NJ Swingsets
$ 1,999.00
The Playground Equipment Freestanding Nonverbal Communication Sign is a two-sided picture board on its own posts. One side has 24 symbols a kid can point to, like WANT, HELP, MY TURN and BATHROOM. Walk around to the back and it asks one question: How are you feeling?
BEST FOR: School playgrounds, parks and daycares with kids who are non-speaking, kids who shut down when recess gets loud, and little ones who don't have the words yet.
The front is the talking side. I / ME, YOU, WANT, LIKE, DISLIKE, YES and NO cover most of what a 4-year-old is trying to tell you anyway. Then come the question words (WHERE, WHY, WHEN, WHAT), plus LOOK, UP, MORE, MY TURN and ALL DONE.
Three squares I didn't expect: LOUD, QUIET and HEADPHONES. A playground at recess is a noisy place, and some kids hit their limit. Pointing at HEADPHONES is a lot easier than explaining that. LOST and HURT are on there too, and those are the two I'd want any kid to be able to say.
Around back is a feelings check-in. Under the question HOW ARE YOU FEELING? there are 12 faces and pictures: angry, sad, happy, excited, tired, sick, silly, nervous, hungry, thirsty, hot and cold. Along the bottom it says GREAT JOB CHECKING IN! (A nice touch. Kids like hearing they did it right.)
We also carry the Sports Play Communication Panel, which fits more than 100 pictures, words, numbers and symbols onto one board, including playground words like swing and slide. The Playground Equipment Freestanding Nonverbal Communication Sign goes the other way. It has 36 pictures total across two sides, so there's a lot less to scan when a kid is upset and in a hurry.
Neither one is the "right" answer. If your kids already use a picture system at school, the bigger board gives them more to say. For younger kids, or kids who are new to pointing at pictures, 36 is plenty.
Side note: Playground Equipment doesn't publish a size for this sign. If you've got a tight spot in mind, call us at 201-670-4000 and I'll get the measurements before you order.
It sits with our other park and playground signs. The Playground Equipment Double-Sided Safety and Welcome Sign covers the welcome message and the playground rules.
Shipping and professional installation are quoted separately. Contact NJ Swingsets & Playgrounds for a complete quote including delivery and installation. We are located in Midland Park, NJ and provide installation services in New Jersey, parts of New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Nationwide shipping available.