When creating play spaces, it’s crucial that everyone has the opportunity to play. Doing so promotes growth in children and encourages them to stay active throughout life. It also fosters curiosity, imagination, and sensory development skills.
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Every Kid Plays!
It's our fundamental belief that play should have no limits. In fact, we were founded on the idea that all children deserve the chance to play. That's why we strive to create equal opportunities for play in every playground we build.
Where limitations are forgotten, and differences are celebrated!
It’s important to understand that inclusive playgrounds don’t just help the person with the disability. Every child is part of their own social circle of family, friends, and caregivers. When one person can’t go to the playground, it affects multiple people.
Break down the barriers of reality and inspire a world of imagination!
Themed playgrounds create great opportunities for pretend play. By assigning new roles to objects, actions, and ideas, children are simultaneously practicing cognitive, creative, and social skills. This process is crucial in their development.
Pretend play encourages children to be something they know (like a parent) or something different (like a supervillain). But, be careful not to overdo it. Children should still be able to direct their own play and make individual decisions.
Unoccupied Play
Unoccupied play typically occurs in infancy up to about age 2. The child is patient and observant, taking in the world around them.
Solitary Play
In solitary play, the child is busy exploring their own world. They tend to play alone, regardless of if other kids are in the same area.
Onlooker Play
Onlooker play occurs when a child watches others play without actually joining the activity. When they're ready, they try it for themselves.
Parallel Play
Parallel play occurs a lot on climbers, swings, and slides. Children play alongside one another while engaging in their own activities.
Associative Play
During associative play, children mimic each other's behaviour. They converse, borrow, and take turns, but each child acts alone.
Cooperative Play
Cooperative play occurs on see-saws, spinners, and activity panels. In this stage, children learn crucial communication skills.
More fun for everyone means a greater sense of belonging!
When designing a playground for social inclusion, try to accommodate children in each stage of childhood play. Whether playing alone, cooperatively, or as an onlooker, every child should be given the chance to actively participate.
Social inclusion can be incorporated in many ways. Eye-level play allows kids to play as equals, while cozy spaces provide a place to regroup. For teens and adults, a challenging obstacle course or gathering space can be placed adjacent to the park.
What Inclusivity Looks Like
Playgrounds For All Ages And Abilities.
Mobility
Providing wheelchair ramps and transfer stations.
Motion Play
Spinning, swinging, and rocking for all.
Pretend Play
Unlimited possibilities for imaginative play.
Touch
Textured play surfaces that engage your senses.
Quiet Place
A calm and relaxing space where kids can regroup.
Sound
Experience the benefits and joy of making music.
Social Gathering
A dedicated gathering spot for parents and caretakers.
Challenges
Play equipment for a variety of ages and skill levels.
Shade
Keeping kids protected from the sun while they play.
When kids play independently, they develop skills that lead to personal growth!
Independent play can be supported through several inclusive design principles. Wheelchair ramps offer full access to the top of the play structure, while fences set a safe boundary for kids to play without their parents’ help.
Unitary surfacing, such as pour-in-place rubber, rubber tiles, or artificial turf, provide complete independence for wheelchairs and mobility devices. For children who are sensitive to heat, a shaded area gives them the ability to cool off.
Let all kids experience the thrill of spinning, swinging, and rocking!
We’re all familiar with the 5 main senses of the human body. But, did you know that there are 3 less-familiar sensory systems? The vestibular, proprioceptive, and interoceptive systems help kids understand their bodies in relation to space and gravity.
Providing a sensory-rich playground allows children with sensory challenges to work through them. In a study of children born between 1995 and 1997 in the New Haven, CT area, 16% of 7 to 11 year-olds had symptoms of SPD. That’s 1 in 6 children.
All kids want to feel accomplished, and playgrounds play a vital role in this!
Inclusive playgrounds allow kids to work on their physical skills. From fine motor skills (like activity panels) to strength building (like climbers), kids should be pushed to new limits. This will help them learn about themselves and the world around them.
To accommodate children of different skill levels, it’s important to include equipment with varying degrees of complexity. Our Level 1 products feature a lot of support to help kids succeed, while our Level 3 products require careful motor planning.
What are you waiting for?
Start playing today!
From starting a new project to placing an order, our team of play experts are happy to help. Let us know how we can turn your playground dreams into a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between accessibility and inclusion?
Accessibility refers to the minimum requirements that make getting into and around the playground easy. Inclusion, on the other hand, seeks to engage everyone together, regardless of their age or ability.
Why is inclusion important when designing a playground?
According to a 2006 study from Statistics Canada, nearly 1 in 20 children (4.6%) aged 5 to 14 has a disability. This amounts to approximately 175,000 kids who must be accounted for when designing a playground.
Do wheelchair ramps make a playground inclusive?
While wheelchair accessibility is an important aspect of inclusive playgrounds, it’s not the only thing to consider. There should also be engaging play activities for children who have social, sensory, or intellectual disabilities.
What does a gold and platinum certification mean?
A gold certification from Unlimited Play brings inclusive principles to a limited space or budget. A platinum certification includes the maximum number of inclusive features, and is more appropriate for larger playgrounds.
Why Choose Us?
Partners in Play
We are partnered with Unlimited Play, a non-profit organization that helps plan and design inclusive playgrounds. Unlimited Play certifies our parks to the highest standards of inclusivity using their gold and platinum checklists.
Exclusive Equipment
With help from Unlimited Play, Little Tikes Commercial has developed an exclusive line of inclusive playground equipment. We are honoured to be the sole distributor of these innovative products across Western Canada.
Community Engagement
When designing an inclusive playground, we engage parents, educators, and child play experts in each step of the process. This collaborative approach ensures that your playground achieves its goals for inclusivity.