About this course

Sensory gardens serve as charming additions to local parks, schools and nature centers. Their therapeutic qualities make them especially helpful for individuals with sensory processing disorders, dementia, or other cognitive and physical difficulties. Moreover, they offer a pleasant setting for everyone to engage with nature and indulge in diverse sensory experiences.

In this course, Mara Kaplan of Let Kids Play will show you stunning examples of sensory gardens in North America, Europe, Asia and beyond. In addition, she’ll give you important questions to ask yourself while planning a sensory garden.

• What is the purpose of the garden? Decide if your sensory garden will target a specific group of people. This can include children, the elderly, veterans, people who are blind or people who are autistic.
• Who should be at the table? Include professionals in the planning process, such as landscape architects and horticulturists. Also, consult the end users of the sensory garden, as well as those who will be maintaining it.
• How are you going to maintain the garden? Develop a maintenance plan that’s simply and easy to follow. Then, think about who will be responsible for doing the maintenance and if they require any training.
• How do I make my garden accessible? Build paths that are wide enough for wheelchairs and include planters that are low to the ground. Provide plenty of shade, as well as places to sit down and regroup, if needed.
• What should I put in my garden? As a general rule of thumb, it’s good to include at least one activity for each of the seven senses. This includes the five main senses, as well as the vestibular and proprioceptive senses.
• What other amenities should I include? Aside from the sensory garden itself, amenities like restrooms, site furnishings and signage should be included. This will encourage visitors to stay longer at your park.

Mara Kaplan is the Founder of Let Kids Play, a consulting firm that partners with manufacturers, communities, and parents to develop projects and strategies that provide optimal play opportunities for children.

Recognized nationally as an expert in designing play spaces, Mara is a committed advocate for inclusive play. As an educator and parent to a child with a disability, she holds a 25-year track record in designing, building, and managing both indoor and outdoor play environments. Her expertise also extends to play spaces and toys for children with and without disabilities.

In 1995, Mara, and five other parents raising children with disabilities, identified the significance of play in their children’s learning. They were determined to build a space where children of varying abilities could play together, leading to the founding of the Center for Creative Play. Mara served as its Executive Director for seven years before embarking on her journey with Let Kids Play.

Mara’s educational background includes a degree in elementary education and a minor in gifted education from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN). She later acquired her MBA, specializing in non-profit management, from Boston University.

Mara’s endeavors have earned her the Shore-Whitehill award for her efforts in enhancing the lives of people with special needs. Her work has been showcased in publications such as First30days.com, the Wall Street Journal, Be the Change, and the Social Enterprise Reporter.

The great thing about our courses is that they’re designed for all levels of experience. Whether you’re a parent on a PAC planning your first playground, or a landscape architect with decades of experience, there’s always something new to learn. Plus, our courses offer a quick way to stay up to date with the most recent trends in playground design.

Our courses take into account multiple groups and audiences, all of whom have different needs for their playground. A few groups that will benefit from taking our courses include:

• Parents: Parent volunteers will learn the most important aspects to consider when planning their playground project.
• Teachers: Teachers will learn about the educational benefits of play and how to incorporate them on the playground.
• Landscape Architects: Architects will learn innovative design ideas that they may use in their upcoming projects.
• Parks & Recreation: Parks professionals will learn about recent advances in safety, inclusion, and sustainability.
• Property Managers: Property managers will learn how playgrounds can attract families to live in their neighbourhood.