Playgrounds for
All Children
46CHAPTER
415
A good way to start a village or neighborhood rehabilitation program is to involve
the local people in building a low-cost ‘rehabilitation playground’. It is important that
the playground be built for use by all children—both disabled and non-disabled.
With a little help from adults, the local children can build most of the playground
themselves. To prevent the playground from being destroyed or vandalized, you may
wish to invite some of the roughest local children and ‘gang leaders’ to help lead the
project. Or you can appoint them as ‘maintenance chiefs’.
Building a playground ‘for all
children’ is a good way to get
enthusiastic community
participation. It can be
built quickly as a
group project at low
cost using local
resources and
gives quick,
easily seen,
fun results.
The playground brings
non-disabled and
disabled children
together through play.
To build the playground, it is best to use local, low-cost materials, and simple
construction. One of the playground’s main purposes is to give disabled children and
their parents a chance to try different playthings and exercise equipment. Whatever
works for their child, a family can easily build at home, at no or low cost. For this reason,
a playground made of tree limbs and poles, old tires, and other ‘waste’ materials is more
appropriate than a fancy metal playground built by skilled craftsmen at high cost. (Also,
metal gets very hot in hot, sunny climates.)