wooden playset, here are a few factors to consider:

• Choose wood that complies with ASTM guidelines. Wood is the best choice for a playset, but not just any wood will do. Look for building materials that are American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certified for quality and safety. Woods like redwood, cedar, and cypress are known for their long-lasting durability. Plus, their natural resistance to insects, rot, and decay means these woods will last outdoors for years without being treated with potentially toxic chemicals. Be sure to ask if the wood has been treated in any way and avoid any that has been!
• Remember that bigger is better. Bigger beams resist warping and cracking. So, while wood is the smart choice, you make it even better by opting for more durable, 4-by-4 beams.
• Examine the hardware. Choose a system with hardware that is recessed to protect children from injury or catching their clothing on exposed hardware. Do not use plastic caps to cover the hardware because they can be tempting to young children and have been identified by the ASTM as a choking hazard. Also be sure that the builder has used commercial grade hardware, which is heavy-duty and either galvanized or coated to prevent corrosion that compromises its strength.
• Check the joints. The activity on your child’s wooden playset can loosen joints that are not sturdy enough to withstand wiggling motions. Look for triple joint construction because it provides the most secure structural support.
• Be sure the ladder is safe. A majority of playground accidents occur from falls. You can reduce the risk by ensuring that the ladder your kids are climbing is strong, secure, and skid-free. Check the surface and angle of the rungs to make sure it is safe for little feet.
• Feel the edges. Sharp or rough edges pose hazards to children. Rub your hand along the edges to ensure they are smooth enough to be safe for your child.
• Consider adaptability. As your children grow, can your wooden playset keep up with them? From the size of the swing to the variety of activities, your children will get more fun from a playset that can be adapted. Choose a system that allows you to add accessories later so you can extend the play life of your wooden playset, like slides, various swings, climbing wall, trapeze, and buoy balls.
• Choose the right ropes. Countless hours of children swinging on ropes can stretch and weaken the material. To avoid stretching, choose a double-braided rope because the tighter weave holds up to the pulling and retains it size and strength. Rope with a one-inch diameter or larger provides a more secure grip—an important consideration whether scaling a wall, clinging to a rope and disc swing like a little Tarzan! Also look for ropes that are protected against UV rays, which can damage the fibers.
• Check the guardrails. All platforms should have guardrails to prevent your child from falling. Look for a smooth, sturdy railing that is splinter-free.
• Look for hazardous spaces. Small openings can be tempting to youngsters so be sure that there are no gaps where their feet, hands, heads, or bodies can become trapped, such as ladder rungs and guardrails.
• Ask about the warranty. The best way to determine the quality of the wooden playset you’re considering is by looking at the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Check to be sure the warranty covers the structural integrity of the playset, which includes the wood, components, accessories, and workmanship.

Take the time to carefully examine every playset you’re considering. Think about the activities your child enjoys and the ways in which you can provide for the safest play environment. Making the choice for the best wooden playset isn’t exactly child’s play but doesn’t have to be rocket science either!