Play for All

Landscape Structures is excited to collaborate with the STAR (Sensory

Therapies And Research) Center and the Sensory Processing Disorder

(SPD) Foundation, drawing on their unparalleled experience and progressive

knowledge to truly understand the developmental benefits children gain

while playing on inclusive playground equipment.

“When children of any ability walk onto our playground they are instantly

engaged. The Landscape Structures playground speaks to every person,

no matter what his or her ability level. It says,

‘I am here especially for you. Come try me out.

We will have fun together! You will challenge

yourself, and you will succeed!’”

— Lucy Jane Miller, Ph.D., OTR,

Founder of STAR Center

Play for All: Supporting a Higher Level of Inclusive Play

Sensory-rich play experiences are a key ingredient in a truly inclusive play

space. A well-planned inclusive playground will allow children of all abilities

to develop the strong sensory and motor systems that are so vital for

their futures.

Consider including elements that focus specifically on a variety of senses:

tactile, proprioception (muscles and joints), vestibular (movement), visual,

auditory, motor planning and social/imaginative play experiences.

Allowing every child to experience the joy and thrill of sensory-motor play

transforms playgrounds into amazing spaces where children can develop

their bodies, brains and self-esteem, laying the groundwork for healthy,

fulfilling lives.

Play for All: Supporting a Higher Level of Inclusive Play

Through sensory play, children discover their world and how to be successful in it. They develop behaviors based on what they touch, see, hear, taste, smell, how they move and position their body in space.The broad play experiences from sensory-rich playgrounds allow children to integrate and develop

their senses. The more they play, the more they develop skills necessary to engage, change and impact the world around them.

7 senses

Tactile Vestibular Visual Auditory Motor Planning

Social /ImaginationProprioception

• Unscripted climbing routes

• Omni-directional hand/foot grips

• Innovative “flowy” design is

available in four configurations

• Can meet a range of

developmental goals e.g., place

one foot on a step or balance on

top of the structure

Mobius® Climber

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE MOBIUS® CLIMBER?

Proprioception: • Activates core muscle groups (trunk) and distal muscle

groups (arms and legs), improving endurance and strength

• Balances flexion and extension muscle groups as children climb

Vestibular: • Movement through different spatial planes during

climbing stimulates the brain’s vestibular system

Motor Planning: • Flexible thinking is improved through planning

climbing routes

• Sequencing thoughts on where to place hands and feet enhances cognitive ability

Social/Imagination: • Multiple children can climb at one time, creating opportunities for social engagement,

encouragement of each other and pretend play

• Transfer height of 18"

• Back/trunk support

• Speed control

• Gentle slope interior assists

in seating and exiting

• Seat placement encourages

social interaction

OmniSpin® Spinner

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE OMNISPIN® SPINNER?

Proprioception: • Children can self-determine amount of force needed to go slow,

medium, or fast—and adjust their muscle contractions accordingly

• Seated position provides support to those with limited core strength

• Movement simulates weight shifting and balance, activating core muscle groups

Vestibular: • Different speeds and directions of rotary motion increase vestibular tolerance

• Ability to change positions (back to stomach) stimulates the vestibular mechanism on multiple planes

Motor Planning: • Entering/exiting requires motor planning and patterning

• Initiating and maintaining spinning requires planning and sequencing of pushing from the outside

• Visual planning is enhanced with the introduction of a game e.g., catching a ball, while the OmniSpin is in motion

Social/Imagination: • The circular shape encourages face-to-face social interaction while children are seated

• Enjoyment of social games e.g., a ball toss, is increased by sitting as a group

• Kids and parents can sit comfortably together for a multigenerational experience

• Curved outer surface with a

variety of openings

• Different tactile concave and

convex circles on the outside

• Quiet and cozy on the inside,

yet has good sight lines

Cozy Dome®

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE COZY DOME®?

Tactile: • Textured surface invites exploration

and expansion of children’s tactile discrimination skills e.g., the ability to interpret smooth vs. rough

Proprioception: • Core muscle groups are engaged

through climbing the exterior

Motor Planning: • Sequencing thoughts on where to place

hands and feet enhances cognitive ability

Social/Imagination: • Cozy interior encourages self-regulation

techniques: calm, focus, or “regroup” during play

• Perfect for social development activities such as peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek

• Increases understanding of body-focused phrases: inside/outside, over/under, between, top/bottom, etc.

• Angled design facilitates movement

• Allows children to explore gravity,

body position, and cause and effect

• Child controls spin

• Varying heights

• Saddle-shaped seat with handhold

grip supports children of all sizes

Saddle Spinner

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE SADDLE SPINNER?

Proprioception: • Core muscle groups are activated during spinning while

the child holds the saddle

• Adjusting to weight shifts improves postural stability

Vestibular: • Children can choose to spin quickly or slowly to increase

their comfort with rotary movements and spinning in space

Visual: • Visual localization skills are developed by focusing

on a single point during spinning

Motor Planning: • Children learn how to move and shift their weight

to perpetuate the gravitational spin

Social/Imagination: • Endless ways for children to interact, create games

and pretend play during spinning

• Solid rungs for hand and foot placement

• Chain allows ladder to move in

different directions

• Variety of heights for increasing levels

of challenge

Chain Ladder

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE CHAIN LADDER?

Proprioception: • Climbing rungs require use of distal muscle groups to

pull up (arms) and push off (legs)

• Bilateral coordination is improved through reciprocal and symmetrical movement patterns

• Slight swaying movement of the rungs increases challenge and feelings of success

Vestibular: • Slight swaying movement of the rungs encourages vestibular

awareness, ability to shift weight, stay upright, resist the pull of gravity and be aware of their body in space

Motor Planning: • Opportunity for alternate climbing routes, requiring children

to think and plan their path

Social/Imagination: • Encourages turn-taking with peers and creation of games

e.g., finding hidden toys at the top or bottom of ladder

• Non-static slide

• Unique roller design creates

multi-sensory experience

• Speed is faster than on a typical

slide of the same slope due to

the roller action

• 30" wide, variety of heights and

lengths available

Rollerslide

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE ROLLERSLIDE?

Tactile: • Rollers provide exaggerated tactile input with their

vibrational movement and texture

• Develops body awareness

Vestibular: • The pull of gravity is enhanced through the rotation

of the rollers along with differing speeds and differing positions, allowing for a variety of vestibular stimulation

Auditory: • The rotational sound of the rollers adds a comforting

sensory component while sliding

Motor Planning: • The wider slide allows for a variety of sliding positions

Social/Imagination: • The generous width of the slide allows for children

and/or adults to slide together and share enjoyment

• Recycled wood planks provide solid hand

and foot positioning

• Alternating angled planks add challenge

• Chain allows ladder to move while

children climb

Wood Plank Wiggle Ladder

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE WOOD PLANK WIGGLE LADDER?

Proprioception: • Engages core muscle group (trunk) in order

to maintain balance, and distal muscle group (arms and legs) to ascend and descend

Vestibular: • Subtle swaying movement necessitates weight shifting

and balance, which requires coordinated use of both vestibular and proprioception systems

Motor Planning: • Differing orientation of planks requires children

to plan where to place their hands and feet during ascent and descent

• Encourages sliding with a friend

• 49-degree slope creates speed while sliding

• 12" high sidewalls and longer exit for safety

Double Swoosh™ Poly Slide

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE DOUBLE SWOOSH™ POLY SLIDE?

Vestibular: • Provides the thrilling pull of gravity, requiring use

of the body to control speed

Motor Planning: • Motor planning is required for climbing the ladder,

getting body into position to slide, and repeating the pattern or deciding something different

Social/Imagination: • Design allows children and/or adults

to slide together creating opportunities for social interaction, encouragement, support and mutual enjoyment

• Children can create a variety of stop/go and racing games on the double slide

• Combination of visual panels: Marble Panel®, Optigear Panel®, Kaleidospin Panel®

• Each panel has a visual component

• Movement of components adds to the sensory play experience

• Two-sided design allows children to play on both sides

Visual Sensory Play Panels

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE VISUAL SENSORY PLAY PANELS?

Visual • Panels encourage visual exploration increasing

understanding and perception

Tactile: • Panels provide differing textures offering a

multisensory experience

Motor Planning: • Manipulating and moving the panels provides a full

sensory experience and requires the coordination of both visual and motor systems

• Children control how slow or fast they receive visual input

Social/Imagination: • Children play “through” most visual panels with peers

on the other side allowing self-regulation of eye contact as they feel comfortable

• Combination of auditory panels: Bongo Panel®, Rain Sound Wheel Panel™ and Xylofun Panel®

• Each panel has a different auditory component

• Movement of components creates a sensory play experience

Auditory Sensory Play Panels

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE SENSORY PLAY CENTER – AUDITORY PLAY?

Auditory: • Panels allow exploration in a variety of ways including

discrimination of sounds

Motor Planning: • Manipulating panel components provides a full auditory experience

• Children control how slow or fast they receive auditory input

Social/Imagination: • Panels encourage cooperative and collaborative play offering

opportunities for sound patterning that can be developed and imitated

• Simple design allows children to define

how they want to play

• Seating for small groups of friends

• Facing bench seats with table in between

• Personalized sign panel to “name”

the Clubhouse

Clubhouse

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE CLUBHOUSE?

Motor Planning: • Pretend play activities e.g. setting the table, eating

food, washing dishes create many opportunities to practice daily motor patterns

Social/Imagination: • Provides endless options for pretend play,

turn-taking, sharing and role playing with peers

• A comfortable, cozy space to self-regulate and regroup following play

• Simple-to-complex climbers offer opportunities for challenge and mastery

• Includes stable climbers and climbers with movement

• Different colored steps or hand-foot grips

Developmental Range of Climbers

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE DEVELOPMENTAL RANGE OF CLIMBERS?

Proprioception: • Core muscle strength is developed through a variety of

simple-to-complex climbing structures

Vestibular: • Variety of climbing structures enables children to experience

gravitational pull and different positions of the head in space

• Shifting weight and maintaining balance helps postural strength and endurance

Motor Planning: • Movements need to be sequenced and organized when

navigating the climbing structures

• Skills are developed as children move from simple climbers to complex ones

Social/Imagination: • Mastering each climber increases self-confidence and

self-esteem, enhancing a child’s ability to engage with others while they play

• Multi-user swing

• Easy transfer height

• Variety of seating positions

• Back and trunk support

• Playful design

Oodle® Swing

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE OODLE® SWING?

Proprioception: • Develops upper body strength through the

pushing motion

Vestibular: • Placing the body and head in different positions

while swinging, fast or slow, stimulates the vestibular system

Motor Planning: • Multi-seat design requires motor planning for

entering and exiting as well as pushing the swing

Social/Imagination: • Multi-seat design offers opportunities for social

interaction, cooperative play, turn taking, collaboration and pretend play scenarios

• Multiple seating options with back

and trunk support

• Gentle rocking motion

• Easy access or transfer into seats

• Handholds and footrests for

stability

• Space age look

• Optional 3-point seat strap

We-saw™

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE WE-SAW™?

Proprioception: • Core muscle groups are engaged while

moving the We-saw

• Maintaining balance, weight-shifting, holding posture develops strength and endurance

Vestibular: • Children can regulate their movement/vestibular

input based on where they choose to sit (more movement on the ends, less in the middle)

Motor Planning: • Motor sequencing and patterning are required,

activating weight shifts

Social/Imagination: • Multiple seats allow for group play, requiring

communication to coordinate movement and creating opportunities for pretend play

• Inclusive rocking glider

• Room for wheelchairs

and/or strollers

• Seating and standing room for all

• Table position allows those

using wheelchairs to move the

Sway Fun® Glider

• Stable hand support

Sway Fun® Glider

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE SWAY FUN® GLIDER?

Proprioception: • Core muscle groups are engaged in order

to move the Sway Fun® Glider

• Benches and wheelchair accessibility allow for various levels of involvement

Vestibular: • Experience linear movement, back and forth,

at different speeds based on number of riders

Motor Planning: • Coordination of movement with their peers is

required to stay in motion

• Planning, organizing and problem solving is part of the fun of group swinging/swaying

Social/Imagination: • Seating design encourages social engagement

and interaction

• Provides opportunities for pretend play scenarios and group participation

• Inclusive side-by-side design option: ZipKrooz Assisted can be paired with ZipKrooz

• Ultra-smooth, two-way ride

• Built in elevation helps riders gain momentum at the beginning and slow down at the end

• Molded bucket seat with lock-in-place harness provides stability and security for children

with limited upper-body or lower-body strength

ZipKrooz™ and ZipKrooz™ Assisted

WHICH SENSES ARE ENGAGED BY THE ZIPKROOZ™ AND ZIPKROOZ™ ASSISTED?

Proprioception: • Pod seat requires core muscle engagement to stay

in the seated position

• Children with limited core muscle control have the option of riding in a fully supportive bucket seat

Vestibular: • Children experience a variety of speeds during

linear movement

Motor Planning: • Pod seat teaches children to sequence and pattern their

movements for take off and landing as well as holding on during the ride

Social/Imagination: • Dual-track design allows children of all abilities to play

together with opportunities for turn taking, cooperative play and games

Better playgrounds. Better world.®

Since 1971, Landscape Structures has been committed to

enhancing children’s lives by fostering and creating inspiring play

experiences while honoring the environment. We create innovative

playground equipment to inspire children to grow strong bodies

and minds so their futures remain bright. And to further ensure

a better tomorrow, we are sensitive to the environment through

manufacturing practices that minimize our impact on the earth.

Our goal from day one has been to foster healthy children playing

in healthy communities year after year, generation after generation.

Contact your local playground consultant today to learn more at

888.438.6574 or 763.972.5200. Or visit playlsi.com.

Insta

©2015 Landscape Structures Inc.

Printed in the U.S.A. #755-2444