How about some wagons that the kids could pull or push around.
I don't have any new suggestions, but just wanted to comment that I think it is awesome that the school is doing this! I've noticed in your other posts you're pretty happy with C's school; this is a good example of why!
Mary
Hey there! I'm on a parents committee to build a small sensory side yard for our special needs kids at our elementary school. The space is 40x100, and the kids are ages 3-10.
We are using separate pieces of equipment so that kids who need vestibular stuff can get it, those who need proprioreceptive (pushing, pulling, hard work) can too. If a child isn't feeling up to socializing, they don't have to deal with others using one giant play system.
So far, we have outlined
Do any of ya'll have a sensory playground at your school, and is there anything in particular you think is terrific? Thanks!
No sensory outdoor playground here. Cool idea!
The only thing I can think of that's not on the list is a sandbox. My youngest LOVES his sandbox. They make a digging toy for sandboxes that kids can sit on and use to scoop up sand.
A water table, a sandbox, teether swing (goes round & round), a smooth surface~sidewalk going around the perimeter of playground to ride tricycles:) a area for water sprinkers:) hammock swings..container for pit balls...basketball hoop, hoola hoops, jump rope area...bubbles..playhouse for learning pretend..puppet house..huge bouncy balls~some have the little nubbies on them:look on ebay:) Easels for finger painting...wooden fence so they can paint pictures on:) ring toss, horse shoes, bean bag toss into target holes on board..parachute for songs and visual/sensory play:) Bounce house~little tykes has a small one that opens up in 25 sec. and down just as fast..can be stored in bag when not in use~holds up to 250 pounds:) Bin of rice and beans with cars and trucks.., bin of playdough and cookie cutter shapes, table for shaving cream... Okay..that is all for now:) maybe a foam machine:P
No sensory playground at our school but where we used to live, a mom of a child with PDD-NOS helped design a playground and she made sure it had lots of stuff for kids on the spectrum. One VERY important thing she did was to make sure there were lots of nooks and crannies that kids on the spectrum could kind of hide out in if they got too overwhelmed. This was accomplished by those tall structures and there would be a small niche underneath that was enclosed - there were several of them. My son used to love going in them - other kids did as well, but it was particularly important for our kids. She also had one of those bridges you walk across and it kind of sways. Also had balance beam type logs that were fairly close to the ground. Obviously swings - varied types. Lots of textures and there were painted pictures on the equipment as well. There was a playhouse (big wooden one) to go into and an old boat filled with sand to sit in and play in.
That is AWESOME they are doing that!
I would love to come to New Orleans..my Texas drawl and yall cajun tongue would be perfect:) The foam machine is just that..you fill it with bubble solution and foam comes out in bookoos all over the place:) Someone posted a post on spectrum playgroup and I came up with some other ideas for you on it!
edited to add: I searched Spectrum playgroup~July 2 started by Nickyg
Great suggestions, ya'll - thanks! Forgot to tell you that they have already built an inside sensory room this summer, so lots of the hammock swing, bean table, parachute, other ideas have been covered there. Just doing large scale stuff outside. We're going to use old portable sand tables from the kindergarten rooms outside, but can't put a sand box on the ground...fire ants LOVE sand!
And yes, the school is about the best in Louisiana, but they only have 4000 to give for this area! I am raising (trying to!) the other 16K! Wish me luck!
BTW, what the heck is a foam machine?? A margarita machine and a bubble machine and a fog machine I've heard of... Shelley, we are importing your little butt to New Orleans and never letting you go!
Thanks again!
Trampoline?Yep, got one inside!Thanks, Shelley. Will keep an eye out.
As for presentations, one just chants "they can't kill me and eat me...they can't kill me and eat me..." before hand for about 10 minutes and the anxiety vanishes.
Unless of course you are on a small island in Indonesia where they are reported to still practice ceremonial cannibalism, then all bets are off!
Too funny:)) I will have to remember that! I am not that tasty:~P Mosquitos wont even bite me:)I wish I had your gift to stand up in front of peopleBy the way, we make our giant presentation to the builder this Wednesday morning...have spent countless hours researching equipment and building this dang Powerpoint presentation. Even did an attributes spreadsheet that allows us to click off each proprioceptive or vestibular stimulations provided by that piece of playground equipment! Between that and plotting the site out so that the little kids stay away from the older stuff but clustering the handicapped accessible stuff, I feel like I just took the GREs again!
Man, I have been feeling like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz...."If I only had a brain..." Its nice to have a grown up activity!
Another thing to add...we have a (very small this year, hopefully bigger next