Beyond the Edge: Core Boards
Beyond the Edge: Bringing Core Boards into the Heart of Play
Core Boards in Playgrounds
Why Communication Should Be at the Centre — Not the Edge
Core boards are one of the most powerful tools we can introduce into public play spaces. They give children who are non-verbal, autistic, or communication-challenged a way to express needs, feelings, and ideas.
They are not just “nice to have.”
They are essential for inclusion.
Yet in most playgrounds, core boards are placed on the outskirts — on fences, near entrances, or away from the main activity.
That decision deserves to be questioned.
Why Are Core Boards Placed on the Edge?
In many cases, the placement is not intentional exclusion — it is a by-product of how playgrounds are designed.
1. Treated as Signage, Not Interaction
Core boards are often installed like information panels. Designers see them as something to “add on” rather than something to build around.
2. Fear of Damage or Vandalism
Placing boards outside the main play area is sometimes seen as a way to protect them from heavy use. Ironically, this reduces their actual use.
3. Lack of Understanding
Many decision-makers do not fully understand how core boards are used. They assume a child will leave the play activity, go to the board, communicate, then return.
That is not how communication works.
4. Design Convenience
It is easier to attach a board to a fence than to integrate it into play equipment. So it ends up where it is easiest—not where it is most effective.
The Real-World Problem
From lived experience, the issue is clear.
Play is fast, social, and constantly moving.
If a child has to leave the play space to communicate, they are no longer part of the play. The moment is lost. The opportunity is gone.
Communication needs to happen within the play, not outside it.
When core boards sit on the edge, they unintentionally create both separation and safety risks:
The child steps away from the group
Supervision becomes harder as they move outside the main play area
Caregivers may not immediately notice where the child has gone
The child may be closer to exits, pathways, or carparks
The interaction pauses or ends
Inclusion breaks down
This is not just a design failure—it is a safety oversight.
A child should never have to leave a safe, supervised play space in order to communicate.
This is not a design failure—it is a design misunderstanding.
A Better Approach: Bring Communication Into the Play
Core boards should be placed inside the playground, not around it.
They should be:
Part of the equipment
Within reach during play
Positioned where interaction naturally happens
Integration Ideas
Core boards can be incorporated directly into:
Climbing structures
Platforms and towers
Accessible play panels
Ground-level interactive zones
Sensory play areas
Instead of being something a child goes to, they become something a child uses while playing.
This changes everything.
Designing for Real Interaction
When core boards are embedded into play:
A child can point while swinging, climbing, or sitting
Other children can see and respond in real time
Communication becomes social, not isolated
Play becomes inclusive by default
This is what true accessibility looks like.
Solving the “Attention” Barrier
There is another real-world issue that is often overlooked.
Even if a child can communicate using a core board, they still need someone to notice.
In a busy playground, this is not guaranteed.
Introducing an Alert System
A simple but powerful addition is an alert device next to the core board.
This could be:
A drum
A tactile sound panel
A push-activated sound device
The purpose is not noise—it is connection.
If a child wants to communicate but cannot get attention, they can activate the alert.
This:
Signals to caregivers or other children
Creates awareness without needing speech
Supports independence
Reduces frustration
It is a small addition with a significant impact.
Why This Matters
Communication is not separate from play.
It is part of play.
When we place communication tools on the edge, we are saying communication happens outside the experience.
When we place them inside, we are saying communication is part of belonging.
The Shift We Need to Make
We need to move from:
Add-on thinking → integrated design
Edge placement → central inclusion
Passive tools → interactive systems
Core boards should not be an afterthought.
They should be part of the design brief from the beginning.
Final Thought
Accessibility is not just about getting into a playground.
It is about being able to take part once you are there.
Core boards, when properly integrated, do more than support communication—they enable connection, participation, and inclusion in its truest form.