Building a Safer Yard

Survey the yard
Take a survey of the yard before you let your children go outside to play. If you have a fence, make sure it is secure. Make sure all rakes, lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and other yard maintenance equipment are safely stored and out of reach of curious youngsters. Also check the grass for broken glass and other small, sharp items that could cut crawling infants.

Plants
After a few good rains, plant and weed growth are going to be rampant. Keep an eye out for mushrooms and remove all traces of them. Another common, poisonous backyard plant is oleander. Check with a poison control office for a complete list of poisonous outdoor plants.

Pets
It's not the family pet you have to watch out for; it's the family pet's droppings. Kids have a way of finding the most awful things to play with. Also, if you have a sandbox, keep it covered when the children aren't in it so cats don't use it as a litter box.

Playground Equipment
The winter months have a way with rotting boards, loosening screws and causing a lot of rust on playground equipment. Check for sharp edges and make sure all posts are still secure in the ground.

Kids, in general, go out into the yard with no intent in mind. They're going to go exploring. That means the potential is there for your child to get hurt unless your yard is child safe. A little planning a head of time is going to go a long way to keep your children safe.