Inclusive Playgrounds
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Whether you are a church, daycare, school, homeowners’ association or other organization with a playground, you probably have spent time thinking about making it wheelchair-accessible. All public playgrounds need to include ADA-accessible playground equipment to ensure they meet accessibility guidelines.
Yet, ADA-compliant playground equipment does not always go far enough. Little Tikes Commercial strongly believes play for children of all ages and abilities should include fewer limits. It’s why we are big advocates of inclusive and accessible playground designs for meaningful play. Our inclusive playgrounds help children play and take part in a variety of truly inclusive activities.
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Our Partner:
Unlimited Play is an award-winning, non-profit organization that transforms communities by providing universally accessible playgrounds for all children and families. Together, we believe in designing playgrounds where limitations are forgotten and differences are celebrated!
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Unlimited Play Design Principles
Each inclusive space that Little Tikes Commercial creates is crafted with a set of guiding principles in mind. Through our collaboration with Unlimited Play, we’re doing our part to redefine the way that the world views an inclusive playground. Here are our beliefs:
Design With Imagination
Encourage pretend play and nurture its benefits by designing your play space around a theme. When children engage in pretend play, they practice creative, cognitive, and social skills by assigning new roles to objects, actions, and ideas. This process is crucial in their development, helping them to become aware of themselves and each other and to practice necessary skills.
Encourage Social Inclusion
In our play spaces, children experience a sense of belonging, actively participate in the community, and share common interests. We design play spaces to become meeting places where empathy and friendship blossom.
Give Them Independence
Children with disabilities often spend their days with parents, teachers, doctors, and therapists. Our playgrounds give all children the independence to freely move through the play space without an adult.
Provide Active Motion
All kids should have the opportunity to experience the joy of spinning, swinging, and rocking. That’s why all of our Platinum playgrounds include active motion.
Create Graduated Complexity
A truly inclusive playground encourages children to develop new skills at their own level. We want every child to be challenged—that’s why we rate our gross motor equipment easy, medium, or hard. Your inclusive playground design comes with a report showing how we addressed graduated complexity in your design.
Make It Fun
We combine the concepts of imaginary play, social inclusion, independence, active motion, and graduated complexity to create FUN playgrounds. Every piece of equipment is designed, selected, and placed with intention.
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Want to learn more?
Little Tikes Commercial and Unlimited Play have partnered to create an inspiring guide to help you to understand the characteristics of a truly inclusive playground. Using our inclusive design principles, this insightful piece will help you to understand all aspects of inclusive play so you can bring play for all to your community.
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Inclusive Play Is Behind Our Playground Design
At Little Tikes Commercial, our playground designs give every child an equal opportunity to play. Consider inclusive components, such as:
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Together Gliders: Our Together Glider is an inclusive playground component that gently sways. It has a 70-square-foot deck surface, giving users ample room for wheelchairs and assisting parents.
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Turnabout Spinners: All children can access the Turnabout Spinner with its ground-level entry point. It features enough surface space to allow children who use wheelchairs to comfortably use the spinner.
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Ramps with double rails: Add safety and functionality to your ramps using double rails. These playground components allow for continuous gripping support, wheelchair turning areas, and transfer areas.
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Activity panels: Activity panels allow children to express themselves through music, mental exercises, and exploration. Whether learning about rhythm, sound, or fine or gross motor skills, we have accessible-height activities that encourage a range of motion exercises and imaginative play.
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Contact Little Tikes Commercial for Inclusive Playgrounds
Need help putting together a fun and inclusive playground? Do you already have existing playground equipment or want to design an inclusive playground within a limited space? We will customize solutions and provide recommendations that are right for you.
Browse our selection of play equipment and solutions, or contact us today.
Inclusive and Accessible Playgrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Customize My Inclusive Playground Design?
Yes, you can! At Little Tikes Commercial, we believe that every child deserves a play space that reflects their unique needs and sparks their imagination. Our Custom Design Studio team works closely with you to tailor your inclusive playground design, allowing you to:
- Select themes and colors: Choose from various themes and color schemes to create an inviting and engaging environment.
- Adjust equipment layout: Customize the size, shape, and arrangement of playground components to fit your specific space and requirements.
- Incorporate specific inclusive features: Add elements like ramps with double rails, accessible activity panels, and ground-level play components to accommodate children of all abilities.
By customizing your playground, you create a space where limitations fade, and every child can explore, learn, and play together.
Are There Funding Options Available for Inclusive Playground Projects?
Yes, there are. We understand that funding an inclusive playground is a significant investment. To assist you, Little Tikes Commercial offers several funding solutions tailored to meet your financial needs. Our options include phased purchasing, leasing, and complete financing. We also provide guidance on applying for grants and other funding opportunities, helping to make your project financially feasible.
Can I See Examples of Previous Inclusive Playground Projects?
Yes, we’d love to share our work with you! Visit our Inspiration page to explore a variety of inclusive playgrounds we’ve designed in partnership with communities and organizations. Seeing these projects can inspire ideas for your playground and demonstrate the impact an inclusive design can have on a community.
How Can I Request a Quote for Inclusive Playground Equipment?
Requesting a quote for your inclusive playground is simple. Fill out our quote request form, providing details about your project and the type of equipment you’re interested in. Our team will contact you to discuss your specific needs, design options, and budget considerations. We will work with you to develop a customized plan that fits your needs and provide a detailed quote outlining the equipment, design services, and any additional support we can offer.
Do You Offer Warranties on Inclusive Playground Equipment?
Yes, we do! Our inclusive playground equipment comes with comprehensive warranties that cover defects in materials and workmanship. Depending on the material and part, each component has a specific warranty period, ranging from one year to lifetime coverage. Please refer to our warranty page for detailed information.