Author name here for Edited books Chapter 10 Play and Playgrounds 10 Play and Playgrounds chapter Cindy Burkhour and Joan Almon

Play, although it cannot change the external realities of children’s lives, can be a vehicle for children to explore and enjoy their differences and similarities and to create, even for a brief time, a more just world where everyone is an equal and valued participant. –Patricia G. Ramsey

Play Is fundamental to a healthy life Is critical to human development Leads to countless positive outcomes –Intelligence –Social skills –Creative problem solving Is intrinsically motivated Is done for sheer pleasure and enjoyment

Descriptions of Play Playworkers Play includes the following: –Freely chosen: children choose when, how, and what to play –Intrinsically motivated: for its own sake European vs. American philosophies

Children create their own play space.

Today’s Structured Play Video games Competitive games or sports Games with rules Adult-led activities Are these true play?

Destroyers of Play Competition Structured rule systems Structured story lines Planned activities in general Adults assisting or building on to ideas

Play Creates Inclusion Play dissolves differences. Children manage to play even when they speak different languages. When kids play, differences disappear.

Play and Safety Creating safe play is a challenge. Natural elements of play disappear if you control the environment too much. Play environments should include these elements: –Loose parts such as building materials or clothes –As much risk as they can handle –Adults nearby who watch but don’t intrude Adventure playgrounds have all this.

Adult Play Movement Society discourages adult play. Humans benefit from play throughout life. Adults are starting to seek out play. An example is wild zones. Consider how inclusion ties to the provision of play to adult populations.

Types of Play What benefits might come from each? Large motor Small motor Mastery Rule based Construction Make-believe Symbolic Language Sensory Rough and tumble

Challenges Regarding Play Poverty and play Sedentary lifestyles –Television –Computers and video games –Tendencies to play indoors –Overly structured, technology-driven activities Play deprivation –Social and emotional consequences –Physical consequences –Intellectual consequences

Play as a Basic Human Right Academy of Pediatrics statement U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child If play is a human right, then all children have this right, regardless of these factors: –Abilities –Socioeconomic status –Gender –Race and ethnicity –Any other dividing factor

Inclusive Access to Play Playgrounds should be designed for all children. They should –stimulate the imagination, –challenge the body, –encourage interaction, and –be safe, fun, and accessible for everyone. In many cases, this is an ideal, not a reality.

The Perfect Playground An inclusive playground: –Safe –Accessible –Encourages high-quality play (i.e., FUN) Often we inadvertently discourage one of these when we work toward another. What are some examples of this tendency?

Accessible Playgrounds ADA: all new playgrounds to be accessible and usable for people with disabilities. ADA guidelines provide info on these aspects: –Technical considerations (how to build) –Scoping considerations (when and where to build) The codes are a starting point. –Ask the kids what would be fun for them. –Involve parents in the planning process.

ADA Pointers Determine accessible play space routes. Think about equitable play experiences. Consider ground-level and elevated experiences. Consider both physical and social aspects. Identify activities for those who can’t leave wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches. Ask designers to sign an ADA or universal design compliance agreement.

Don’t Forget the Parents Parents must be able to move through the play area as well. Again, pathways are critical. There may be more than one parent pushing a wheelchair or stroller at a time.

The design of this play structure allows this father to interact and play with his daughter on the structure, but the inaccessible sand surface below prevents him from being able to reach his daughter if she falls.

Choosing Activities Choose a variety of elements. Choose activities and elements for kids playing in all different ways: –Standing –Crawling –With crutches –Using a chair or other equipment

The Big Questions Can kids get –to it, –on it or in it, –off it, –to the next fun thing, –and eventually back to where they started? Have you maximized the number and type of opportunities that are accessible?

Misconceptions and Truths About Accessible Playgrounds Misconception: There are no children with disabilities in this community. –Truth: 20% of community members have disabilities. Misconception: Accessible playground equipment is too expensive. –Truth: Not if you make good choices. –Truth: In the long run, they can be cheaper. Truth: Universally designed playgrounds improve the quality of life for everyone.

Summary Play is vital for healthy development. Opportunities for free play are vanishing. Free play needs to be restored because it is a right of all children, including those with disabilities. A major aspect of providing high-quality play is accessible, universally designed play areas.