Why Inclusive Playgrounds Are So Important

This post was sponsored by Landscape Structures as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Whether you live in a large city or a small town, chances are high that you will find yourself accompanying your children to a playground several times over the years. In fact, you may even have a favorite location that you frequent on a regular basis. You may be so familiar with this particular playground that you would be able to share the color scheme, number of swings and slides, and obstacle skillset that could be found. However, what you may not be able to share is whether or not your favorite playground is considered “inclusive”. Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be alone. With that said, by the end of this article you will not only know 1) what an inclusive playground is, 2) why an inclusive playground is so important, and 3) how to find an inclusive playground near you.

What is an inclusive playground?

Just as the definition may elude to, an inclusive playground is a playground that includes the abilities of all children. It goes without saying that no two children are alike. While some children may be able to run and climb without the need for assistance, others may require mobility aids such as a walker, forearm crutches, or a wheelchair. While you may find some children sensory seeking, others may look to avoid sensory stimulation whenever possible. When one child may have good upper body strength and stability, others may require stability and safety measures throughout play. An inclusive playground takes all of these unique characteristics into consideration and creates an environment where children of all abilities can play safely and happily alongside one another.

Why is an inclusive playground important?

Inclusive playgrounds are incredibly important and invaluable to all children. As both a mom and occupational therapist, I can’t stress enough just how important inclusive playgrounds really are. For a child who may have difficulty playing at a non-inclusive playground for purposes of emotional, cognitive, psychological, or physical deficits, they are able to benefit from an inclusive playground in a number of ways:

1. Teaching persistence and determination when appropriate and safe accommodations are in place.
2. Providing a location to play similarly to their peers of all abilities.
3. Allowing for a location for parents to feel confident about their child’s safety and surroundings.

Similarly, for a child who may not face emotional, cognitive, psychological, or physical deficits, they are able to benefit from an inclusive playground in a number of ways as well:

1. Providing a location to play similarly to their peers of all abilities.
2. Teaching important lessons about support and empathy to others throughout everyday life.
3. Allowing for a location for parents to continue teachings about acceptance, understanding, and helping.

How to find an inclusive playground?

Now that you know what an inclusive playground is and why inclusive playgrounds are so important, you may be wondering how to find one. Cue, Landscape Structures, an incredible company that aims to help children develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills through play- allowing children of all abilities to grow and play together.

Even going beyond accessibility, Landscape Structures strives to address age and developmental appropriateness, along with sensory-stimulating activities in all of their playgrounds. Furthermore, they believe that social equity and inclusion are the result of inclusive playgrounds, and by creating these playgrounds, they are helping to increase diverse social communities.

Finding an inclusive playground near you!

Thanks to Landscape Structures’ easily accessible website, you can find an inclusive playground near you in no time! With October being Sensory Awareness Month, make it a challenge to seek out an inclusive playground near you! Simply visit: playlsi.com/find-local-playgrounds

Visiting one of our favorite inclusive playgrounds!

One of our absolute favorite inclusive playgrounds makes the commute time well worth it! With ample sensory integrative features (bells, swings, differing textures, spinning apparatuses, etc.), along with fully accessible options (differing swings, climbing surfaces, platforms, ramps, etc.); Waterworks Park (created by Landscape Structures) remains one of our absolute favorites! Rain or shine… you can find us there.

Do you and your children frequent an inclusive playground? What do you love most about it? Share below!