Autism-Playground Design Considerations

Autism is a disease that has become somewhat common these days, and it is essential to put this condition into account when designing a playground. Children with Autism suffer from several problems, which include interaction impairment, communication, and they usually repeat activities. This disease is mostly genetic and in no way the child's fault, but they have to live with it, which may seem somewhat unfair. As a result of this condition, children with Autism may not be able to have fun in a natural playground, and therefore, when building a stadium, it is best to put in specific considerations to accommodate children with Autism.

Specific little alterations can be made to make the playground more accommodating to the children who have Autism. These considerations will help them cope with the rigors of the playground so that they can enjoy themselves on the playground. Some of these considerations:

Avoid Scary Exercises: Children who have Autism do not like to be startled, and they do not want to be surprised. Any of these situations they find themselves in can prove to be very frightening for them. Therefore, any exercises that startle a child should be avoided to ensure that children who have Autism will not be frightened.

Create Quiet Zones: Noise can be very disorienting for children who have Autism, and noise is a constant feature in playground equipment names. The other children will make noise as they run around and scream in excitement. You need to create spaces that are free from the noise, where the children who have Autism can be free from the noise.

Make the Playground More Interactive: A playground can sometimes be very dull and boring; this can hurt children with Autism. It is best to make use of interactive colors and sounds all around the playground, so the children who have Autism can feel calm. 

Events Involving Participation: You need to create circumstances where the involvement of different members is required. This not only helps to keep them active but also helps create an opportunity for social interaction with other children of their age group. Since children with Autism have problems communicating with others, they may not have a lot of friends, meaning they may spend most of their time alone. This can be very dangerous for the development of a child. Thus it is best to make them feel included and a part of activities.

Create a Guidance System: Other than the regular supervision on the playground, and it is necessary to have visual guidance to help provide a sense of direction. Children who have Autism can quickly lose their sight, of course, and it is easy to get lost in such situations. It is, therefore, necessary to mark the path and put up directions all around the playground so the children who have Autism can be safe and find their way around the preschool playground equipment quickly.

With these few alterations, you can create a playground that is ideally suited for children with Autism.

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