WHAT SHOULD YOUR PLAYGROUND RULES BE?

Experts recommend these basics: 

• Use at your own risk.

• No glass or alcoholic beverages allowed

• Proper footwear required

• Improper use of equipment prohibited

• Children under the age of [fill in your choice] must be accompanied by an adult.

As always, playground rules can be adapted to the particulars of your community. For example, here are the posted playground rules at the Nagle Apartments (a.k.a. NaBors Apartments) in upper Manhattan. This particular playground is designed for younger children.

• Children aged 6 and older must not use the equipment — it is not designed to support and is therefore not safe for children above the age of 5. Besides, older children can damage the equipment.

• All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

• Make sure the gates to the stairs are closed and latched before allowing children in the playground. Do not let the children play with the gates.

• Please do not let toddlers stray to the staircases or into the garden — they are not childproof.

• Use caution around the window guards.

• Please remove toys, including tricycles, cars and trucks, pools, and all other belongings, when you leave the playground.

• Clean up after yourself. Please bring food and other garbage indoors and dispose of it properly. This is not the super's responsibility.

• Have fun, but be safe!