How To Deliver Inclusivity, Wellbeing And Accessibility On Any Budget

Providing the public with an inclusive play area, committed to accessibility for all with a focus on community wellbeing, is not strictly the purview of those with a bottomless budget. As explained below, it is not the cost of outdoor play equipment that affords inclusivity, but the efforts which go into the design.

Discover how local authorities can meet the demands for inclusivity, wellbeing and accessibility on any budget with the following guide…

What Are The Benefits Of Inclusive Outdoor Play?

• Allows ALL children to cultivate an interest in discovering new things, regardless of their abilities or physical limitations
• Affords a safe space for adolescents of varying abilities to traverse the world, assess risks and make decisions on their own without intensive, direct adult instructions
• Maximises opportunities young people have for growth by seamlessly utilising their free time for further development
• Inclusive outdoor play equipment optimises the social learning experience, enabling large groups of children to develop by naturally engaging in activities together
• Encourages independent learning and development of many skills required at educational institutions, aiding, complementing and furthering work done in school, but on their own terms

What Is Inclusivity?

When it comes to playgrounds, a truly healthy community is one in which everyone feels accepted in the immediate environment and can easily engage facilities that accommodate their physical and psychological needs. The more obvious regards in this area are for people registered as disabled, but inclusivity is more nuanced than considering disability access alone – it really does encompass everyone.

To begin with, an inclusive playground is one in which adults, as well as children, should feel welcome attending – the activities on offer must afford parents a chance to comfortably interact with their kids.

An outdoor play area needs to be a great point of contact for people of all ages, a place that is easy for socialising, inviting of community engagement, provides opportunities for child motor skills to grow, imaginations to glow, and ample chances to keep fit and healthy.

It needs to be an environment that is made fun by keeping the senses busy, a crucial part of social, emotional, and physical development in the young. Ultimately, an inclusive play area is a place that is considerate of community needs, age-appropriate activities, child developmental requirements, and the potential for fun!

Playgrounds And Wellbeing

A major focal point of playground inclusivity is on child wellbeing.

Good play areas help combat obesity by providing a vessel for expending huge amounts of pent-up energy, both physically and emotionally.

However, great play areas manage to do so while also offering mental and cognitive developments.

Much more than just a spot for an amusing time, many children increasingly depend on playgrounds for building confidence, self-esteem, and developing a tenacity for dealing with stressful situations.

‘Unfortunately, there are some children that have very little interaction with others their own age outside of a learning environment’, says Creative Play Outdoor Play Expert Tim Broster, ‘so encouraging them to engage with others is vital to the development of their emotional, psychological, and social abilities’.

Beyond interaction with others, play areas can also assist with the improvement of perception, judgement, independence, anxiety reduction and fear of their surroundings – especially when it comes to heights and tackling difficult terrain. ‘This is achieved by offering children realistically achievable challenges which push their motor skills to the next level’.

What Does An Inclusive Playground Look Like?

All playgrounds should be of sensible design, built with purpose, and include activities usable for as many people as possible. To create this play area in which everyone feels welcome and encourages further use, consider the following:

Surfacing

Many factors go into choosing the best surfacing for a play area. While the material and depth need to accommodate a fall from the highest platform in the vicinity of the equipment, other parts of the park need to be appropriate for acting as all seasons access routes – with wheelchair users and those with visual impairments being taken into consideration.

Different parts of the playground need to be thoughtfully connected. For example, the level of the surface at the slide section needs to comfortably meet that of the see-saw zone. Flush flooring is necessary not only to eliminate potential tripping hazards, but to provide reliable access to those with mobility aids and poor visibility.

Spacing Of Routes And Equipment

By the same logic, paths need to be wide enough to allow buggies and such, as well as plenty of space for people uncomfortable coming into physical contact with others. The same thought needs to be applied to the immediate surroundings of each individual piece of outdoor play equipment, ensuring there is enough room not only for a person’s mobility device, but also for a friend or parent to be stood next to them.

Equipment Variety

Being tactile with their surroundings is an essential part of psychological development for many adolescents. The colours, materials and even heights of equipment need to be considered, as children of differing statures and abilities all need to be able to reach out and engage with at least a couple of available outdoor items (best practice is to offer the same, or similar piece of equipment at a different height).

Another factor for consideration is how easily children can transfer themselves from one area to the next. This requires designing appropriate grips for holding onto and offering a variety of methods for getting on and disembarking equipment (for example a climbing net at one end of a tower and steps at the other). This allows young people of differing abilities to find challenging access routes they are comfortable tackling.

Further to this, there needs to be a natural flow from one apparatus to the next, with minimal risk of injury or interference in play when transitioning (wide spaces that discourage running across the front of swings, for example).

Sensory Play

Safety and practical issues aside, the most vital aspect to making a playground inclusive is providing play items that provoke the senses. This is a broad area of requirements with a wide range of solutions but is easily met with the right assembly of equipment. In general terms, a great inclusive playground needs to stimulate the following 4 senses in a manner that engages an emotional connection:

1. Touch
2. Visual
3. Balance
4. Movement

A well-designed play area will utilise these senses to encourage:

1. Practicing behaviour that grows cognitive skills
2. Becoming familiar with various textures
3. Developing a feeling of trust in abilities
4. An exploration of their environment
5. Fostering inquisitiveness

Need Help Choosing The Best Outdoor Play Equipment For Your Community’s Inclusivity, Wellbeing And Accessibility Needs?

The overwhelming difficulties of making sure a playground meets all the criteria necessary for inclusiveness can feel somewhat alienating. Fortunately, Creative Play won’t leave you feeling left out. Our outdoor play experts pride themselves on their specialist knowledge and ability to guide local authorities to the best set-up for a community’s needs.

By partnering with Creative Play, local authorities can work out ways to save money while still delivering inclusive, accessible play areas designed to contribute to the wellbeing of a diverse range of children and the community at large.

Every child deserves the opportunity to play, so let’s make it happen!

Interested in how a playground can benefit your local community?

Discover How To Get More From The Budget Of A New Playground Installation

Also of Interest:

See how to prevent a play area falling into disrepair

Learn some top tips on how to increase the longevity of a new playground