Ready for Swings and a Slide? Don't Take the Plunge Hastily.

One of the biggest mistakes parents and grandparents make is choosing a play set that doesn't take into account the children's ages. A 2-year-old, for instance, shouldn't be swinging in a flexible rubber seat with no restraints or barreling down a six-foot slide. The height of the play set and the spaces between ladder rungs also should differ depending on a child's size and physical ability. On the flip side, children might outgrow a small play set too quickly, so be sure to ask whether the set is expandable or adjustable.

4. Which materials are best?

Henderson said Maryland Materials, which specializes in commercial playgrounds, stopped selling sets made of pressure-treated wood years ago because of health concerns about substances added to prevent insect and fungal damage.

One such pesticide, chromium copper arsenate (CCA), was banned in 2003 after concerns were raised about arsenic exposure. It was largely replaced by acid copper chromate (ACC), a skin irritant and a known carcinogen that can still be found in some play sets.

Now, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), believed to have low toxicity, is more commonly used as a preservative. But if you decide to avoid chemicals and opt for natural wood, remember that it needs regular cleaning and painting or staining.

"The safest thing is for homeowners to go with plastic or metal structures," Henderson advised. That said, it couldn't hurt to ask where plastic or metal components were produced, especially if they are painted. "You want to be sure the country of origin hasn't had any problems with lead paint," Henderson said.

5. What kind of surfacing should I use underneath?

Grass and dirt won't protect your children from falls, and even resilient surfacing won't work unless you use enough. This is one area where you don't want to cut costs: Protective surfaces are critical for preventing devastating head injuries.

A minimum depth of nine inches of loose fill, such as wood chips, engineered wood fiber or rubber mulch, is recommended for an eight-foot-tall play set; nine inches of sand or pea gravel is sufficient only for a five-foot set. These materials must be replenished over time as they settle or are kicked away, so their cost should be figured into your budget. Rubber tiles or poured-in-place surfaces should extend at least six feet from the play set in all directions. Tire swings require even more protective surfacing, with a radius equal to the height of the suspending chain plus six feet in all directions.

6. Can someone watch the kids?

It should go without saying that supervision is the best defense against injury. If you don't plan to monitor your children (and, if you're at all concerned about liability, your neighbor's children), then you're better off not owning a play set. "The playground is no substitute for a babysitter," Henderson said.

Web Resources

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's playground safety publications are available online. The Outdoor Home Safety Handbook (Document No. 324) gives a particularly useful overview for homeowners considering a play set. The Public Playground Safety Handbook (Document No. 325) contains specific guidelines for the age-appropriateness of playground equipment. They can be viewed at http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/playpubs.html.

All of the commission's voluntary guidelines for public playgrounds, which are stricter and more detailed than residential guidelines, can be viewed at http://www.cpsc.gov/volstd/publicplayground/publicplayground.html.

If you have the space and can afford to do so, it makes sense to come as close as possible to meeting public and/or commercial standards.