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Creating Inclusive Outdoor Play Environments
Creating inclusive outdoor play environments should be at the forefront of any playground development project. Outdoor play helps children understand the world and each other through social, imaginative and creative activities. But importantly, this opportunity for fun and development should be accessible and inclusive of all children.
Accommodating and appealing to SEN children requires inclusive playground equipment. It also requires facilitating different types of games and activities that promote inclusive and stimulating play. As playground experts, we are here to provide direction and inspiration for you to create a truly inclusive play space.
Types of Fun Activities for SEN Children
Specialised SEN toys and tactile games are key to SEN play provision. These accommodate different styles of learning and also involve different skills that appeal to different forms of interaction and play.
A variety of play equipment accessible to all children encourages self-directed and exploratory play known as free-flow play. This is the best way to create a truly inclusive and accessible play environment. This freedom in play gives kids the option for play that best suits their skills and interests.
However, there are specific types of play that are recommended for developing SEN playgrounds. This includes sensory play activities, role play, and different levels of physical or active play.
Sensory and role-play activities for SEN children can be self-directed or adult-led depending on the child. Ultimately, they are always aimed at inspiring creativity and encouraging curiosity about the world around them. Providing space on the playground for different learning focuses and play types allows all kids the opportunity for self-expression and to fully enjoy the great outdoors!
Sensory Play Activities to Explore the Senses
Sensory, imaginative, and creative play equipment provides a basis for non-conventional forms of play that children with autism and learning difficulties often find appealing. Incorporating movement, sound, and colour into your inclusive play area creates a whole new range of experiences for students. We recommend istalling play panels, sensory circuit equipment, and outdoor sensory walls.
Sensory games involving tactile play panels and water wall equipment provide a different set of challenges and stimuli for kids than traditional playground equipment. Fine motor skills are able to develop naturally through interactions with sensory panels’ spinning dials, moving blocks, and solving puzzles.
A sensory garden or play area gives kids the opportunity to work together or engage in parallel play as different forms of socialising and bonding with peers. Allowing kids to explore their senses in a safe environment in new ways, different from typical rigid methods of directed learning that SEN kids may struggle with.
Mark-Making and the Importance of Art Activities for SEN Children in School
An important aspect of free-flow play to inspire inclusive play and creativity in schools is providing the space for self-expression. Art in schools shouldn’t be limited to paint-by-numbers activities in the classroom. An arts and crafts play area creates a fun art area for all sorts of mark-making ideas and activities to flourish. We recommend outdoor giant chalkboards, whiteboards, weaving panels, and a painting station for a range of fun!
Mark-making for SEN children includes exploring colour, finding inspiration from their surroundings, or simply having fun with messy play. Mark-making can be an especially beneficial activity for nonverbal autistic children or any child experiencing confidence or communication issues. Finding alternative ways to relate to other children, express their personalities and have fun is something all schools should encourage.
The benefits of creative play in early years education for these children are a crucial way to create feelings of safety and confidence. This is important as they begin to interact with their peers and adults more upon entering school. A quiet creative area or noisy, fun, messy play kitchen area with musical play panels and non-staining surfaces can become a place SEN children can feel comfortable expressing themselves and letting off steam away from the classroom environment.
Role Play Equipment for Imaginative Activities
Role-play activities are for kids to build social skills and experience all the benefits of cooperative play. Imaginative play panels can inspire new forms of games that utilise imagination and develop communication skills.
Role-play shops can be tools to facilitate a greater understanding of the world and fine motor skills development. Working together in a pretend transaction is a favourite activity of many young children. This, and other role-play, allows them to express their thoughts and use maths skills independently. With prompting from a role-play panel as a framework for play, children can immerse themselves in a repetitive or varied task at their will. This provides stimulus based on healthy interaction with peers and also uses different areas of learning together in one task.
Incorporating role play and imaginative play activities into EYFS lessons can also be a great new way to benefit learning for children who thrive in more tactile, hands-on environments. Constructing a play stage out on the playground to act out what is being learned in cooperation with other kids. Children can act out stories from English class, or even play pretend to better understand other subjects through movement. For example: grouping up to mime orbiting planets in the solar system or jump around acting out particles being heated up and cooled down into different states of matter.
Safe, Accessible, Fun Play Environments for All Children
Here at the School Playground Company, we strive to help you create a play space that your students will love. Therefore, we recommend that schools give them all the tools and play equipment to have fun at their own pace and to discover inspiration and creativity through play.
Get in touch today to begin your journey to your new play area. Fill in our contact form for a call back to discuss your options.
