SAFE and Fun Playgrounds: A Handbook

Play is important for cognitive, emotional, and physical development of children. Use the four components experts have identified for safety: supervision, age-appropriate design, fall-surfacing that contains approved materials, and equipment maintenance.

This handbook is what you need to maintain an existing, or to create a new, pleasing, and challenging playground that is safe, but not boring.

Heather M. Olsen, EdD, is executive director of the National Program for Playground Safety.

Susan D. Hudson, PhD, has been an educator, consultant, and practitioner in the field of leisure, youth, and human services for over thirty-nine years.

Donna Thompson, PhD, founded the National Program for Playground Safety.

Heather M. Olsen, EdD, executive director of the National Program for Playground Safety has spent her professional career providing education and training for safe and engaging playgrounds across the country. Dr. Olsen is also a professor at the University of Northern Iowa in the College of Education.

Susan D. Hudson, PhD, has been an educator, consultant, and practitioner in the field of leisure, youth and human services for over 39 years. She is a McElroy Professor, one of only three such endowed professorships in the country, and the former Education Director for the National Program for Playground Safety.

Donna Thompson, PhD, founded the National Program for Playground Safety and established the NPPS SAFE program for playground safety used by many organizations today. Dr. Thompson has been a professor at the University of Northern Iowa for over 35 years and continues to educate educators, caregivers, and others on playground design and safety.