Inclusive Play
Every child deserves a place on the playground. At Nature of Early Play, we design equipment so that children with visual, hearing, ambulatory, and other differences can climb, dig, spin, and create right alongside their classmates. Ramps and transfer decks, raised sand areas, adjustable-height tables, extra handholds, and sensory-rich panels remove the physical barriers that too often leave some children watching from the sidelines.
The case for inclusive play reaches well beyond access. When children of differing abilities share the same space, all of them grow. Researchers who reviewed decades of studies on inclusive classrooms found that these settings strengthen social interaction, friendships, and acceptance for children with disabilities while promoting positive attitudes and reduced prejudice among their peers without disabilities. (Katz, J., & Mirenda, P. (2002)). The playground is one of the most natural places for that to happen, because play itself is the work of early childhood.
For children with special needs, the benefits are concrete. Play in inclusive settings supports the development of friendships, increases participation in peer social interaction, and produces positive changes across multiple measures of social competence. Language grows, too: research shows that children with disabilities’ language development is accelerated when their classmates have well-developed language skills. In other words, children with special needs are capable of developing their bodies, their minds, and their relationships—and the right environment helps them do all three.
The advantages for typically developing children may be the most overlooked. Spending time with peers who experience the world differently builds a lifetime of understanding. In one preschool study, three typically developing children were followed for a year in classrooms where at least 40% of the children had special needs. All three showed growth in social skills, a better grasp of human variability, and greater acceptance of their peers with disabilities. One child talked at length about a visually impaired friend; another discovered that it was both possible and enjoyable to play a game with a classmate who had limited verbal abilities. These are the early roots of empathy and acceptance that children carry into adulthood.
Importantly, including children of all abilities takes nothing away from anyone. When researchers placed typically developing preschoolers in integrated classrooms, they found the placement did not interfere with their development. And specifically for inclusive playgrounds, typically developing children still engage in moderate- to high-intensity exercise—so the physical activity teachers want is fully preserved. For preschool, Head Start, and early childhood programs, an inclusive play space is a daily, hands-on lesson in belonging. It tells every family that their child is welcome, and it gives every child the chance to build friendships across differences.
Browse our Inclusive Play equipment below—from ADA craft and picnic tables to the Inclusive Accelerator Spinner, RSP Sandbox with transfer deck, and ADA Sand Kitchen. We can also custom-design a playground around your program’s specific needs. Contact us to start the conversation.
