ABSTRACT.Playground equipment accidents and the associated injuries are a significant cause of trauma among children. Surveys in Northern Sydney have shown that about 1% of all 2 to 12‐year‐old children are treated at hospitals each year for fractures and lacerations due to these accidents. Most injuries occurred following falls.Risk taking and play are an essential part of childhood development and therefore the approach is not to try and prevent all the accidents but to prevent or reduce the severity of any associated injuries. Experiences with an experimental playground indicate that this objective can be achieved inexpensively by avoiding exposed concrete foundations, using resilient ground covers such as fixed thick rubber sheets or open weave mats so as to reduce wear and injuries on hard surfaces, all swing seats should be made of resilient but non‐injurious materials, slide chute exits should be extended, and (to avoid injury to children running between playground equipment) swings should not be located in a direct path between other items of equi