When people think of inclusion, they tend to think of school and academics, integrating special needs children into general education classrooms, etc., but inclusion is important in play and recreation too.
Play is important for children, and this is a concept that is well known but not limited to abled children. All children need to play because it promotes all areas of development. Both structured and free play along with recreation, helps children learn how to socialize with peers, promote physical development, and even helps develop intellectual emotional skills. A physical disability does not need to limit these benefits of play.
Unfortunately, in the real world, children with disabilities tend to be excluded. Although this may not be intentional, people do make judgments. Inclusivity is very crucial to a child’s social, emotional, physical development and well-being. Understanding this need, inclusive playgrounds and activities are becoming more common. With encouragement and some adaptive equipment, every child can get involved in free outdoor play. Inclusive play stresses on the importance of including all children, disabled children as well as non-disabled children, by fostering an environment where diversity is respected and valued. At it’s best, inclusion enables all children, – of all abilities, ethnic backgrounds, ages and other differences – to play together.
At Sports Supply Co, inclusive play is our passion and purpose. We believe that we can effectively promote inclusive play as a critical solution to enrich and enhance the quality of life for children, families, and communities across our nation. Sports Supply Co takes pride that everything should be designed with inclusion in mind. Objects, clothing, outdoor spaces, and many other things can be designed with consideration for people of all abilities. For children with varying disabilities, our playground equipment design concept by Playworld, proves how accessible, playgrounds and recreational equipment can really be.
Playworld understands that Inclusive Play stresses the importance of including all children, children with disabilities, as well as typically developing children and the adults in their lives. They create “playspaces” where diversity is valued. Hence all Playworld playspaces are created to provide high quality play opportunities regardless of their needs and abilities.
So how exactly does inclusive play benefit children?
- They understand and appreciate the world around them and the people they meet. This life lesson is one of the most important ones a human being can learn. This gives one a truer understanding of the world and appreciate the differences between people;
- They learn attitudes such as tolerance, appreciation of differences, acceptance of perspectives and perceptions other than their own;
- They absorb from a richer play environment which includes different language and methods of communication, a wider range and use of play materials;
- They have a positive sense of self, self-esteem and positive reinforcement of their sense of identity;
Inclusive play is not merely about inclusion. Equally important is the provision of high quality play opportunities to children regardless of their needs and abilities. While inclusion includes access, a much wider range of considerations must be adopted to create a meaningful experience where all have equitable participation in the environment and with the people there. When executed correctly, inclusion can embrace cultural equality, break down psychological and emotional barriers, and create an atmosphere of respect, awareness, independence, and learning that benefits the whole community. In this wider sense, inclusion is about providing all people, regardless of ability or age, with equal opportunities to participate fully in a variety of opportunities in the environment in a mutually beneficial and respectful way.
In conclusion to this, communities are diverse. Playgrounds should be too. Active, independent play is critical for the development, health, well-being, and social opportunities of all children. However, the benefits of play are not limited solely to children; it reaches across communities, and throughout one’s lifespan. Now more than ever, communities across the world are seeking innovative ways to unite children, families and citizens through the power of play. Understanding the value and benefits of inclusive play will help communities to advocate for and invest in such environments which support the diverse needs of society – ultimately resulting in positive community outcomes. We hope you will join us as we continue to investigate, learn, and collaborate for broader social equity.