Toys for Special Needs Children
I know I said that the Blog theme this week would be Homework, but this information and Web site, AblePlay.org, recently came to my Inbox and I HAD to share it with you. It’s timely and valuable information.
From Chris Coleman at AblePlay.org: Holiday time is exciting for every child, but it can be tricky for parents, grandparents and friends, selecting toys for differently-abled children. Afraid of selecting the “wrong” toys, many parents, families and friends of special needs children end up placing socks and pajamas in those brightly colored boxes, instead of what kids really want – toys and games.
Like all children, kids with disabilities want to have fun. And, parents want to make sure that they’re buying the best, and most appropriate, toys for that child. So how you do you begin? “The first step is to look at what your child can do and what skills you want your child to use or practice. Think about skills such as fine motor, gross motor, language, or reading,” says Diana Nielander, Executive Director for the National Lekotek Center. “The key to choosing a successful toy is understanding your child’s abilities AND the features of the toys.”
In order to help parents learn about the “hidden” features of toys, they recently launched www.ableplay.org, a free website designed to help parents make the best match between the toys and their children. On the site, you can actually purchase toys that have been independently evaluated and rated by Lekotek’s trained therapeutic play experts.
I particularly liked the ability to find toys and gifts specific to the child’s needs. Select from the following lists to narrow your search:
• General disability category (e.g. physical, sensory, communicative, cognitive)
• Specific disability (from ADHD and Autism to Sensory Integration and Spina Bifida)
• Product category (e.g. arts and crafts, educational, and outdoor play)
• Age range
• Brand
• Product Name.
Visit the site often as they are continually adding new products.
Tomorrow on the Blog: Top Ten Tips for Choosing Toys for Children with Disabilities. (Then we'll go back to Homework!)
