Next Generation Playground

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Elgin, IL
Next Generation Playground

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Next Generation Playground, Nonprofit Organization, 847 S. Randall Road, Elgin, IL.

Next Generation Playground, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides a safe, inclusive space for children of all abilities to explore, learn, and grow, while offering families access to resources, support, and community connections.

10/15/2026

Trunk-or-treat, sensory-friendly style! 🎃

We're proud to join My Recess Therapy and Rising Lights Project and our community partners for their annual sensory & allergy friendly inclusive Trunk-or-Treat, and we'd love for your family to come too.

🗓️ Saturday, October 24, 11am–1pm
📍 Elburn Metra Train Station (Elburn, IL)
💛 Free and family-friendly

Expect sensory and allergy-friendly treats, activities, crafts, and more. Come as you are, costume or not!

10/14/2026

Some weeks the win is a costume that actually got worn. Some weeks it's making it through a school Halloween party without a meltdown — theirs or yours. Both count. 💛

Tell us about a small win from this week. We'd love to celebrate it with you.

10/12/2026

It's ADHD and AAC Awareness Month, and a good moment to explain what actually makes Next Generation Playground different: every program we run is therapist-led — not therapist-adjacent.
At Kids Klub, that means licensed therapists design each session themselves. They're given the room to lead it their way — structured enough to build real skills, playful enough that it never feels like therapy to the kids in it. Our speech therapists support every way a child communicates, including AAC, so no one has to talk to take part.
We build the same thinking into our events. At the Color Outside the Lines 5K, we keep announcements and music at a lower volume, skip sudden air horns or sirens, and set up a calming area away from the crowd — so a child who needs a quieter minute can take one without missing the day.
Different sensory needs, same event. That's the standard, every time.

10/10/2026

Trick-or-treating goes smoother with a plan built ahead of time:
🗺️ Walk (or drive) the route in daylight first, so nothing's a surprise at night
📖 A simple social story or visual schedule of what happens, in order
🙅 A practiced "no thank you" (spoken, signed, or on their AAC device) for skipping a house or a costume that's too much
⏱️ A clear, agreed-on end time before you leave the house

Using AAC? Add "trick or treat," "thank you," and "all done" to their device or picture board ahead of time. 💬

What's one thing you always plan ahead of Halloween night?

10/08/2026

Costume shopping? A few sensory-friendly options families point us to:
🧵 Tagless, seamless costumes — or everyday soft clothes adapted into one
🎭 Face-paint alternatives, like clip-on ears, hats, and props over anything that touches skin
👟 Costumes worn over regular clothes, so texture and fit stay familiar underneath

Have a costume hack that's worked for your kiddo? Add it below — we're building out this list all month.

10/06/2026

October is also AAC Awareness Month! 💬 AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) means any way of communicating besides speech: pictures, signs, gestures, letter boards, or a talker device.

For a lot of kids, it's how they tell us what they want, what's too much, and what makes them laugh. Every one of those ways is real communication.

How does your kiddo tell you what they need? We'd love to hear it below.

10/04/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to our Executive Director, Natalie! 🎉

Today we’re celebrating someone who brings so much heart, dedication, and thoughtfulness to Next Generation Playground.

Natalie's passion for creating a more inclusive and understanding world for children and families shines through in everything she does. As both a leader and a mom, she brings such a personal connection to our mission, along with so much creativity and care behind the scenes.

We hope today reminds you just how appreciated you are. Thank you for believing in our mission, helping NGP continue to grow, and being such an important part of our team.

Please help us wish Natalie a very Happy Birthday! 🎂🎈💐

We hope your day is filled with all the happiness you deserve!

10/03/2026

Planning a pumpkin patch or orchard trip? A few things that help:
🌾 Go early or on a weekday for a smaller, quieter crowd
🎧 Bring ear defenders for hayrides, animals, and generators
🧦 Let your child skip the hay maze if the texture's too much — the wagon ride still counts as the outing
🥧 Pack a familiar snack in case the food stand line gets long

What's your family's go-to fall outing?

10/01/2026

Hello, October! 🎃 This month carries extra meaning for us — it's ADHD Awareness Month, and Down Syndrome Awareness Month too, both close to home for so many families in this community. We're still finalizing what fall programming looks like, so all month we'll keep sharing what we can: sensory-friendly Halloween tips, resources, and the everyday wins that don't wait for a confirmed schedule.

Glad you're here for it. 💛

Address

847 S. Randall Road
Elgin, IL
60123

Website

https://playnextgeneration.com/

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