Essentiality of safety sign for children : a case study of safety issues in Hong Kong playgrounds

Abstract

Play provides children with fun, enjoyment, and opportunities to develop their cognitive, physical, and interpersonal skills. Most children in densely populated cities, such as Hong Kong, visit public playgrounds, as there is often limited space to play at home. Among the many issues related to public playgrounds, safety is an important concern among caregivers, especially as the space between play facilities in Hong Kong playgrounds is narrow and the number of children playing at the playground often exceeds the playground’s capacity. Despite the importance of safety, a recent field visit to a children’s playground in Hong Kong showed that there were few safety signs in the playground areas. Taking a case study approach, this paper reviews the observed safety issues in Hong Kong playgrounds to discuss the necessity of safety signs for children.