purposeful design principles for...

PURPOSEFUL DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS

1 LittleTikesCommercial.com

UNLIMITED PLAY & LITTLE TIKES COMMERCIAL have teamed up to ensure kids of all abilities can experience the wonder and magic of outdoor play—side by side. We help design, plan, and build universally accessible playgrounds that offer physical, emotional, cognitive, sensory, and social adventures for children at every level of development.

7 PRINCIPLES GUIDE US IN DESIGNING INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS.The environments we create through this purposeful process promote a sense of belonging and acceptance among kids and families. Friendships are made, independence is gained, skills are challenged, and empathy is learned.

On our playgrounds, limitations are forgotten and differences are celebrated.

Purposeful Design Principles for Inclusive Playgrounds 2

1. DESIGN WITH IMAGINATION To encourage pretend play and nurture all of its benefits, play spaces and equipment should be designed around a creative theme. When children engage in pretend play, they practice creative, cognitive, and social skills by assigning new roles to existing objects, actions, and ideas. This child-initiated process is crucial in child development, helping children to become aware of their self and of each other.

From barnyards and poppy fields to fairytales and magical forests, we strive to create fun, themed spaces that elicit pretend play. With a mix of standard playground equipment, custom sculptures, components, and themed accessories, we transport kids of all abilities to imaginary worlds.


2. GIVE THEM INDEPENDENCETo create a safe, healthy environment for play, we must go beyond standard compliance to address the unique needs of families. Although it’s difficult to anticipate the needs of every playground visitor, inclusive playgrounds necessitate some safety features that go beyond general requirements. We provide:Fencing: All of our playgrounds have fencing around the entire perimeter, with only one or two entrances, to protect children on the autism spectrum who have a tendency to wander or run.

Unitary Surfacing: Poured-in-place, rubber tile, or turf is used for safety surfacing, making it easier for people with mobility devices and preventing some children from “mouthing” the loose-fill material.

Shade: Established tree cover and fabric/plastic roofs on equipment give shade to children and adults whose medical needs make them more susceptible to sun poisoning or overheating.


3. ENCOURAGE SOCIALIZATIONTo help children (and families) socialize, play spaces must be carefully designed with products and activities that encourage this behavior. For some, socialization doesn’t come easy, but it is essential to a child’s well-being and the well-being of parents and caregivers touched by disability.

We select equipment that facilitates all five stages of play: solitary (playing alone), onlooker (observing the action), parallel (side by side with little contact), associative (separate but engaged with others), and cooperative (working and playing together). Additionally, we integrate gathering spaces into the playground, so families watching children can make their own social connections with other families.


4. PROMOTE LEARNING To allow kids to learn about themselves, others, and the world around them, playgrounds should provide a range of activities that inspire them to try new things and conquer.All kids have the desire to accomplish something or gain a sense of independence. The playground has a vital role in this quest, while also teaching children to treat each other as equals.

We make sure that our equipment offers a range of developmental and physical challenges, accommodating children, but also inspiring them to achieve and learn about themselves. By grouping these activities and creating areas for collaborative or side-by-side play, we also ensure that they learn valuable social life lessons.


5. INCLUDE THE WHOLE FAMILY To ensure that visitors of all ages are comfortable, playgrounds should provide multigenerational accommodations.Children don’t often come to playgrounds by themselves. They come with parents, grandparents, caregivers, siblings, and friends. Some of them might be veterans or a person with a disability themselves. In order to feel welcome and receive equitable treatment on the playground, children and families alike might require special amenities.

A simple way we make our playgrounds accessible is by designing play structures with ramps to ensure kids or caregivers, especially those with mobility devices, can participate and not just sit on the sidelines. We also choose unitary safety surfacing to enhance accessibility. Other features like benches, picnic areas, water fountains, and shaded spots make it comfortable for those not participating in the play.


6. MAKE IT SENSORY To help children of all abilities learn and develop, playgrounds should incorporate a variety of sensory experiences.No matter a child’s ability level, it’s important to give them the opportunity to explore and experience their tactile, vestibular, auditory, visual, and proprioceptive sensory systems.

Our playgrounds provide activities that support these five sensory areas, such as spinners, swings, musical instruments, roller or metal slides, water play, and tactile/visual panels. We also incorporate “cozy places” as a sensory relief area that children can retreat to when overstimulated.


7. MAKE IT PHYSICALTo give kids the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day*, play spaces should provide opportunities for physical, active play.Regular physical activity improves overall health and fitness, reducing the rate of child obesity as well as the risk for chronic disease.

A variety of events on our playgrounds provide opportunities to jump, crawl, swing, slide, spin, balance, and climb. Each provides a range of challenges, pushing kids at their own level to help them work on a continuum of physical skills.

*Center for Disease Control and Prevention.


BUT MOSTIMPORTANTLY…

MAKE IT FUN!In the end, a great playground isn’t created merely by following these principles. The secret to designing a great playground lies in the fun factor—the ability to engage, excite, and amaze through the power of outdoor play.

As long as they’re having fun, the rest just falls into place.

Inclusive Play Video LittleTikesCommercial.com/Unlimited-Play/


800.325.8828 • LittleTikesCommercial.com

PlayPower LT Farmington, Inc. is a PlayPower, Inc. company. ©2018 PlayPower, Inc. All rights reserved.

For more information on Unlimited Play call us at 636-757-3978.

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