In Singapore, there are approximately 20,000 children with special needs between the ages of 4 to 12 years old. Play is equally beneficial and important to children with special needs as it is to their peers in mainstream schools. While there are playgrounds catering to children with special needs, they are found only within special education (SPED) schools. Existing outdoor playgrounds lack the appropriate physical structures as well as accessibility for children with special needs. In view of this, NCSS has collaborated with National Parks Board and Town Councils to build five inclusive playgrounds around Singapore. NCSS conducted engagement sessions with SPED schools and their therapists, as well as directly with children with special needs, to understand the children play requirements and maximise the play experience for them. An inclusive playground provides children with and without special needs a platform to interact and play together. Research studies have shown that children with and without special needs who play together will learn to accept differences and have comfortable social interactions with one another.
Through the inclusive playground, NCSS aims to increase general public awareness, acceptance, and understanding of persons with special needs and inculcate the values of social inclusion from young. The five inclusive playgrounds will be developed by 2016 and located at the following locations: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park River Plains The first inclusive playground developed at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park River Plains was successfully launched on 22 Aug 2015, with Minister for Social and Family Development Mr Tan Chuan-Jin as the Guest-of-Honour. NCSS initiated the inclusive playground in Singapore, with the aim of removing barriers for persons with special needs and to create a more inclusive society. The success of the first inclusive playground build at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park River Plains has paved the way for six more inclusive playgrounds to be built by NParks over the next few years. 1 Taking resident population as at end of June 2013, Year Book of Statistics Singapore, 2014, estimated 3% of the population has disability/disabilities.
Children using a wheelchair can enjoy swinging without the hassle of leaving their wheelchair. Imported from Australia, this equipment can take a weight of up to 250kg and contains all the necessary safety features for a fun and safe experience. The equipment comes with a seat for any child to play this unique play equipment. Merry-go-round with wheelchair access Being flushed to the ground allows the child using a wheelchair to be easily pushed into the equipment, with safety doors to prevent the wheelchair from falling out. Toddler seats and open spaces allow for toddlers and other children, even adults, to join in the fun. Benefits of inclusive play A total of 8 new playground apparatus have been introduced to the playground, allowing children with and without special needs, their parents and siblings to play together. The experiences from playing with peers of different needs in a healthy environment allow children a chance to develop their social and creative skills, as well as physically and emotionally.
Social development: Play encourages children to learn how to respond to their peers' feelings and understand the needs of others when sharing play equipment and waiting for their turn to play. Emotional development: Play supports emotional development by providing a way for children to express and cope with their feelings when interacting with others. Physical development: Play contributes to children's fine and gross motor development and body awareness as they actively use their bodies. Active play helps children with joint or muscular illness build or maintain energy, joint flexibility, and muscular strength. Creative development: Play enhances children's ability to create internal imagery, stimulate curiosity and experiment with alternative responses to different situations. These skills will be useful to children when they engage in and adapt to new situations. Click here for frequently asked questions. Equipment at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park River Plains
Children in Action (CIA) primary objective is to encourage inclusive play between children with special needs and their non-disabled peers at NCSS initiated Inclusive Playgrounds. CIA defines inclusive play as providing opportunities and access for children with special needs to be included in regular activities with their non-disabled peers. Studies have shown that peer interaction is a fundamental feature of childhood. Children’s peer-related social competence has been viewed as a critical development during early childhood. Research also suggests that children who have peer interaction difficulties and fail to develop positive peer relationships are at risk for behavioural and social maladjustments in later life. Other studies have also shown that peer interaction problems are a primary predictor for children’s future social competence difficulties. Hence, positive peer interactions are an important factor for children’s enhanced development, for both children with special needs and their non-disabled peers.
In addition, participation in inclusive programs may positively affect typically developing children’s knowledge and attitude about disabilities. Create and inclusive opportunities for children with special needs to interact and play alongside with their non-disabled peers. To facilitate meaningful social interactions between children with special needs and their non-disabled peers Children with special needs (from 6 years old onwards) Peers from mainstream education (from 6 years old onwards) To create, implement and facilitate outdoor social activities and free play at NCSS initiate inclusive playground between children with special needs and their non-disabled peers VWOs have the flexibility to create and plan the activities VWOs have the flexibility to implement the activities (there will be a minimum requirement to fulfil funding agreement) Inclusion and participation of children with special needs in the community. Improvements of social skills for children with special needs.
Acceptance and awareness of children with special needs. The design of this programme would consist of semi-structured outdoor social activities and free play to be conducted by VWOs. VWOs are given the flexibility to conceptualise and implement activity model and number of trips to the playground. Such flexibility would allow other interested VWOs to replicate and implement CIA at any given time. This in turn, will promote higher utilisation of the playground and opportunities for all children with special needs to play alongside their non-disabled peers. These activities would be centred around the Inclusive Playground starting with the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and extending these activities to other similar park supported by NCSS. The minimum requirement for VWOs to implement CIA and target client group is: 5 children with special needs 5 non-disabled peers of similar age-group and activities to be conducted at the inclusive playground (Between 1 to 2 hours)