Skip to main content
Playground Professionals
Play and Playground eMagazine
  • Playground
    • Playground Safety
    • Construction
    • Maintenance
    • Inspection
    • Inclusion
    • Wood
    • Swing Sets
    • Nets and Ropes
    • Climbing Walls
    • Theme
    • Musical
    • Recycled
    • Residential
    • Indoor
    • Nature Play
    • Fund Raising
  • Surfacing
    • Loose Fill
    • Poured in Place
    • Rubber
    • Artificial Turf
    • Sports Court
    • Surfacing Maintenance
    • Aquatic Surfacing
  • Parks
    • Landscape
    • Benches
    • Tables
    • Trash Receptacles
    • Bike Racks
    • Drinking Fountain
    • Lighting
    • Shelters
    • Shade Structures
    • Restrooms
    • Dog Park
    • Skatepark
  • Athletics
    • Sports Equipment
    • Fitness and Exercise
    • Bleachers
  • Aquatics
    • Spray Parks
    • Surf Parks
    • Water Safety
    • Pool
    • Water Slides
  • Play
    • Amusement Park
    • Education
    • Toys
    • Parenting
    • Bullying
    • Health and Safety
    • Games
    • Inflatables

Search Playground Professional's Archives

Home
  • Playground
    • Playground Safety
    • Construction
    • Maintenance
    • Inspection
    • Inclusion
    • Wood
    • Swing Sets
    • Nets and Ropes
    • Climbing Walls
    • Theme
    • Musical
    • Recycled
    • Residential
    • Indoor
    • Nature Play
    • Fund Raising
  • Surfacing
    • Loose Fill
    • Poured in Place
    • Rubber
    • Artificial Turf
    • Sports Court
    • Surfacing Maintenance
    • Aquatic Surfacing
  • Parks
    • Landscape
    • Benches
    • Tables
    • Trash Receptacles
    • Bike Racks
    • Drinking Fountain
    • Lighting
    • Shelters
    • Shade Structures
    • Restrooms
    • Dog Park
    • Skatepark
  • Athletics
    • Sports Equipment
    • Fitness and Exercise
    • Bleachers
  • Aquatics
    • Spray Parks
    • Surf Parks
    • Water Safety
    • Pool
    • Water Slides
  • Play
    • Amusement Park
    • Education
    • Toys
    • Parenting
    • Bullying
    • Health and Safety
    • Games
    • Inflatables
  • Teenagers Need Active Play, Too!
  • The Importance of Good Playground Supervision
  • Age Appropriate Play?
  • Play Equipment Standards for Infants & Toddlers
  • Superman or Landscape Architect
  • Proper Receiving & Care of Playground Equipment
  • Bullying on the Playground

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Play
  3. Health
  4. Autism: Why Playgrounds Matter

Autism: Why Playgrounds Matter

Health
Profile picture for user Playworld
By Playworld on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
6521
Autism: Why Playgrounds Matter

How can a playground make a difference for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Autism is complex. Some children are non-verbal while others have no problem speaking. Children with autism have a difficult time socializing and rarely interact successfully with other children in free play situations without a great deal of work.

These children may also have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which changes the nature and strength of the sensory signals they receive. As a result, they may have trouble with balance and understanding where their body is in space.

The playground is the perfect place to practice skills: social skills, balancing, how the body relates to the space around it, and how it reacts to height and speed.  Many children with autism are in therapy programs to learn to deal with these situations.  The playground offers them a fun place to practice what they learn.

The playground can be a space to better understand one’s own ability to regulate input and practice socialization. However, not all playgrounds are created equal when it comes to children with autism.

Here are some things to look for in a play space that will benefit children on the spectrum:

Perimeter Containment

A parent who knows their child is a runner or wanderer is unlikely to take their child to a playground without a fence. It’s been documented that 80 percent of people on the spectrum will become a runner at some point. Sensory input becomes too much and they will try to escape. Children can become so engrossed in what they are doing that they aren’t conscious of where they are. If the playground is near traffic, there can be dangerous consequences.

Grouping of Activities

A child with ASD or SPD might seek or avoid stimulation. They should be offered a choice – the essence of control. Group the noisy activities together and the quiet activities in another area. Keeping certain activities together helps encourage socialization. Equipment that requires teamwork, like a seesaw, encourages children to communicate with at least one other individual.

Quiet area

Create a quiet area for children to regain control.

Balancing activities

A child with autism may have difficulty with balance. Provide a wide range of fun balancing activities with different heights, widths and motion that allow children to experiment.

Sensory Activities

Include a variety of sensory experiences including tactile, auditory, and activities that move like swings or spinning activities.  Other activities including climbing, crawling and jumping help a child determine where their body is in space.

Line of sight

Seeing what’s going on helps quell anxiety and helps children assess their play options before engaging. Large structures should be placed to the back or a corner area to minimize areas that are not visible.

If your local playground doesn’t offer these features, ask the playground managers about providing them so everyone can enjoy the playground. For more information about playground design for children with autism or other disabilities, visit www.playworldsystems.com/inclusiveplay.

Source

http://playworldsystems.com/blog/autism-why-playgrounds-matter/

Outdoor play benefits all

Outdoor play benefits all children, and it can improve behaviour, social skills and attention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Time to show your child the joy of great outdoors.
https://www.parentcircle.com/article/5-outdoor-activities-for-children-w...

PGP Contributor
Mon, 06/18/2018 - 04:50
Rohini Karnad … (not verified)

Need info

My community is raising funds for a park
I would like to give my input for those that have autistic Children like myself. Can you provide me some suggestions for our new park
[email protected]
516.225.9222

PGP Contributor
Sun, 11/20/2016 - 11:14
Tali (not verified) (not verified)
Profile picture for user Playworld
Playworld
6521
2
min read
A- A+
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
girl brushing her teeth
Feb 03, 2021
Health

Fun ways to keep your kid's teeth healthy?

Adam Collins
Children dressed up for trunk or treat
Oct 20, 2020
Health

Tips for a Safe Trunk or Treat During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Xavier James
Strategies for Helping Kids Cope With Loneliness
Mar 18, 2022
Health

Strategies for Helping Kids Cope With Loneliness

Cora Gold

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Home

Follow Us

Play and playground news and information since 2001

  • instagram
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • linkedin

Company

  • Playground Magazine
  • Spotlight Search
  • Contributors
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2001 - 2025 Playground Professionals, LLC

Footer menu

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions