How to Teach Kids to Play Together

As a society, we continue to grow and show progress in advocating for those with disabilities. There are whole communities that believe the parks should provide inclusive playground equipment that involves all kids. When a community pushes for more inclusive play, teachers, childcare employees, and additional caregivers seek a solution for these other kids. Let's do our part in including everyone during playtime. Use this guide to teach your little ones the best way to play with all the kids inclusively. 

Why Disability Awareness is Important 

As children grow older, they will more than likely encounter other children with disabilities. Kids often equate the concept of "fairness" to "being available to everyone," which is not always realistic for children with disabilities. 

Imagine a line of children walking single file in the school hallways to go to the library on the second floor. As the group takes their first step up the stairs, they see their teacher allowing a child in a mobility device to use the elevator. 

This might make the other children upset because they thought the elevator was off-limits. But it is a great example when being fair does not always mean equality, and it might result in the child who used the elevator feeling self-conscious. Teaching all children about disability awareness helps mitigate these types of circumstances. 

Research shows that disability awareness intervention has significant positive effects on children's understanding and attitudes toward people with disabilities. It's important to instill an inclusive mindset at a young age so children will grow into advocates.

Why Inclusive Play Matters

Inclusive play is also essential for those who benefit first-hand. Think of some of your favorite playground Equipment staples growing up- monkey bars, swings, or even a slide. Now, think of how many of those are accessible to children in mobility devices. 

This exercise escalates in importance when you also consider more than physical disabilities. Think of how loud you would shout with glee when sliding down a slide or playing pirates with your friends. Now, think about children with autism who might have difficulty processing that level of auditory sensory input. 

Children with disabilities have limited opportunities for play but need play experiences to grow like all children. Inclusive play allows children with disabilities to play alongside other children, which helps build self-esteem. 

How to Promote Inclusivity and Disability Awareness

Most adults know that teaching children disability awareness is critical but seek ideas to create a learning experience. 

There is a way to learn together that helps provide ideas through activities and guides. Each activity can appeal to a specific age group and teach awareness for a particular disability category. 

There are tons of activities; some include a fun game, such as "I Spy" or "Monkey See, Monkey Do." Some guides also list developmental benefits and extra inclusion tips to make the game even more helpful. Hopefully, this guide has helped you give your children more than one way to treat other kids with respect and include them in their games.