For Physical, Occupational, and/or Recreational Therapists

Therapists are not restricted to offices or gyms. Many incorporate the use of playgrounds into interventions to promote developmental skills within children. This modality of therapy is simple, effective, and fun. Here are some ideas:

1. Playground Obstacle Course:  Make up a quick obstacle course on the fly, giving children multiple directions to follow. This is a great way to work on direction-following and sequencing, along with the motor skills required to perform each task.
2. Conquer a Playground Challenge:  Completing a program of fun exercises, children can work up to conquering the monkey bars or learning to pump on a swing!
3. Bring Playground Accessories:  Incorporate accessories (e.g., bean bags, bubbles, streamers, sidewalk chalk) into the mix to challenge children to conquer obstacles in new ways.
4. Balance Beam Fun:  Use the above props to create fun new balance and coordination challenges on a balance beam.
5. Grab a Partner:  Try a partner obstacle course or other activity.
6. The Classics:  Use games like tag, hide-and-seek, or Simon Says (e.g., “Simon says run up the slide!” or “Simon says slide down the pole!”).
7. Go on a Scavenger Hunt:  Create and print off a hunt that utilizes all playground areas.
8. Hop on a Swing:  Try different methods of swinging (e.g., linear motion, circular motion, while standing).
9. Walk on the Wild Side:  Practice different forms of locomotion on varying surfaces, including those found at playgrounds (e.g., rubber playground surfacing, hard cement, grass, mulch). Try taking giant steps, baby steps, dinosaur stomps, hops, and jumps.

For Teachers and Schools

Cultivating Social Relationships

Play is essential for developing the social dimension of human development. Playgrounds serve as the perfect environments to cultivate social experiences if these experiences are achievable for children of all abilities. However, children with disability and those from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds may find it challenging to fit in during playtime.

Here are some ideas to help facilitate social experiences for all children, regardless of ability level or background:

1. Facilitate fun, structured games and activities on the playground.
2. Introduce simple games and activities that include repetition. 
3. Make sure children come to the playground with a functional communication system. A portable augmentative communication device, picture communication book, object system, or other effective communication means is imperative to allow social dialogue to happen on the playground.
4. Make minor or major changes to the physical layout of the playground to make it more accessible to children with disability.
5. Discuss the topics of sharing and friendship before heading out to the play area.
6. Encourage students to meet new friends and to include others in their activities.
7. Have an adult supervisor in each area of the playground instead of adults congregating in one area.

Increasing Physical Activity on the Playground through Zoning

Recess can still be sedentary with students not engaging in enough physical activity. Researchers from the University of Missouri have found that zones with specific games can improve physical activity during recess. Zoning a playground involves dividing the existing recess area into separate zones with specific activities occurring within each zone. Zoning allows for traditional recess games such as basketball or kickball to be reworked to maximize physical activity39. For example the next to the steps you can create a zone where students are asked to do arm jacks before entering or push-ups after exiting a slide.