Benefits
Today's newly designed school playgrounds help children become smarter, healthier, and stronger through play. They are created with a focus on access, safety, comfort and social participation for play environments. This process creates a strong foundation for inclusive playground design that ultimately results in a place where all can play, learn and grow together.
Studies show that outdoor physical activity not only benefits a child’s health but improves classroom performance, increases cognitive development, and builds social skills. The elements selected for the Duxbury playgrounds focus on developmental benefits including sensory, cognitive, strength, motor skills and social/emotional skills. Research has proven that playgrounds play an important role in the development of children of all abilities encouraging inclusive play.
School and community members are designing the playgrounds in collaboration with O'Brien and Sons and Landscape Structures.
Developmental Benefits
Engages and enhances visual skills, auditory skills, body movement and touch.
Challenges upper body, lower body and core strength.
Engages fine motor skills, balance, coordination, endurance and activity.
Encourages language and brain development, finding solutions and strategic planning.
Encourages use of verbal and non-verbal methods of sharing thoughts and ideas during play. Encourages imaginative play.
The team of designers, engineers and inclusive play experts at Landscape Structures follow the Seven Principles of Universal Design:
Equitable Use. The design is useful to people with diverse abilities.
Flexibility in Use. The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities giving users a choice in how they engage each activity.
Simple and Intuitive Use. Use of the design is easy to understand regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills or current concentration level.
Perceptible Information. The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
Tolerance for Error. The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
Low Physical Effort. The design can be used efficiently and comfortably.
Size and Space for Approach and Use. Appropriate size and space are provided for approach, reach, manipulation and use regardless of user's body size, posture or mobility.