Published on AblePlay - Play products for Children with Disabilities and Special Needs (http://ableplay.hubshift.net)
Manufacturer Name:
 Little Tikes 		Product Name:
Climbing Towers Playground
Customer Quote: The kids have played on this so nicely together. I have seen lots of interaction and negotiation take place. -- Child Care Provider, Chicago, IL
Product Images:
Climbing Towers Playground
Climbing Towers Playground
Communicative Description
  • There is a clear bubble window on the top so children can look out, but are unable to crawl through.
  • There are high sides on the top that help prevent children from climbing over.
  • The tunnel is short, helping children who may be apprehensive to climb through small spaces to be successful. The length can also be used for a simple peek-a-boo game with a caregiver or other children.
  • Bright, bold colors capture children’s attention.
  • There is plenty of climbable space to allow children to play simultaneously. This is particularly important for children who have attention difficulties or are impulsive.
  • This playground provides whole body movement and proprioceptive input. Children have been found to perform better on cognitive tasks that are given after a physical activity.
  • Actively playing on this playground can help combat childhood obesity.
Skills
  • Waiting skills and patience are reinforced as children wait to climb up one of the ladders or through the tunnel.
  • There are many holes and slits to look through to play peek-a-boo and socially interact with others. This also can help caregivers unobtrusively supervise play.
  • Children can interact with caregivers by verbally saying, “Catch me,” or “Watch me.”
  • Children can use the tunnel to promote give and take exercises. A caregiver can pass a play item through the tunnel to the child and have the child return it.
  • Because many children can play at one time, social negotiation can take place.
  • Color identification can be a part of the play.
Play Ideas
  • Children can use the various areas of the playground as a clubhouse with friends.
  • Give children verbal directions, such as, “Climb up the orange stairs,” or “Climb through two blue holes.” This helps work on receptive language, memory and recall skills.
  • Make a puppet show using your own puppets and the Climbing Towers Playground as the stage.
  • Pretend the playground is a playhouse and the children are the family that lives there.
  • Pretend the playground is a boat and children cannot touch the ground because that is the water.
  • Call out a color and the children have to race to that color section. Continue to call out colors to encourage movement and game play.
Adaptation Ideas
  • Limit the number of children playing on the playground until the child who has a disability has had a chance to climb through and understand the playground.
Sensory Description
  • There is a clear bubble window on the top so children can look out, but are unable to crawl through.
  • There are high sides on the top that help prevent children from climbing over.
  • Bright, bold colors capture children’s attention.
  • This playground provides whole body movement and proprioceptive input. Children have been found to perform better on cognitive tasks that are given after a physical activity.
  • Actively playing on this playground can help combat childhood obesity.
Skills
  • Waiting skills and patience are reinforced as children wait to climb up one of the ladders or through the tunnel.
  • Because many children can play at one time, social negotiation can take place.
  • Color identification can be a part of the play.
  • Climbing on, around and through the playground as well as sliding on the slides helps children use their whole bodies to play. They become more aware of where their bodies are in space and how to navigate through.
Play Ideas
  • Hide on or under the playground and make one sound, such as clicking. Have the child locate where you are by listening to the sound.
Adaptation Ideas
Cognitive Description
  • There is a clear bubble window on the top so children can look out, but are unable to crawl through.
  • There are high sides on the top that help prevent children from climbing over.
  • Bright, bold colors capture children’s attention.
  • There is plenty of climbable space to allow children to play simultaneously. This is particularly important for children who have attention difficulties or are impulsive.
  • This playground provides whole body movement and proprioceptive input. Children have been found to perform better on cognitive tasks that are given after a physical activity.
  • Actively playing on this playground can help combat childhood obesity.
Skills
  • Waiting skills and patience are reinforced as children wait to climb up one of the ladders or through the tunnel.
  • Memory and recall skills can be part of the play when children take turns climbing through the playground in a particular order. Children must remember what order and how to execute it.
  • Problem solving skills are used as children learn how low they need to squat down to crawl through a hole or how to hoist themselves up to a higher level.
  • Because many children can play at one time, social negotiation can take place.
  • Children work on thinking through a sequence of steps to complete a task. For example, in order for a child to slide down the slide, he needs to figure out what section of the playground to start at to climb up, then climb up and navigate over to the slide. They then need to sit down, slide to the bottom and then stand up for more play.
  • Enhance the understanding of action concepts by labeling in, out, through, over, under, on and off at appropriate times.
Play Ideas
  • Pretend the playground is a playhouse and the children are the family that lives there.
  • Pretend the playground is a boat and children cannot touch the ground because that is the water.
  • Call out a color and have the children race to that color section. Continue to call out colors to encourage movement and game play.
  • Hide a small toy on the playground and have the children search to find it.
  • Aim and throw balls through the openings of the playground. Note: Make sure children are not climbing while this activity is taking place.
Adaptation Ideas
Physical Description
  • There are many open areas to climb. Some are down low for crawlers and some higher to help children negotiate bodies and movement.
  • The slide has a raised bottom. When children slide down, their feet plant on the ground to stop, rather than landing on their backside.
  • There is a clear bubble window on the top so children can look out, but are unable to crawl through.
  • There are high sides on the top that help prevent children from climbing over.
  • Because many children can play at one time, social negotiation can take place.
  • Bright, bold colors capture children’s attention.
  • This playground provides whole body movement and proprioceptive input. Children have been found to perform better on cognitive tasks that are given after a physical activity.
  • Actively playing on this playground can help combat childhood obesity.
Skills
  • There are three sets of stairs with 3-5 steps that can help children work on hip and leg movement, bilateral coordination and muscle strength.
  • Muscle coordination and strength are used as children crawl, climb, slide and explore this playground.
  • Children become aware of where their body is in relation to other objects while climbing on this apparatus.
  • Waiting skills and patience are reinforced as children wait to climb up one of the ladders or through the tunnel.
  • Reaching and arm extension are used as children reach to hold on to the sides of the playground and climb up.
  • Children can use the playground to cruise around the perimeter holding on to the sides.
  • Core strengthening can be increased as children climb, stand and slide on this playground.
Play Ideas
  • Children can play follow the leader by climbing and crawling through this playground.
  • Hide a small toy on the playground and have the children search to find it.
  • Aim and throw balls through the openings of the playground. Note: Make sure other children are not climbing while this activity is taking place.
Adaptation Ideas


Communicative

Sensory

Cognitive

Physical






DESCRIPTION:
This multi-level climbing apparatus has multiple openings, two slides and a crawl-through tunnel.

Approx. Price: Over $100
Box Age Range: 6+ yrs
# of Pieces: 1
Washability: Surface Wipe
Storability:
Directions: Extensive
Play Locations: Outdoor
Adjustability:
Levels of Play: One Level
Batteries: None needed


Features and Benefits
  • Wide Age Range
  • Large Openings
  • Open-ended
  • Can Be Used Independently or w/Others
  • Connects/Assembles Securely
  • Promotes Active Play
  • Different Shapes and/or Colors
  • One-Piece Unit
  • Visually Stimulating
  • High Contrasting Colors
  • Durable
Developmental processes promoted
  • Spatial Relationships e.g. Under, Over, On, Off
  • Core Strengthening, Trunk Strength, Stability
  • Coordinated Movement
  • Problem Solving
  • Physical Range of Motion
  • Proprioceptive Input
  • Gross Motor
  • Balance
  • Motor Planning
  • Weight Shifting
  • Foot Placement
  • Color Recognition and Identification
  • Object Recognition and Identification
  • Bilateral Coordination
  • Action Concepts e.g. In/Out, Push/Pull, On/Off, Go/Stop
  • Memory and Recall
  • Visual Processing
  • Visual Attention