Supportive environments are essential for equity in play. Learn how to select the best Implay products for special needs facilities, ensuring every child has what they need to play and learn effectively. 

Play is important for every child… and even adults! It’s how we explore new concepts, meet new people, develop our skills, and ultimately, have a bit of much-needed fun. But for children with additional needs, play can be something that’s more challenging than enjoyable. 

1 in 5 children in the UK has special educational needs (SEN), and may be more likely to struggle with social interaction, motor skills development, emotional expression, muscle building, cognitive development, and more. This makes the potential of play even more powerful for them – yet finding spaces that are safe, welcoming, inclusive, and designed with their needs in mind can be tricky. 

There is good news, however. More and more dedicated special needs facilities are opening their doors and inviting in children who may find it difficult to learn and play in traditional settings. This includes the likes of educational day centres, play centres, SEN schools, and much more. 

The key to encouraging safe and beneficial play in these spaces is, of course, the careful selection of toys and equipment that are able to meet the needs of SEN children in a variety of different ways. 

How to select the best play products

When choosing play equipment for special needs facilities, there are 5 crucial considerations:

1. Sensory: creating engaging experiences that help children reach their milestones
2. Proprioceptive: supporting awareness of the body, its movements, and its potential
3. Physical: avoiding obstacles that could make equipment unsafe or unusable
4. Visual: providing equipment and surroundings that stimulate the mind
5. Safety: ensuring every child, regardless of their ability or understanding, can play safely

With these 5 considerations in mind, the next step is to factor in variety. Variety really is key; it’s essential to ensure that every child is able to make their own decisions about where and how they play, and with whom. This can help them to better understand their own likes, dislikes, and needs. 

‘How’ they play is the interesting factor here. There are different ways that children with additional needs may choose to engage in play, with different equipment best suited to meeting these needs...

Solitary play

This allows children to use their imagination to explore in their own way. They can learn to be independent, engage with their own interests, and take some time to understand themselves. 

Our recommendation: a foam-shaped ride-on car with a single seat, leaving no room for doubt

Onlooker play

This is hugely important, and allows children to observe the behaviour of others without directly joining in. It can help children to become more comfortable with interaction before engaging in it. 

Our recommendation: a ‘ride and slide’ toy that children can watch others use.

Parallel play

This involves children playing independently alongside each other. While they may not engage or interact, they are aware of what the other is doing, and can use this to shape their own play. 

Our recommendation: soft foam slides, placed next to each other, allowing in-sync sliding.

Associative play

Similar to parallel play, children still play independently but may occasionally interact with others nearby. This can often result in mimicking behaviour as children borrow cues from their friends. 

Our recommendation: ball pools, which allow children to sit together but still do their own thing.

Cooperative play

In this type of play, children are actively engaging with each other and playing together. Forming a group, they may begin to create rules and develop an etiquette that builds a community. 

Our recommendation: dual soft play rocker shapes, designed for two children to use simultaneously.

Quiet play

With play settings sometimes feeling overwhelming or overstimulating for some children, quiet play is perhaps the most important type of play. It provides children with time to relax and unwind. 

Our recommendation: soft seating for children to get comfy, and colour, draw, or simply observe.

Equity vs equality in play

We’re very much believers in equity in play rather than equality in play. Equality in play is about giving every child the same resources and opportunities, regardless of what they need. Equity in play is about giving children the specific resources and opportunities they need to all end up happy, healthy, and thriving within the play environment. At the end of the day, that’s what matters. 

We’ll leave you with a powerful quote that explains our belief perfectly:

“Children and young people are coming up against the same obstacles that have existed for decades. Schools and other public services are not designed around their and their family’s needs, and rather than children’s uniqueness and diverse strengths being celebrated, they can be met with hostility.” 

 – Dame Rachel de Souza, The Children’s Commissioner for England