Many playgrounds unsuitable for children with autism
Playgrounds often fail to accommodate children with autism, according to researchers Carolien Rieffe and colleagues. For Autism Week, they have published an essay offering practical advice on how to make all children feel safe and welcome.
Many schoolyards are open spaces dominated by paving, says Carolien Rieffe: ‘This makes them completely unsuitable for children with autism and many other children as well. Invisible barriers – like poor acoustics or the fear of being hit by a ball –often lead autistic children to prefer staying indoors during breaks.’ Rieffe, a developmental psychologist, and her colleague, architect Magda Mostafa, argue that playground design should cater to children with diverse needs and abilities, fostering a sense of safety and belonging.
Rethinking schoolyard architecture
Mostafa, an world-renowned architect, advocates for autism-friendly design, guided by the principle of ‘availability’. Speaking about her approach, Mostafa explains: ‘Availability means that every child has the freedom to choose how to use the playground. It should be a space that any child can make their own, suited to their unique needs and preferences.’ Such a playground would feature plenty of greenery and clearly defined areas – like a football zone shielded by plants, says Rieffe. There should also be quiet spots for sitting, relaxing or chatting, essential components of an autism-friendly playground. Mostafa, affiliated with the American University in Cairo, has joined Rieffe’s research team for the NWA project ‘Building 4 Belonging’.
Green invitation to explore
Co-author Maaike de Vos, a playground designer and mother of a daughter with autism, shares her experience of transforming a schoolyard over five years. Throughout the process, she involved ‘child ambassadors’ at every stage, from planning to selecting materials and creating green spaces where children can touch, smell, and even taste the plants. ‘Lamb’s ear and cola plant are especially popular – a green invitation to explore’, says De Vos. Rieffe and her team are using sensor data to study these and other playgrounds, analysing where children prefer to play and where autistic children spend their breaks.
Freedom and autonomy
‘In our essay, we discuss the fundamental principles for designing “fair” playgrounds where all children – autistic or not – can feel safe, thrive and experience a sense of freedom and autonomy’, Rieffe concludes.
Rieffe, C., Veiga, G., de Vos, M., Mohammadi, M., & Mostafa, M. (2025). Het belang van vrij spelen; Hoe nodig je kinderen met autisme uit. Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme, 24 (1), 31-43
2025: Autismeweek | World Autism Awareness Day
29 March - 5 April 2025: Dutch Association for Autism (NVA) Autism Week – Creating Space for Autism, Autismeweek: Ruimte voor autisme
2 April: United Nations World Autism Awareness Day