Toys That Work for Children With Special Needs

For most parents, the most feared words when it comes to toys is "some assembly required."   For parents of children with special needs, the struggles with toys go beyond plugging peg A into hole B.   There are all kinds of issues lurking, some more obvious than others.   Is the toy too loud and over stimulating for a child with sensory issues?   Is it still age appropriate to play with typical peers?   Is it sufficiently accessible for hands that lack normative dexterity?

A trip to Toys “R” Us for parents of special needs children can be daunting.    While fighting crowds and the stress of the holidays, you are left to make a judgment on the issues discussed above, among others.   For the faint hearted and stymied, there are always musical selections, but buying music can be rather ordinary.   It does not push the developmental envelope, nor does it require engagement with peers.   After all, toys are fun, but they also serious business when it comes to the emotional and social growth of a child.   Play has been shown to be an essential part of development.

At last, there is an answer for all of those parents, friends and family grappling with the toy dilemma.   Lek-o-tek, the toy lending library, which has it headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, has launched an interactive website to assist in the selection of toys for children with a variety of special needs.   The site is http://www.ableplay.org/.  The purpose of the site is to provide:   

[A] toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs so parents, special educators, therapist and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities.

Maybe now with Ableplay, children with special needs and their families will have one less stressor this holiday season.

Comments

[Ets Tan]

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[Shane]

Thanks for bringing this website to light. I had never heard of it before. Very useful info.

[Christy]

My daughter has Sensory Processing Disorder and I have had good experiences with Discovery Toys. They cater to special needs kids and everything is very safe. From learning to follow directions, to sensory work, to sustained attention work, to interaction with others...the products are made to work these skills in children. Hope this helps! The products are lead free and come with a lifetime guarantee.
Christy

www.discoverytoyslink.com/cparayil