Playgrounds in Cambodia- Safety First!

• 31 December 2015
• Local News
• 1409 Views

The need for our children to go and out and play is absolutely necessary, but the impact of 21st century technology could be the death of play for tech-savvy children.

As playground, safety flooring, park & recreation specialists, it is essential to ensure that the play environments we construct assist in the fundamental development of all healthy children. Playgrounds can improve their physical and mental growth through stimulating motor skills, physical development, psychological balance and cognitive senses.

Playgrounds are also an important resource for families and communities by combining nature, play, and safety. Playgrounds also educate all generations, create stronger bonds between friends and families, generate healthier lifestyles, and sustain the beauty of greenery.

Nowadays, safety-ensured playgrounds are abundant in developed countries like the USA, Europe, Singapore, and Japan in parks, shopping malls, and restaurants. In many Asian countries like Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia playgrounds have also become a ‘must-have’ facility in housing developments, schools, public parks, and hotels.

But, what are the playgrounds like near you and what should playgrounds really be like? A worry-free, stress reliever and an heaven of laughter and joy or a breeding factory of hurt, pain, and cries?

I recently made a week-long visit to Cambodia; a nation with a population of over 14 million where more than 40% are under the age of 18. With such a relatively young population, playground safety is crucial.

In Phnom Penh, I was happy to see investment in huge playgrounds with noisy, sweaty kids running around, but sad to see hidden hazards behind the play equipment that do not comply to playground safety standards.

For instance, rubber safety floor mats are meant to protect children from injuries; instead, due to poor quality and inappropriate installation, they can actually be a cause of injuries, which defeats the whole purpose of installing safety flooring. Moreover, the wrong height elevation of landing areas and cracks on slides can invite injuries.

Participating in a Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) major event – “The Showcase Malaysia & Cambodia Expo (MSE 2014)” – was truly an eye-opener. As an exhibitor, I had a fair amount of enquiries from schools, fitness centers, hotels, architects, landscaping, and construction companies.

It is an undeniable fact that Cambodian society knows that playgrounds are essential for today’s world. This is when I know awareness has to be done.

Instead of shouting STOP!, DON’T GO UP THERE!, DON’T CLIMB ON THAT!’, WATCH OUT!, BE CAREFUL!, THAT’S DANGEROUS!; and restricting your kids from shaping the best part their childhood by being fun, innovative, creative and playful, playgrounds should provide maximum carefree fun. A place where parents can say GO AHEAD AND PLAY!, and HAVE LOTS OF FUN! instead of sitting worried and keeping an eagle eye on their kids.

To ensure our children are not deprived of their right to safe and proper play which will allow them to grow up as healthy adults, let’s act wisely and make our playgrounds safe.

By Jessie Seow, General Manager, Parkscape Concept Sdn. Bhd

A low quality child playground in Phnom Penh that can harm childrens