As our schools welcome more diverse students, you might search for new ways to keep them engaged and having fun. The playground is perfect for this, where kids look forward to running around, playing with friends, and exploring during recess.
But what if your playground isn't working well for all students? Traditional playgrounds often don't suit kids with disabilities, which can make things less fun for them and their friends.
You can make simple changes to help everyone enjoy the playground without rebuilding it completely.
8 Tips for Making Your School Playground More Inclusive
Recess is often the best part of a child's day, a time to expend energy, make friends, and learn new things. Yet, standard playgrounds can leave out children with disabilities.
It's essential to design playgrounds that everyone can enjoy. Whether building a new playground or revamping an old one, focus on inclusivity and accessibility.
Even with a limited budget, there are effective ways to ensure your playground welcomes all children. Here are eight tips to help you create a more inclusive playground.
1. Make the Playground Easy to Use
Accessibility and inclusivity might sound complex, but they're just about making the playground an excellent place for all kids. Accessibility means everyone can quickly get to and around the playground, while inclusivity keeps everyone involved and having fun together.
Both are important for a great playground. To make your playground welcoming for everyone, start by improving accessibility. Here's how you can do it:
- Wide Walkways: If paths are too narrow, it's tough for kids, parents, or teachers to use things like wheelchairs to get around. Wider paths help everyone move freely and enjoy the playground.
- Smooth Ground: The ground of your playground matters a lot. Bumpy and uneven ground can be challenging for wheelchairs to move over and might cause trips and falls. A smooth, even ground makes playing safer and easier for everyone.
- Close to School: When building a new playground, put it close to the school communities. This makes it quick and easy to get to, giving kids more time to play outside.
Making the playground easy to access and move around in helps everyone. Once you've done that, you can focus on ensuring kids have fun together in this welcoming play space.
2. Boost Ground-Level Play
Many playgrounds feature high structures like jungle gyms, which can be complicated for younger or physically challenged kids to access. To make play accessible to everyone, include more ground-level options.
Using loose parts like ropes, chalk, balls, and blocks is an easy and cost-effective way to enrich ground play. These items encourage kids to create games and crafts directly on the ground, boosting creativity and inclusion.
For structured fun, add activity panels at various heights around the playground. Options like ball mazes, car dashboards, and magnifying glasses invite all children to play and explore at eye level.
The GameTime Merry Go All spinner is more than just fun; it's a developmental tool that enhances cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities, ensuring that all children can enjoy the joy of play.
Also, consider integrating swings, gliders, and rockers. These features are excellent for inclusive play as they are enjoyable and accessible to children of all abilities.
3. Add Inclusive Play Equipment
To make a playground inclusive for all, include inclusive playground equipment designed for kids with disabilities. For instance, sturdy, inclusive swings come with safety straps to support children who need extra help, and these swings ensure that every child can enjoy swinging.
Also, consider adding wheelchair-accessible features like GameTime Inclusive Whirl from Park N Play. These are designed to be flush with the ground and include safety rails and seats, making them accessible for all children and allowing everyone to play together without barriers.
4. Modify Playground Equipment
Modifying existing playgrounds for inclusivity can be budget-friendly. For example, installing wider slides allows all children to play without a complete renovation.
Replacing traditional steps with traction-enhanced options helps everyone climb easily. Elevate sandboxes and gardens to make them accessible to children in wheelchairs or with physical limitations.
Swapping out standard swing seats for accessible ones is a straightforward yet impactful modification that adds variety and inclusivity to your playground with minimal adjustments. Inclusive equipment transforms traditional playground equipment into a welcoming space for all children.
5. Add Sensory Elements
Incorporating sensory elements into playgrounds can significantly enhance inclusivity. Sensory play is vital for children's development and can be especially beneficial for those with sensory sensitivities, such as children on the autism spectrum—which affects nearly one in 44 kids.
To support all children, sensory play panels should be included to stimulate different senses. Panels with bells, chimes, or drums cater to auditory senses, while textured slides and spinners offer tactile experiences.
These elements make play accessible and enjoyable for kids of all abilities, fostering an inclusive environment on the playground.
6. Create a Quiet Space
Playgrounds are often bustling with activity and noise, which can overwhelm some children, especially those with sensory processing disorders. Incorporating a quiet space in the playground design is crucial to accommodating all children, including those who prefer less stimulation.
Quiet areas offer a peaceful retreat where kids can relax and gather their thoughts. These spaces benefit all children, not just those with sensory needs.
You might consider setting up a garden area with benches or an outdoor craft zone. Spaces like these provide a calm environment for reflective and creative play, allowing children to engage in activities at their own pace.
7. Consider the Adults' Needs
When planning an inclusive playground, considering the needs of adults such as teachers, parents, and caregivers is just as important as catering to children, especially since some adults may have varying abilities. It's essential to improve playground accessibility for everyone, ensuring enough space around and between play equipment for adults to assist children easily.
This is crucial not only for children with mobility aids but also for accompanying adults. Additionally, incorporate amenities that cater to adults' needs.
Provide comfortable seating areas with benches and shade so they can watch over the children without strain. Position these seating areas to offer clear, unobstructed views of the playground, enhancing safety and comfort for everyone involved.
8. Points for Interaction
Creating a fully inclusive playground is challenging, but incorporating interaction points can make a big difference. These are areas within the playground where children of various abilities can play together, helping to prevent exclusion based on ability.
Components that allow multiple children to play at once are ideal for fostering interaction. They promote social play, where kids are likelier to talk, collaborate, and build friendships.
This enhances fun, teaches valuable social skills, and fosters acceptance. The GameTime Challenge Course promotes physical health and connects communities, improving social bonds through collaborative play.
Consider adding talk horns, which enable kids to communicate from different playground ends. Other components that can encourage interaction include:
- Game panels
- Playhouses
- Extra-wide slides
- Swings
- Gliders
- Spinners
Design an Inclusive School Playground With Park N Play Design
Creating an inclusive playground ensures every child can access and enjoy play, regardless of their abilities. By integrating features like accessible equipment, sensory elements, and quiet spaces, we cater to diverse needs and enhance engagement for all.
We also consider the comfort and accessibility for adults, making the playground a welcoming space for the entire community. Through these thoughtful adaptations, school playgrounds become vibrant hubs where every child can thrive and connect.
Ready to create an inclusive playground that delights every child? Contact Park N Play Design, where over 20 years of experience in accessible and inclusive design results in award-winning playgrounds for the entire community.
Start your journey to a playground that welcomes everyone—reach out to Park N Play Design today.
FAQs
What is the difference between inclusive and accessible playgrounds?
Accessible playgrounds are designed primarily for physical accessibility, ensuring that children with disabilities can enter and navigate the space. Inclusive playgrounds go further, offering features that allow children of all abilities to play together and interact, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.
How to Make Your Playground More Inclusive
To enhance inclusivity, integrate diverse sensory and physical elements that cater to different abilities and include quiet areas for sensory breaks. Ensure the playground design promotes easy interaction among all children, creating an inclusive space for diverse needs and activities.
What does an inclusive playground look like?
An inclusive playground features varied play equipment accessible to children with different abilities, including sensory-friendly activities and universally accessible designs. Such playgrounds prioritize smooth, even surfaces and accessible entry points to ensure every child can play with their peers.
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