Safe Kids USA started as the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, a U.S. nonprofit organization, which was founded by Martin R. Eichelberger, M.D. and Herta Feely in 1988. Dr. Eichelberger, as head of the emergency trauma unit at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, saw many injuries to children that could have been prevented.1 Unintentional childhood injury is the leading cause of death and disability for children under the age of 14. At that time, there were no programs to prevent childhood injuries before they happened. The organization’s founding sponsor was Johnson & Johnson.

• 1. Hunter, Jeff. “National Safe Kid Campaign looks to Expand into Playground Safety.” Today’s Playground, March 2001. p. 50.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership is a network of organizations dedicated to creating “safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from schools.”1 In doing so, they seek to reduce traffic congestion, improve the air quality around schools due to the reduction of traffic, and to increase children's activity and thereby reduce the risk of obesity and obesity-related health problems.2

• 1. “Quick Facts.” Safe Routes to School National Partnership. < http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/mediacenter/quickfacts > 10 Oct. 2011.
• 2. Ibid.

Safeplay Systems is a commercial playground design, manufacturer, and installation company that offers the EcoPlay products of play structures, swings, fitness equipment, surfacing, and site amenities.1

• 1. “EcoPlay by Safeplay Systems.” Safeplay Systems. < http://www.safeplaysystems.com/ > 9 April 2012.

The Säjai® Foundation was formed in 2006 by Barb King to “educate and motivate youth ages 6 to 11 to make healthy choices that will serve them for a lifetime.”1 As a Minnesota based nonprofit organization, the foundation works with local communities in educating children to include “healthy eating, physical activity, and outdoor exploration” in their lives.2 The Säjai Foundation is also using these key lifestyle choices to combat childhood obesity.

• 1. “Who We Serve.” Säjai Foundation. < http://sajaifoundation.org/aboutus/whoweserve.html > 27 Feb. 2011.
• 2. “Welcome to the Säjai Foundation!” Säjai Foundation. < http://www.sajaifoundation.org/ > 14 Dec. 2010.

Sand is a granular material composed of fine rock and material particles. Geologists use the term sand grain as a particle ranging in diameter from 0.0625mm to 2 mm; with the next larger size class being termed gravel and the smaller size class is silt. Sand is graded as fine, medium, and coarse.1

• 1. Hopen, Thomas J. “What Is Sand?” The International Sand Collector’s Society. <http://www.sandcollectors.org/What_is_Sandx.html> 14 July 2010.

Sandbox Summit is a series of conferences that undertake the mission to discover how technology affects the ways children play, learn, and connect with others. As technology becomes more pervasive in the lives of children, the goal of Sandbox Summit is “to ensure that the next generation of players becomes active innovators rather than passive consumers of technology.”1

• 1. “About Us: The Sandbox Summit Story.” Sandbox Summit. < http://www.sandboxsummit.org/aboutus.html > 19 April 2011.

School Specialty is an education company that provides proprietary products, programs, and services to help educators engage and inspire students of all ages and abilities to learn. The company designs, develops, and provides preK-12 educators with curriculum, supplemental learning resources, and school supplies. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help educators, guidance counselors, and school administrators encourage students to reach their full potential.1

• 1. “Corporate Profile.” School Specialty. < http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=72100&p=irol-homeProfile&t=&id=& > 8 Feb. 2012.

The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) launched The Sara Lee Schupf Family Center for Play, Science, and Technology Learning (SciPlay) in September 2010. Sara Schupf created the Center to engage more children with science concepts and scientific thinking through outdoor playgrounds. Her goal for SciPlay was both to inspire children's interest in science through outdoor playgrounds and to encourage teachers to utilize the playground as an avenue for science learning.1

• 1. Saldutti, Catherine C. and Kiran D. Purohit. “SciPlay Phase I: Situating the Project in the Literature.” SciPlay, Learning Science Through Play. 2009. < http://www.nysci.org/media/file/sciplay-secondary-research-compilation-final.pdf > 8 Sep 2011.

Self-regulation is the ability to control and manage one’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions. For a child, good self-regulation can be demonstrated simply by raising his hand when asking a question in class or in a more complex way by controlling his feelings when angry or frustrated.1 A child with poor self-regulation is often impulsive, hypersensitive to transition, and tend to overact to minor challenges or stressors. He may be physically hyperactive or may be withdrawn and inattentive.2

• 1. Hoffman, Todd. “Self-Regulation: The Key to Successful Students?” Education.com. < http://www.education.com/magazine/article/self-regulation-children/ > 17 Feb. 2011.
• 2. Perry, Bruce D.

When Shane Alexander was born to Catherine Curry-Williams and Scott Williams in 1997, he was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which prohibited him from moving or breathing on his own. He died a few weeks later from this genetic disorder. Had he lived, he would have been confined to a wheelchair.1

• 1. “Our History.” Shane’s Inspiration. < http://shanesinspiration.org/content/view/15/37/ > 16 Feb. 2011.

Signs and labels on and around playground equipment provide information and user education about playgrounds. They are also an important part of a playground safety program. Some types of signs are required and some are recommended. Some required signs have specific wording specified.1

The signs and labels typically associated with playgrounds are as follows:

• 1. Kutska, Kenneth. Playground Safety is No Accident, Fourth Edition. International Playground Safety Institute, 2009.

New York City-based Lenore Skenazy is a syndicated columnist constantly examining the curious realities of daily life, from S.A.T.-prep shower curtains for students to pricey bottled water for dogs. In her weekly writings she runs humor contests, hosts public forums, and weighs in on topics both crucial and quirky. 

The Slinky toy has been enjoyed by generations of children since its introduction in 1946. It is a simple toy made of a coiled spring that is advertised with words to describe the many actions children can make it do: walk, bounce, spring, juggle, flip, and jiggle. The Slinky is described with the slogan, “The original walking spring toy walks down stairs,” and this feat fascinates children and adults alike when demonstrated.1

• 1. “Slinky Spring Toys.” Poof-Slinky. < http://www.poof-slinky.com/Online-Store/Category/2/Slinky/ > 12 Jan. 2012.

Snug Play systems were inspired by the Experimental Playground Project that started in 2000 in the United Kingdom. The Project allowed children to try out new ideas for the design of their playground using wooden pallets, traffic cones, cardboard tubes, chalk, and fabric. What resulted was a highly innovative playground design that inspired other schools to experiment in the same way with their children.1

• 1. “Daubney Primary School. Experimental Playground Project.” Snug&Outdoor. < http://www.snugandoutdoor.co.uk/schools/daubeny1.html > 1 Aug. 2011.

SofSURFACES Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes, and installs fitness center flooring, roof tops, and playground safety surfacing. Based in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada, they produce an impact attenuating, interlocking surfacing tile system manufactured from recycled rubber.

SofSURFACES was founded in 1989 by two brothers, John and Ben Prins.1 At that time they provided poured-in-place (PIP) playground surfacing for their region of Canada. Four years later in 1993, they expanded their business to include manufacturing playground equipment. Ben led the new company, Active Playground Equipment, while John continued to develop SofSURFACES.

• 1. Prins, Ben. Personal correspondence to Playground Professionals. 9 Dec. 2009.

According the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 60-70% of all public playground equipment injuries are falls to the surface.1 Sof’Fall® was incorporated in 1992 in order to help alleviate this problem. They began to manufacture engineered, crushed, wood fiber, which would cushion the fall and be safer if children fell off of the playground equipment. This fiber is composed of softwoods and/or hardwoods, free of any bark or organic materials.

• 1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. “A Handbook for Public Playground Safety,” Volume II. p. 22

The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) team of researchers and educators are focused on growing a healthier next generation of children1 through the development of healthy lifestyles, social and personal skills, motor skills, and movement knowledge.2 In 1989, they began to evaluate, create, and implement new approaches to elementary physical education.3

• 1. “FAQs.” SPARK. < http://www.sparkpe.org/what-is-spark/faqs/ > 17 Aug. 2011.
• 2. “Spark Objectives.” SPARK. < http://www.sparkpe.org/about-us/objectives/ > 17 Aug. 2011.
• 3. “About Us.” SPARK. <http://www.sparkpe.org/about-us/> 17 Aug.

Michael Spock began his career as the Director of the Boston Children's Museum in 1962. His unconventional educational background led him to approach revitalizing the museum with an experiential and informal platform. He began with a What's Inside? exhibit where children could see and explore the insides of ordinary objects, such as a toaster, baseball, or a drop of rainwater. At that time non-directive, open-ended exploratory exhibits were not common.1 That exhibit lasted five years and led the national transition to hands-on children's museums across America.

• 1. “Sidebar: What's Inside?” Boston Children's Museum. < http://bcmstories.com/stories-menu/chapter01-menu/103-sidebar-whats-inside > 5 Aug. 2011.

Michael Suk began his academic career with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in African-American History from Carleton College in 1990. From there he simultaneously earned a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine (1997) and a law degree and a masters of public health degree from Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health (1995) with a special certificate in health care law.1 Michael's residency training was in orthopaedic surgery and his fellowship was in orthopaedic trauma.

• 1. “Michael Suk Biography.” US Play Coalition Conference on The Value of Play 2011. Keynote Speaker, 8 Feb. 2011.

Jim Dobmeier founded Surface America in 1993 in Cheektowaga, New York. As a subsidiary of ECORE, Surface America installs playground surfacing on approximately 500 playgrounds annually as well as gymnasium flooring, fitness flooring, indoor and outdoor surfacing, and trail and pathway surfacing. Their sister company, A-Turf, a synthetic grass surfacing company, was also founded by Jim and is also a subsidiary of ECORE.1

• 1. “Corporate Diversity & Financial Strength.” Surface America. < http://www.surfaceamerica.com/index.php/stand_alone_page/details/welcome-to-surface-america/ > 22 Oct. 2010.

Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) promotes land development and management practices that are sustainable through generating less waste, minimizing impact on the landscape, and by using less energy, water, and natural resources. SITES is developing a national, voluntary rating system for sustainable landscapes and thus defining and quantifying sustainability for “those who design, construct, operate and maintain landscapes.”1

• 1. “About Us.” Sustainable Sites Initiative. < http://www.sustainablesites.org/about/ > 3 Nov. 2011.

As a lifetime student of play, Brian Sutton-Smith is one of the foremost play theorists of his time. With over sixty-five years observing, researching, and teaching in the fields of educational psychology and play theory, his work has resulted in more than 350 books and articles that are stored at the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play located at The Strong in Rochester, New York.1

• 1. “Brian Sutton-Smith Biograpy.” Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play. < http://www.libraryandarchivesofplay.org/about/bio > 5 April 2011.

Swing safety is a very complex issue. There are three different types of swings, placement requirements, use zone requirements, requirements for the type of fasteners and suspending elements, and surfacing requirements that must all be taken into consideration.

The different types of swings include single axis or to-fro swings, multi axis swings, such as tire swings, and combination swings. Combination swings are a new style of swing for the U.S. They have been used in Europe for some time. The swings are designed for two people to use at a time.

Children through the years have enjoyed swinging, whether on the playground, at the park, or in the backyard. The back and forth motion of the swing can be both relaxing and exciting depending on the child’s play motivation. The sensations of flying and falling make swings one of the most popular pieces of equipment on the playground.