Playground Tips for Kids with Autism and Developmental Disorders

How to Help Autistic Children Have More Fun on the Playground

Think back to your childhood. We’re guessing that you have at least one memory from a playground when you were a kid. Trying to swing high enough to reach the sky, meeting a new friend on the monkey bars, going down the slide on your belly (no matter how many times your mom told you not to), or playing hide-and-seek behind a post that couldn’t fully conceal you. For many, parks and playgrounds are where memories are made.

Now that you’re caring for a new generation, those slides and swings may or may not still bring joy. Especially for families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disorders, the playground can either be a blast or a new worry.

For families experiencing either scenario, our Hopebridge clinicians came together to share their top playground tips for kids with autism. Besides offering a world of possibilities for kids to explore, these spaces encourage physical activity, can facilitate pretend play, stimulate the senses and enhance social skills.

Whether you have a goal of increasing entertainment or safety – or both! – on the playground, keep reading to help make the most out of your child’s time at the park.

Playground Challenges for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays

As with other areas of life, the playground can pose additional challenges for autistic individuals and those with developmental delays or disabilities.

Some areas around the country are recognizing this, like Mesa, Arizona, and creating special spaces to provide people of all abilities the opportunity to play. Mesa is home to the first Parks & Recreation agency in the world to be designated as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), part of which features its adaptive playgrounds, and we’re happy Hopebridge is part of such an inclusive city!

Whether or not there is an adaptive playground near you, here are some of the things that might make going to the park more difficult for families touched by autism:

• Difficulties socializing
  Children with ASD might not want to play with other kids who are at the playground, or maybe they have co-occurring diagnoses like anxiety that make socializing tougher than it is for others. Sometimes, they do want to engage with other children, but may not know how to initiate interactions or play appropriately.
• Fear of or misunderstanding of how to use playground equipment
  Whether they are scared to go down the slide or do not know how to get onto the swing or a spinner, the unknown may hold back some children on the spectrum from having a good time.
• Lack of safety awareness
  While safety awareness can be difficult for neurotypical children as well, those who are neurodivergent may experience more challenges in this area. For instance, a child sees someone swinging, but proceeds to run between the swings anyway, even after hearing the word, “stop,” because they do not yet follow one-step directions. Others may step or jump off climbing equipment, if they do not realize the potential danger of the fall.
• Sensory sensitivities
  Just as they do at parties, the grocery store and even school settings, some children may experience sensory overload at the playground. From the sound of kids screaming and swing chains squeaking, to the crunching feeling of stepping on wood chips, to the intensity of the summer sun, the park may feel like too much for some extra-sensitive kiddos.
• Increased opportunities to elope
  The playground can become a stressful place for caregivers of children who elope, especially if it is located near a lake or not surrounded by a fence. The safety concern with wandering can also be increased for those who may be triggered by loud sounds or too many people.

At Hopebridge, we’ve seen kids struggle with elements of the playground, but we’ve also seen them overcome them and learn to love it. Hopebridge Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Akricia Joseph from Georgia remembers watching this happen when she was an RBT Fellow at the Douglasville center—and the child hadn’t even started therapy yet!

“The family came in for her ABA evaluation and I took the daughter to our center’s gym area. She would walk up the ladder for the slide but would not go back down. By the end of the evaluation, her parents walked around for a clinic tour, when she suddenly made her way down the slide. Her dad was so surprised and told us she never goes down the slide!” said Akricia. “Sometimes, children want to use the gym or playground equipment but are a little nervous or aren’t sure how to do it. As part of ABA therapy, we can help introduce them to these new experiences.”

How ABA, Speech and Occupational Therapy Encourage More Play

Kids learn through play, so it’s a big piece of pediatric therapy for child development. As part of our 360 Care model at Hopebridge, our programs are individualized and can combine applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy), occupational therapy, speech therapy and other services to build the skills children need to play.

As part of this, our services inherently lead to more fun on the playground and in similar spaces. Center-based therapy, like we offer at Hopebridge, can be even more powerful because we are able to incorporate naturalistic teaching. Our clinicians create obstacle courses, use chalk for games of hopscotch, play tag, pull out bikes and scooters, and encourage them to use the equipment on our indoor gyms or outdoor playgrounds.

“Sometimes our kids want to go inside the gym climbing dome and just sit there. Other times they climb all over it,” said Akricia. “As part of our programming, we play alongside them and show them how to play. They often just need a little guidance to get started.”

Seemingly simple games of tag and “Red Light, Green Light” can have a lot of power on the playground and in real life. ABA and speech therapists can use it to teach them to follow directions like “stop” and “go” at the same time. These games also help with children who elope, so the skills also translate to visiting the park.

Therapists work on skills like taking turns, which helps when interacting with others on the playground. ABA and occupational therapists can teach children to use equipment appropriately, such as how to go down a slide rather than walking up, or how to jump on a trampoline by allowing them to feel others’ bounces first.

One of the biggest ways autism therapy can assist children in this area is by teaching them the ways they can interact with the world around them. Our goal with these programs is to increase their opportunity and independence throughout life–and of course that can include the playground!

One Hopebridge patient, Bryson, discovered newfound joy at his local playground thanks to his time in ABA therapy. He enjoyed going to the park every day, but his mom, Caylin, told us that in the beginning, he would stim by only going up and down a ramp for an hour. Since starting therapy, he slowly began to use the swing, then the sandbox, and now loves playing all around the park.

6 Ways Families Can Prepare Kids for the Park

In addition to seeking pediatric therapy, there are a few things you can do on your own to increase happiness and safety around the park. Our clinicians shared some of their top playground tips with us:

1. Let them know what to expect.
   As with most new situations, letting kids know more about what they are about to do can have big payoffs. Consider using a visual schedule or talk them through the upcoming experience, including what they might see, hear, smell and feel, as well as how long you plan to stay.
2. Discuss rules in advance.
   If your child is developmentally able, discuss your rules and expectations for the park–and don’t stop once you arrive. Remind them of the rules more than once while you are at the playground, as well. These might include staying within eyesight and between certain barriers, keeping hands to themselves, and being mindful of dogs and other animals.
3. Bring identification.
   Even though adult supervision is key, if your child is prone to wandering, consider bringing identification. If you need more support in this area, we also have a blog post that covers how to prepare for elopement emergencies.
4. Start small.
   We don’t recommend diving all in right off the bat. Ease them into it. If social anxiety could be an issue, opt to visit on a slow day when you could have the entire playground to yourselves. Start small with equipment, too. For instance, swings can be a great sensory tool, but immediately pushing them high into the air may not be the best option. First, show them how it works by swinging yourself. Then, ask if they want to try. If it’s feasible, you can have them sit on your lap and slowly rock back and forth with your feet before having them try on their own.
5. Facilitate the play …
   For those starting out, it can be beneficial to facilitate play, whether it be using a mini merry-go-round together or approaching another child to introduce them and ask if they can play together.
6. … but give them space to be a child.
   Let them walk around and explore on their own. Don’t prompt everything for them. While they are peeking around, you can practice tacting by asking if they want to use certain things. They may like the idea or end up running toward something else, both of which are ok!
7. Prepare to leave.
   Transitions can be tough. When you are getting ready to leave, prepare them. You can do this by allowing them to choose another activity, setting up a future trip to the park, and/or using a timer to let them know there are 10 minutes left before heading home.

Want help implementing these steps? As part of our programming, Hopebridge incorporates family guidance into every plan, which our clinicians can use to coach you through the process.

What If My Child Just Doesn’t Like the Playground?

Do you worry that your child will never enjoy being at the park? Don’t stress. For some kids, it just may not be a good fit and that’s fine, too! At Hopebridge, we want to discover and harness kids’ interests, and most importantly, help them have more fun during play. If your child doesn’t like the playground, there is no need to force the activity just because it is “what other kids do.”

“What worked for our generations is not always appealing to today’s children, especially with the use of tablets and other screens,” said Akricia. “These kids are asking themselves, ‘what’s the benefit? What’s going to keep me coming back?’ The slide may just not be exciting enough for them. Instead, find things that interest your child and make them interactive.”

There are plenty of other ways to engage your child! Many indoor play spaces and children’s museums have similar benefits to the playground, along with other advantages, such as toy houses, interactive grocery stores, pretend money, kitchens that make real-life noises and more. These tools can help them practice many of their skills and keep them entertained at the same time.

Bring Your Child More Joy in Playtime Through Autism Therapy

Let us support your child in uncovering fun, new experiences and independence. If there are challenges holding your child back from living their best life, contact us. We offer diagnostic services for autism, as well as personalized, interdisciplinary programs designed to help them thrive.

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC. Testimonials are solicited as part of an open casting call process for testimonials from former client caregivers. Hopebridge does not permit clinical employees to solicit or use testimonials about therapeutic services received from current clients (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 5.07-5.08; BACB, 2020). Hopebridge does not provide any incentives, compensation, or renumeration for testimonials provided by a former client or client caregiver.