Playground Choices - The Right Play Areas for Special Needs Students

Playgrounds need to meet a number of criteria in order to be suitable for use by students with special needs, and in particular for students with physical disabilities. Here are some playground safety tips to get you thinking. Playgrounds need to:

• offer stimulating and enriching play experiences
• be a safe place to play
• encourage children to build their skills and experiment with learning new skills
• meet the standards of safety required by the city, local council or government body in charge of playground safety
• be maintained to a high standard with regard to safety, cleanliness and aesthetic appeal
• encourage children to use their gross and fine motor skills
• encourage children to use their senses (vision, hearing, touch etc)
• provide a reasonable level of access to a variety of play areas for all children

The Cairns Foreshore Playground covers an extensive area of land, right on the water's edge. There are plenty of large shade trees as well as numerous shade sails to provide protection from the sun, and a pleasant sitting place for carriers, teachers and less active students.

The playground has a water theme, and has plenty of water fountains, tiny creeks and jets of water to spurt up from the ground and surprise visitors. It is a great place to play in swimwear, as the climate suits the 'wet then dry' approach to playing over an extended period.

Visually there is a lot to stimulate children, with marine themed poles and decorative features included in the design. These are sensibly placed in easy, flat areas promoting access for students in wheelchairs.

For less mobile students, the soft matting on the ground allows them to leave a wheelchair and crawl or roll on the ground safely and without injury.

Best of all, there is an accessible swing which allows wheelchair students to participate fully in the playground experience, and does not rely on teachers or carriers having to lift a student out of their chair to do so!

We can't all have a playground of this quality on our doorstep, appealing though it is! Mostly playground choices are about using what is available, and from time to time nagging the local authorities to improve access, do safety checks or repair damaged or lost equipment. But from a practical point of view, when teaching special needs learners, these are some of the most important playground safety tips:

• try to find playgrounds which have at least one flat, accessible area
• look for playgrounds that are well maintained and looked after
• check out the amount of shade available for both mobile and non mobile students, especially in the hot summer months
• seek out opportunities to encourage the use of all the senses - Are there nearby safe plants to touch or smell? Are there rough or smooth textures that can be felt with hands or feet to encourage tactile skills and tolerance? Are there birds or animals that can be heard during a quiet moment?