What makes a playground inclusive?
A truly inclusive playground doesn't have areas off to the side for children with disabilities, or designated spaces for special needs playground equipment. Inclusive means everyone is a part of play with peers of all abilities.
Why is inclusive playground equipment important?
Inclusive playgrounds are designed with all users in mind, so no one should feel the playground is incompatible with their abilities and interests. Inclusive play areas are beneficial to all users, including those that would be able to enjoy all the features of more standard playground designs.
How do I make my playground more inclusive?
Five Ways to Build an Inclusive Playground No Matter Your Space or BudgetAdd Inclusive Swings. Zero-G Swing Seats are intended for kids ages 5 to 12 or 2 to 5. ... Engage the Senses. ... Provide Cozy Spaces. ... Add an Inlcusive Merry-Go-Round. ... Affordable Inclusive Spinning.
What are some features of an accessible inclusive playground?
Accessible and Inclusive Equipment to Include in Your PlaygroundRamps. Ramps allow all children to reach elevated play components and enjoy the view up high. ... Inclusive Slides. ... Ground-Level Play Activities. ... Sensory Activities. ... Inclusive Swings. ... Wheelchair-Accessible Equipment.
What is inclusive play and why is it important?
Inclusive play opens makes opportunities available to all children, regardless of disability and background. We believe children should all have the chance to play together. All children benefit from being outside, interacting with their environment, learning from nature and developing through play.
How can I show inclusion in the playground?
Promote authentic friendships between children with and without disabilities. Help them understand that they are there as equals to play, connect, interact, and have fun together. Encourage and invite families to be involved in learning activities and games from their culture, background, or country during lunchtime.
What is an inclusive swing?
The inclusive swing set offers a secure seat and the ability to attach a harness when needed to provide a safe swinging experience for all. Swinging gives kids of all abilities the opportunity to engage in valuable sensory play.
How do you create an inclusive environment?
What Is an Inclusive Environment?Working to Understand and Alter Unconscious Bias. ... Using Inclusive Language. ... Making an Effort to Recognize Exclusion. ... FOSTER DIVERSITY. ... Focus Your Inclusion Efforts. ... PUT YOUR MISSION IN WRITING. ... GET YOUR ENTIRE TEAM INVOLVED IN INCLUSION. ... ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OR COMMITTEE DEDICATED TO INCLUSION.More items...
How do you make an activity inclusive?
8 Ways to Make Your Small-Group Activities More InclusivePromote your students' cooperation and communication skills.Provide customized instructional support for students who need extra help.Encourage friendships and interactions among kids who don't normally play together.More items...•
What is an inclusive feature?
The inclusive features of the living organisms mean that feature is also present in non-living also. Growth and reproduction are inclusive features, because non-living and living both show these features. The exclusive features mean that that feature is present only in living but absent in non-living.
What are 3 features of inclusion?
The defining features of inclusion that are used to identify high-quality early childhood programs and services are Access, Participation, and Support.
What is the difference between inclusive and accessible?
Inclusiveness differs from accessibility in that it doesn't specifically address a particular need or problem that the audience may have, but instead provides a spectrum of tools and features that the end user can choose from to fit their requirements in that given environment or context.
Why do schools need playground equipment?
Investing in more playground equipment encourages each student to engage in physical activity during recess. Play areas help kids build their gross motor skills, but they also benefit students' overall physical health.
Why is an inclusive environment important in childcare?
An inclusive learning environment is adaptive to, and respectful of children with physical and cognitive disabilities, and of students with various cultural backgrounds. Each one is given opportunities to learn, participate and grow.
Why is inclusive practice important for children?
Effective inclusive practice provides all children with access to opportunities and support during the earliest and most influential years of their learning and growing. It also helps enable children to be confident in who they are and what they aspire to in the future.
What are the benefits of creating an inclusive environment for children?
It improves a child's confidence. It provides teachers with lots of creative ways to include problem-solving and teamwork in their lessons. It provides parental confidence that their children will be accepted and learn in a safe space that acknowledges their individual needs.
What is inclusive playground?
An inclusive playground is intentionally designed so that children of all ages and abilities can play, be challenged, and have fun together. It goes beyond basic wheelchair accessibility and ensures that all kids have an inviting and enjoyable playground experience.
How to include all kids in a playground?
One way to include all kids in a playground is through our sensory playground equipment. Sensory play equipment incorporates the unique sensory processing needs of kids on the autism spectrum or with specific sensory needs, offering them the opportunity to play independently alongside others without getting overwhelmed by the noise and stimulation of a playground.
What are the stages of play?
Our equipment supports kids in each of the six stages of play, including: Solitary play, Onlooker play, Parallel play, Associative play and Cooperative play.
Can kids play on our equipment?
With the right equipment selections, we make sure all kids can access our equipment. Kids with wheelchairs, crutches or differing ranges of motion can play on our equipment thanks to our intentional designs.
Why is an inclusive playground important?
An inclusive playground takes away the barriers to exclusion, both physical and social, providing a “sensory rich” experience for all.
Why are playgrounds important?
These playgrounds do so much for the community. They educate and bring families and people together. They stress the importance of inclusion in every day activities, no matter the ability level. They prove that kids of all abilities enjoy exploring, learning, interacting and having fun together.
Why is it important to have inclusive playground equipment?
Why does creating a playground that’s the inclusive matter? Because of inclusion matters. Every child deserves the opportunity to play, explore, and have fun out on the playground, regardless of their respective ability level. Research shows that both independent and group play are important to the health, development, and growth of all children everywhere.
Why is inclusive play important?
An inclusive play environment helps to meet the developmental needs of the whole child, including physical, cognitive, sensory, and social development.
What are semi enclosed places?
These semi-enclosed places include seats, crawl tubes, and other designs which allow children to play and explore individually. They also afford the opportunity for children to seek some needed sensory relief when needed.
What are ramps and transfer stations?
Products like ramps, transfer stations, and handles assist children in accessing play events and activities. They’re also designed for easy transfer from personal mobility devices, without creating any additional obstacles or barriers.
Why is it important to have inclusive playground equipment?
Inclusive play equipment focuses on providing equal opportunities for playground fun for kids of different abilities , ages, and backgrounds. Choosing inclusive playground equipment creates an environment that facilitates quality play for all children and gives them the opportunity to learn and play together. Ensuring that all children can make the most of your playground is a great way to foster new friendships, understanding, and learning within your community.
How to encourage inclusive play?
Choosing equipment that a wide range of kids can use helps maximize opportunities for inclusive play. Shared equipment gives kids a common ground for adventure and peer bonding. One way to encourage kids in inclusive play is providing a large play structure with different features. Adding different accessories or customized add-ons can make these structure a fun play opportunity for kids of varying ages and abilities. Equipment that focuses on imaginative play and learning is another great way to promote inclusive play. For example, pretend play equipment can help children of different abilities and ages interact with each other. These collaborative activities provide opportunities for social development as kids learn to navigate their differences in the pursuit of fun as they play house, pirates, or any other imaginative game.
What is inclusive play?
Inclusive play areas also allow adults of varying ages and abilities to actively engage with the children in their care. The playground can become a truly multi-generational gathering space for community enjoyment, socialization, healthy bodies and imaginative fun.
What is general recreation?
For nearly 50 years, General Recreation has provided designs, equipment and assisted in building all types of recreation facilities: from playgrounds and site furnishings for public spaces to designing and installing commercial outdoor fitness areas, aquatic playgrounds, safety surfacing, site furnishings, and more. We provide an extensive array of park products and site furnishings, pavilions and gazebos, fabric shade structures, outdoor bleachers, athletic standards, and more.
Why Embrace universal design?
Because it benefits everyone regardless of condition. Applying Universal Design does not mean that all the fun and risk of a park and playground are eliminated. Instead, it helps to create a place where all can play, learn and grow together.
Is it possible to build a playground?
Constructing a community build playground is not only possible , It's FUN! You just need to find the right partner to work with you through the entire community build process! Our team of experts are happy and ready to assist you.
WHY CREATE AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND?
At Playworld, we understand that inclusive playground equipment creates an accessible world for children of different abilities. Everyone, including children with disabilities, children who are typically developing and the adults in their lives, should have access to inclusive playgrounds. And we help you make those spaces a reality.
How to design a playground?
When designing your playground, include sensory-rich activities to promote engagement. Cater to multiple levels of physical and intellectual ability for the most inclusive play space, and differentiate zones by putting like equipment together.
What does Playworld do for playgrounds?
Playworld will help you get that message across with inclusive playground equipment.
What is Playworld's partnership with Playworld?
Partnering with Playworld makes it easy to design an inclusive play space. Playground equipment manufacturers must adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. At Playworld, we meet those standards and go beyond. The result is equipment that keeps children of varying mobility, emotional and intellectual needs in mind.
Why is play important in a playground?
Play provides developmental opportunities for children, and playgrounds give them the space to explore and interact with their environment. When play spaces are not inclusive, they bar children with disabilities from opportunities for experiencing emotional, intellectual, physical and social development. Give kids of all abilities the chance to have fun and grow with inclusive playground equipment.
How long does it take to get an answer from inclusive play desk?
Have a question? Send an email to our Inclusive Play Desk, and we will get you an answer within two business days.
What is inclusive playground?
An inclusive playground is one that supports all groups of people within a community, recognizes their value and helps them achieve their full potential through play.
Why is inclusive play important?
Creating play spaces that focus on eliminating obstacles and inviting interaction between children is crucial to social development. Inclusive playgrounds also offer safe sensory rich opportunities for self-determination which create a resilience to stress, increases self-esteem and emotional well being.
What is a segregated playground?
Outdoor areas that offer ADA accessible features within a different area of the park, or equipment that is only designated for ability challenged children may be considered segregated. Often the playground design sought to create a space that was specifically designed for wheelchair use and mobility challenged kids, but the design was separated for safety or logistical concerns. Unfortunately, this type of design limits interaction and therefore socialization opportunities. Often segregated play spaces don’t recognize the needs of other disabilities as well, such as cognitive delays, Sensory Processing disorders, or Autism.
What are some ways to increase the value of a playground?
Consider building on other sensory based themes to increase the play value at your park. Not only do these activities narrow the physical differences between children, they allow a new type of exploration and play. From sand boxes, musical instruments, rain wheels and water tables we offer a variety of items that will redefine the overall experience of your site.
How to contact Adventure Playground Systems?
If you’re ready to start planning your next park project, contact Adventure Playground Systems by calling us at 1.888.935.2112 or filling out our online contact form. Our friendly team of Adventure Play Experts are happy to offer their expert advice and suggestions to find the commercial play equipment that is right for you. We can guide you through the purchase every step of the way, so you get the park or playground area you’ve always dreamed of.
Is integrated play space ADA compliant?
Integrated play spaces are by far the vast majority of playgrounds open today. They are ADA compliant with acceptable safety surfacing, a correct ratio of play events / types and offer a transfer station which allows easy access to play structures for mobility challenged children. These playgrounds have done what is required (by law) but have not gone out of their way to offer truly a immersive experience.
Do playgrounds exclude children?
No one sets out to exclude a child when they build a playground or green space. However exclusion and segregation happens often in playgrounds to children with altered mobility, cognitive or sensory abilities. Compared to the general population, research shows that children with physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities have substantially greater difficulty participating in regular physical activity. Youth with physical disabilities had 4.5 times higher rate of physical inactivity compared to peers without (steel Et al., 2004).
