Growing up some of my fondest memories was playing with my friends on the playground at the school. I was privileged to be able to use all of the equipment provided but I know now that many were not as lucky. After researching this issue I came across Little Tikes and was pleasantly surprised at the changes they have implemented over the years to combat exclusivity on the playground.
Little Tikes were founded on the idea that all children deserve to play. They have created a whole campaign called “Unlimited Play” to help bring awareness to children with disabilities and advocate for their ability to play. Unlimited Play is an award-winning, non-profit organization that transforms communities by providing universally accessible playgrounds for all children and families. Little Tike does a great job at creating equipment that is suitable for a range of abilities such as visual impairments, hearing impairments, acquired brain injuries, psychological disorders, social relations speech impairments and activity limitations. They also went above and beyond by considering parents with disabilities and created inclusive site amenities.
They have created the surface spinner, custom glider and the inclusive swing seat specifically for those with disabilities in mind. These pieces of equipment allow those in wheelchairs to still participate and for those who need extra assistance to still join in on the fun. They have also created a cognitive activity panel which produces music, promotes fine motor movement, and encourages critical thinking skills. The Out-Concerto line of musical equipment was designed at a more accessible angle and height. These instruments can be played comfortably by all kids, including those with mobility devices. With these pieces of equipment in mind, eleven different accessible playground structures have been created for families, schools and parks to purchase. Little Tikes have developed strict precautions for all of their playgrounds such as fencing, sandbox accessibility routes and ramps to help cater to those with disabilities.
I think that Little Tikes did an excellent job at creating an environment where children with disabilities feel included. They created a playground where children can participate with their peers instead of being isolated from equipment. Little Tikes ability to create structures for each type of disability shows how much time and effort they have put into this campaign. Although some equipment can only be used by non-disabled children I believe that every child can find equipment that suits their needs.
Here is the link to a brochure that discusses Little Tikes development of Inclusive Playgrounds.
