Material for under outdoor climber?

[preschoolteacher]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile

My son turned one this week (!!) and the grandparents gave him a Step2 toddler climber... it is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Step2-Naturally-Playful-Woodland-Climber/dp/B001QUZJDQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374978482&sr=8-3&keywords=step2+climber

I'm wondering two things:

1. We want to put it in the yard. Am I required to put some sort of soft crash-pad mulch/rubber thing underneath it in Minnesota?

2. If yes, what do you guys use for that sort of materials?

THANKS!

[Blackcat31]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile

My son turned one this week (!!) and the grandparents gave him a Step2 toddler climber... it is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Step2-Naturally-Playful-Woodland-Climber/dp/B001QUZJDQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374978482&sr=8-3&keywords=step2+climber

I'm wondering two things:

1. We want to put it in the yard. Am I required to put some sort of soft crash-pad mulch/rubber thing underneath it in Minnesota?

2. If yes, what do you guys use for that sort of materials?

THANKS!

For family child care in MN we are not required to put anything under outside toys/climbers. I have several Little Tikes climbers (both toddler ones and preschool sized ones) and they are right on the grass.

They also get moved around the yard on a regular basis depending on what the kids are playing at the moment and if the grass is starting to thin, I will move it to a grassier area.

We have some strict climbing rules to prevent unnecessary falls etc. No climbing on the tops, no sitting on top, one child at a time...etc...

I know in centers, they are required to have rubber mulch and/or sand but there are no requirements for family child cares.

There are lots of options out there if you want to put something like rubber mulch down first but you aren't required to unless your specific city has it's own ordinance about it.

HTH

Happy Be-lated birthday to your little one! happyface

[preschoolteacher]

BC, I was hoping you'd respond. Thanks! You told me just what I wanted to hear. Hopefully our city doesn't have additional rules about it because I really didn't want to have to mulch under there!

And thanks for the birthday wishes. I can't believe the year flew by so fast. He took his first steps on his birthday!