Sliding Options

Sliding is a ver popular play experience provided in community playspaces as it is high in play value through the experience of going fast, and acceleration on a long slide in particular! This provides excitement and exhilaration. Sliding can be experienced from manufactured slides or through sliding slopes provided using the natural terrain and in countries where there is snow in winter, through the provision of a snow slope.

Issues that arise in providing for play value in sliding:

• Slide location and access: traditional slides are often located on a flat surface in the middle of a playspace, requiring the need for a ladder to climb up and slide down. This means that children who cannot climb a ladder are excluded from sliding.
• Slide usability: a traditional slide is a single width for individual children. This limits it’s usability if a parent or carer is needed to hold the child while sliding. It also restricts the play value in relations to social possibilities for sliding together. Slides that are made from metal can be a hazard for use in hot weather, while slides made from plastic can be problematic for children with cochlear implants due to the static that can build up in use. Large amount of static can disrupt the functioning of the cochlear implant for children with hearing impairment.
• Slides can lack play value due to being to short and straight, which may not provide fun and challenge for older or more experienced children

Successful design for inclusion:

Playspaces need to consider offering diverse ways to access sliding experiences

• Ensure the pathways to the swing are accessible and level
• Consider different ways to access the slide to maximise inclusion: for example, climbing ladders, climbing ropes, climbing walls, as well as a transfer ledge or platform for sliding onto the slide at the top from a wheelchair, or transferring back to a wheelchair at the bottom. Positioning the slide on an existing slope can help with access also (see figure 1).
• Provide slides with diverse widths and heights: Consider providing double width slides, which are more accessible for users that require a caregiver to support a child going down the slide. The double width slides also facilitate social interaction as they can carry two people side-by-side. Consider offering slides at different heights to facilitate graduated challenge and accommodated different sizes (smaller and larger slides) (see figure 2); Tube slides, allowing users to explore light or curved slides, allowing users to explore direction.
• Choose the slide material that works for your climate and needs for inclusion: metal slides might work better than plastic to avoid static, however, can overheat in high temperatures (figure 3). Roller slides are also proposed as another way to reduce static (see figure 4)

Figure 1: providing sliding opportunities on existing or newly built slopes

Figure 1a: example of a slide built on a slope with diverse ways to climb up to the top- steps on one side, with foot holds and ropes also. It is extra wide to allow for more social interaction as well as supporting opportunities for increased physical support from a carer for a child if needed

Figure 1b: example of a snow sleding slope in Calgary, Canada for winter sliding!

Figure 2: examples of different heights and slopes of slides, Austria and Cork.

Figure 3: a community playspace, Calgary centre, Canada, where the metal slide had to be replaced due to hot weather and risk of injury to children

Figure 4: an inclusive playspace, Calgary, Canada

Figure 4a: a roller slide

Figure 4b: access provided by transfer platforms at the top

Play value and Universal Design strategies

• Regular and accessible pathways should lead to all slides in the playgrounds.
• The highest slide should be accessible for all users (consider access routes and transfer stations).
• Include slides at a variety of heights for graduated challenge, and increased play value for speed and acceleration.
• Include different slide types (for example, tube slides, curved slides, spiral slides, straight slides, wave slides, double width slides, slide poles).
• Include slides that allow for individual use and shared use (for example, double width slide).

Access options should be considered. Accessible hand grips and transfer decks at the top of slides. The run out of a slide should be long enough to allow for transfers.