By Mandy Jordan
Playgrounds should be safe and accessible for all children, regardless of their background or abilities. Outdoor play helps children develop important skills, such as planning, problem-solving, and multitasking. All kids also need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. When playgrounds are designed to be inclusive, all kids can enjoy the benefits of using them.
What Is an Inclusive Playground?
An inclusive playground is a thoughtfully designed space that encourages play for children of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds. Inclusivity goes beyond ramps and railings; it's about creating spaces where every child feels welcome. It allows kids with and without disabilities to interact, breaking down physical and social barriers while promoting togetherness. The aim is to create an environment where everyone, including families, can enjoy the benefits of play.
Facts About Different Disabilities
Developmental disabilities impact about 6.7 million school-age children in the U.S., with nearly 85 out of 1,000 children having some form of disability. These include physical, sensory, cognitive, and social-emotional challenges.
Challenges children with disabilities may face include:
- Trouble working with play objects
- Difficulty communicating mental and physical limitations
- Struggles with imaginative play and abstract thinking
- Difficulty moving between play areas
- Problems expressing the desire or dislike for an activity
Most disabilities aren't visible, and only a small percentage of people with disabilities use mobility devices, like wheelchairs or walkers.
Key Terms to Know
- Accessibility: The practice of making products, services, and spaces easy to use for people with different disabilities
- Accessible Design: A design process that takes into account the needs of people with disabilities
- Clear Floor Space: The minimum space needed for a stationary wheelchair and its occupant
- Compliant Design: Design that considers the needs of physically disabled children but is not exclusively for them
- Cross Slope: A slope perpendicular to the path of travel
- Elevated Play Component: A play feature situated above the ground that is part of a larger, interconnected play structure
- Ground-Level Play Component: A play feature accessed at ground level
- Inclusive Playground Design: A playground design approach that supports the right of all individuals, regardless of ability, to engage fully in play
- Play Area: A playground or other designated space for children to play
- Play Component: A piece of playground equipment designed to encourage play, learning, or social interaction
- Ramp: A sloped walking surface that allows access to an elevated area for people with wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids
- Running Slope: A slope along the direction of travel
- Universal Design: The creation of environments and products that are usable by everyone
- Use Zone: The area below and around a piece of playground equipment
Designing an Inclusive Playground
When designing an inclusive playground, here are some principles to keep in mind:
- Equitable Use: The playground should be accessible to children with diverse abilities, giving everyone the opportunity to play.
- Flexibility: The area should include equipment that can be used in different ways, allowing for wider participation.
- Simplicity: The equipment should be intuitive and promote confidence.
- Independence: It should be easy to understand how to use the equipment, and children should be able to do so with little to no help.
- Safety: The design of a play area should account for the possibility of accidents that could cause injury and meet playground safety standards.
- Low Physical Barriers to Use: Equipment should be usable with minimal physical effort.
- Comfort: The layout and equipment choices should consider the comfort of children with different sensory issues, body sizes, and degrees of physical ability.
Key features of an inclusive playground include:
- Ramp access to upper levels
- Equipment that focuses on upper-body use
- Graduated heights
- Cozy spots for kids to take a break
- Seating and shade to keeps kids comfortable
Playground Safety Tips
- Use shock-absorbing materials, like rubber mulch, beneath play areas, and ensure that fall zones extend at least six feet in all directions.
- Steep ladders should have hand grips, and stairs should have handrails on both sides.
- Equipment should feature rounded edges and soft seats and be free from sharp corners.
- Regular maintenance is essential to check for wear, tear, or broken parts.
- Section off areas appropriate for different ages using playground borders. Equipment meant for older children, like tall climbers, should be separated from toddler equipment.
- Enclose the play space with fencing to keep kids out of harm's way and in caregivers' line of sight.
Where to Find Accessible Parks and Playgrounds
