Playgrounds are designed to bring children together. They encourage movement, imagination, and social interaction. For many children, communication during play happens naturally through conversation, laughter, and shared activities.
But not every child communicates in the same way.
Some children are non-verbal. Others may be developing speech, learning a new language, or navigating communication differences related to developmental or sensory needs. In these situations, a simple visual tool can make a meaningful difference.
That is where playground signs such as communication boards come in.
Communication boards use pictures, symbols, and simple words to help children express ideas, needs, and emotions. When placed in playground environments, they can support inclusive play by giving children another way to interact with others.
As more communities prioritize inclusive playground design, playground communication boards are becoming a common and valuable addition to parks, schools, and community recreation spaces.
In Short
Communication boards are visual tools that help children communicate using pictures and symbols. In playgrounds, they support inclusive play by allowing children to express needs, emotions, and activities. Well-designed boards help children interact with caregivers and peers while making playgrounds more welcoming and accessible for everyone.
What Are Communication Boards?
A communication board is a visual communication tool that displays pictures, symbols, and words representing common actions, emotions, and needs. Instead of speaking, children can point to the symbols on the board to communicate.
Communication boards are widely used in classrooms, therapy environments, and assistive communication systems. When adapted for playgrounds, they allow children to express themselves during play without needing spoken language.
A typical playground communication board includes communication board pictures that represent everyday playground experiences. These symbols might show activities such as swing, slide, run, climb, or play, along with common needs like water, snack, bathroom, or help. Many boards also include emotions and social cues such as happy, sad, tired, thank you, please, or share, helping children communicate feelings and interact with others.
Some communication boards also include directional or situational symbols such as stop, go, where, why, danger, or safe, allowing children to ask questions or communicate important information during play.
Together, these images create a simple visual language that helps children communicate ideas, needs, and emotions while interacting with caregivers and peers.
Why Communication Boards Matter in Playgrounds
Playgrounds are social environments. Children interact constantly while playing, exploring, and learning.
For children who experience communication barriers, those social moments can sometimes become challenging.
Communication boards help bridge that gap.
Supporting Non-Verbal Communication
Children who are non-verbal or have limited speech can use communication boards to express needs, feelings, and play ideas. By pointing to pictures or symbols, they can communicate messages such as wanting a turn on the swing, needing help, or asking for water. This gives children a reliable way to participate in conversations and play activities.
Encouraging Social Interaction
Communication boards provide shared symbols that help children initiate play and interact with others. A child might point to a picture representing “play,” “ball,” or “swing” to invite another child to join them. Because the symbols are easy to understand, they create a common visual language between children.
Reducing Frustration
When children cannot easily express what they want or need, frustration can build quickly. Communication boards offer an alternative way to communicate, allowing children to point to pictures that represent their thoughts or needs. This simple interaction can help prevent misunderstandings and make playtime more positive.
Creating Inclusive Play Environments
Inclusive playground design focuses on creating spaces where children of all abilities can participate. Communication boards support that goal by making communication more accessible for children with different language abilities, developmental needs, or communication styles. When these tools are available, more children can engage confidently in the shared experience of play.
Common Communication Board Pictures Used in Playgrounds
One of the most important aspects of an effective communication board is the selection of images.
Clear, recognizable communication board pictures allow children to quickly identify actions or emotions and point to the symbol that represents what they want to communicate.
Common playground communication board pictures include:
| Category | Examples of Communication Board Pictures |
|---|---|
| Activities | Swing, Slide, Climb, Run, Jump, Play, Ball, Sandbox |
| Emotions | Happy, Sad, Angry, Tired, Excited, Scared |
| Requests | Help, Water, Snack, Bathroom, Stop, Rest |
| Social Interaction | Play Together, Share, Wait, My Turn, Your Turn, Friend |
| Questions | Where, Why, What |
| Safety | Safe, Danger, Stop |
| Directions | Go, Come Here, Look |
| Polite Words | Please, Thank You |
These images create a visual vocabulary that children can use during play. And, different playgrounds may customize their communication boards with symbols that reflect specific equipment, activities, or community needs.
Designing an Effective Playground Communication Board
Designing a communication board for a playground requires careful consideration of both usability and durability. The board should be easy for children to understand and interact with while also being able to withstand outdoor conditions and frequent public use.
Clear and Recognizable Symbols
Images should be simple, highly recognizable, and culturally neutral so children can understand them quickly. Clear icons help children identify the symbol they need without confusion, even in a busy playground environment.
Logical Layout
Organizing images into groups helps children locate symbols more easily. Categories such as activities, emotions, and requests allow children to scan the board quickly and find the picture that represents what they want to communicate.
Accessible Placement
Boards should be installed at a height that allows children of different ages and abilities to interact with them. Placing the board near play structures or gathering areas also encourages children to use it naturally during play.
Durable Materials
Playground signage must withstand sun exposure, moisture, temperature changes, and constant public use. Materials designed specifically for outdoor environments help protect graphics from fading, peeling, and weather damage.
Our Pannier team manufactures communication boards using durable outdoor panels engineered for long-term performance. These materials help maintain clear visuals and vibrant color even after years of exposure.
Many playground communication boards are also part of larger playground signage systems, which may include entrance signs, rules signage, and other information panels.
Communication Boards and the Future of Inclusive Playgrounds
Communities are increasingly recognizing the importance of designing public spaces that welcome everyone. Parks and school playgrounds are evolving to include features that support children with a wide range of abilities, communication styles, and developmental needs.
Inclusive playgrounds often incorporate a combination of design elements, including:
- Accessible play equipment that can be used by children with different mobility needs
- Sensory play features that engage touch, sound, and movement
- Clear wayfinding and signage that help visitors navigate the space
- Communication tools that allow children to express themselves during play
Communication boards are a simple but powerful addition to these environments.
By providing visual ways to express needs, emotions, and ideas, communication boards help children interact with caregivers, teachers, and peers in a shared visual language. A child might point to a picture to ask for help, express how they feel, or invite another child to play.
These small moments of communication can have a big impact. When children are able to express themselves more easily:
- social interaction becomes more natural
- frustration is reduced
- play becomes more collaborative
- children gain confidence in shared environments
As communities continue to prioritize inclusive playground design, communication boards are becoming a valuable feature in parks, schools, and recreation spaces across the country.
And when children can communicate more easily, playgrounds become more welcoming, more engaging, and more joyful for everyone who visits.
Bringing Communication Boards to Life in Real Playgrounds
Designing an effective playground communication board requires more than selecting the right symbols. The board must be easy for children to understand, accessible within the play environment, and durable enough to withstand years of outdoor exposure.
Pannier has decades of experience designing and manufacturing outdoor signage for parks, schools, and public spaces. Our team works closely with communities to develop playground communication boards that combine clear visual communication with materials engineered for long-term performance.
Because communication boards are installed outdoors and used frequently by children, durability is essential. Pannier panels are manufactured using Fiberglass Embedded and Gel Coat Laminate construction, which helps protect graphics from fading, peeling, and weather exposure. This ensures the symbols and communication board pictures remain clear and easy to recognize over time.
Our in-house team handles graphic design, structural design, panel manufacturing, and shipping, allowing us to maintain quality and consistency throughout the entire process. Communities can choose from standard layouts or work with our designers to create custom communication boards tailored to their playground.
Communication boards are often part of a larger signage system that helps guide and inform visitors. These systems may include playground entrance signs, rules signage, and wayfinding panels designed to support a safe and welcoming environment.
Example: Dream Park Playground Communication Board in Fort Worth
One example of a Pannier communication board in action can be found at Dream Park Playground in Fort Worth, Texas, where we installed a playground communication board to help support inclusive play. The board features a grid of colorful communication board pictures representing common playground activities, emotions, and requests.
Children visiting the playground can point to symbols such as play, swing, help, happy, or my turn to communicate with caregivers and other children. By providing these visual prompts within the play environment, the board helps create more opportunities for interaction and shared play.
Like many successful playground communication boards, the Dream Park installation demonstrates how clear symbols, thoughtful layout, and durable outdoor materials can work together to make playgrounds more welcoming and accessible for children of all abilities.
Key Takeaways
- Communication boards use pictures and symbols to help children express ideas and needs.
- Playground communication boards support inclusive play by helping children interact with peers and caregivers.
- Common communication board pictures represent activities, emotions, requests, and social interactions.
- Durable materials are important for communication boards installed in outdoor playground environments.
- Communication boards are often part of larger playground signage systems that help guide and inform visitors.
FAQs About Communication Boards
What is a communication board?
A communication board is a visual communication tool that uses pictures and symbols to help people express ideas, needs, or emotions. In playground environments, these boards allow children to point to images that represent activities, feelings, or requests.
What pictures are used on communication boards?
Common communication board pictures include playground activities such as swing, slide, or climb, as well as emotions and requests like happy, help, or stop. These images create a simple visual language that children can use during play.
Where should playground communication boards be installed?
Communication boards are typically placed near playground entrances, play structures, or gathering areas where children interact. Installing the board at an accessible height helps ensure children can approach and use it easily.
Are communication boards only for non-verbal children?
No. While communication boards are especially helpful for non-verbal children, they can benefit many others as well. Children who are learning language, experiencing speech delays, or speaking different languages may also use the symbols to communicate.
What is the difference between children’s communication boards and adult communication boards?
Children’s communication boards are typically designed around everyday activities, emotions, and requests that occur during play and learning. They often include communication board pictures representing playground activities such as swing, slide, or play, along with basic needs like help, water, or bathroom. The symbols are usually colorful, simple, and easy for young children to recognize.
Adult communication boards are often used in medical, therapy, or caregiving environments and may include more complex vocabulary. These boards can contain larger sets of words, phrases, or symbols designed to support detailed communication about health, needs, or daily routines.
How durable are outdoor communication boards?
Outdoor communication boards are designed to withstand sun exposure, moisture, and frequent public use. High-quality playground signage uses durable panel materials that protect graphics from fading and weather damage.