INCLUSION ON THE PLAYGROUND

							                        INCLUSION ON THE PLAYGROUND

GOALS:

   1) To encourage age appropriate interaction between child with challenges and
      their classmates during recess
   2) To decrease teacher involvement with the child with challenges over the recess
      time period

STRATEGIES:

   1) Buddy System
       Have a classroom buddy each day (volunteer or rotating on a weekly basis as
        “the special helper”) who is responsible for ensuring that the child with
        challenges is included in an activity during recess
       This buddy will also be responsible for helping with coats and helping to make
        sure that the child get to and from the playground safely
       In the early grades, 2 buddies might share the responsibility each recess

   2) Equipment
       The child with challenges may choose a piece of equipment to take outside
         for recess (balls, parachute, skipping ropes)
       This equipment should be shared with all interested children
       Use modified equipment to promote inclusion
                     - baseball bat: larger, lighter, bright colour, shorter length
                     - balls: larger, softer, brighter, beanbags, Koosh balls
                     - use a lighter, softer ball on tether ball pole
                     - basketball hoops can be mounted at various heights

   3) Minimal Involvement Activities
       The child may participate in skipping by having one end of skipping rope
         attached to his/her wheelchair (for those in wheelchairs)
       The child and buddy are spectators for games played by other children
       The child and buddy walk/wheel around and talk during recess

   4) Switches
       Give a voice to the kids who use switches (Red Light Green Light),
         instructions for games, cheers, skipping songs, hop scotch rhymes,
         jokes/questions


July 2004