Creating a playground communication board is more than just an addition to your local park—it’s a step towards building a community where every child, regardless of their communication abilities, can interact, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re an educator, a speech-language pathologist, or a dedicated parent, this guide will walk you through the essentials of designing a communication board that enhances playtime and fosters inclusion.
A communication board is a visual presentation of images and text with a specific layout and style that serves several purposes, including education, communication, inclusion, and awareness. These boards can help close the communication gap between non-speaking or those with limited verbal speech and their caregivers, teachers, and classmates using graphics and photographs. The pictures, symbols, or illustrations on the boards help people with difficulty speaking communicate by pointing at the pictures. The pictures show practical vocabulary that can be adjusted based on the needs of the specific environment or even linguistic requirements. Each communication board will include images based on the location where it will be placed. If it were at a school, it could include pictures of a school bus; if it were placed at a doctor’s office, it could have a pain scale. Each has a meaning that can be expressed by touching the image.
Communication boards are used as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices in homes, schools, and other public settings. Digital devices can also be used for augmentative and alternative communication. These communication modifications can be used to satisfy a person’s communication needs.
A playground communication board is a type of communication board that is designed to be used by multiple people at a specific location. Even though we refer to it as a “Playground Communication Board”, it should actually be referred to as a Community Communication Board. They will be used by the community at specific group settings. These community communication boards can be found at dentist offices, waterparks, pediatrician offices, therapy clinics and so on.
Children have the right to communicate in all places they need to. This includes, but is not limited to, the playground, school, and home. Children with disabilities have the same rights and needs for communication as their peers. Occasionally, it is impossible to bring a high-tech device to some places, and unless another form of communication is in place, the child won’t be able to communicate. That’s why low-tech community-based communication boards should be implemented anywhere possible.
A playground communication board is a group of symbols mounted on a sturdy and hard material that can be seen in public places like playgrounds, parks, beaches, and museums. The words included should reflect the location and corresponding communication needs. For instance, a communication board at a playground would include a graphic for the word “slide” whereas one near the beach might have the word “swim.”
The steps to creating a playground communication board are below:
Before creating a playground communication board, you must determine and visit the location to gather information regarding the appropriate vocabulary for that specific fixed location board. Fully understanding the vocabulary a child will likely need within a given place takes time to analyze the unique surroundings, routines, and interactions of the people communicating within them. These factors are also important in figuring out the best installation spot within the location.
While you visit the location:
What were the most important nouns (people, places, and things) at your location? What were the most important verbs (action words)? Are there any regular routines or activities at that location that should be considered? Any communication board has a finite amount of space, so the time you invested earlier in observing is crucial for making informed decisions on what to include.
The type of material needed will depend upon the environment and how it will be mounted.
Companies such as Smarty Symbols make this process much smoother. They have created boards based on different locations. These boards can be customized to fit the needs of specific locations, and they have made the process of the initial vocabulary selection much easier for customers.
After selecting appropriate material and creating the playground images, it’s time to build the communication board. For this board, special considerations have been made:
Printing the board:
After considering the board, it is suggested to look for a printing company to install the communication board in the playground. You will need to research materials: wood, plastic, and acrylic to determine which one would work best for the environment. All these steps can be resolved, if you purchase a board from companies like Smarty Symbols. Smarty Symbols has already identified the correct and appropriate materials for each environment.
Getting Permission:
If you are installing it in a public place, you must get the government’s, or city mayor’s permission to avoid any inconvenience. You may actually want to start with this step prior to completing the previous ones.
Fundraising:
Creating a large durable communication board is not inexpensive. If you are doing this on your own, you must take into account all the time, energy and effort it will come with this process. The communication board is being funded in several ways. Park management may have appropriate funds to cover 100% of the costs of the communication board. If that’s not the case, they may also help you raise your communication board funds. Local advocacy organizations or families in the neighborhood may be able to help you raise money. You can also ask nearby businesses for sponsorship. Creating a crowdfunding campaign can also be an alternative.
Installation:
As the goal is to help children communicate, find an area of the installation that is easy for children to both see and reach so that the board will help them be included in activities. If there is already a structure, such as a wall or a fence, and there is an appropriate location to attach the board, it may be utilized for an easier installation. If not, you may need to purchase wood or metal posts which may require concrete in order to secure it in the ground. A Smarty Symbols consultant will help you identify best installation plans.
You can watch a video on step-by-step process with Barbara Fernandes.
Although it may seem like a daunting task, the process is worth it for the meaningful impact it can have. Interacting with others and being understood is a priceless gift. It enables us to develop our social skills, sense of self, establish friendships, and feel like we belong in the world.
Don’t let the process overwhelm you, as mentioned earlier, Smarty Symbols has made it much easier for cities and schools to order a high quality ready-made board and get advice on all the steps needed to move forward.
Smarty Symbols Studio is a tress-free resource creation platform that saves time and frustration Fall in love with creating new custom resources for kids that are engaging and effective.
