| Children love toys. Toys are more than something your | | | | 3. Can the toy be used anywhere? Will a bedridden |
| child plays with, even if the child doesn't realize it. Toys | | | | child be able to use it while lying down? Will a child in a |
| help teach interaction and communication, and with a | | | | wheel chair be able to play with the toy in his or her |
| little imagination, they can transport the child from his or | | | | lap or on a tray? |
| her everyday life into another realm. Toys can open | | | | 4. Does the child like toys that can be used however |
| up endless avenues of learning that could spark an | | | | he or she likes? Is it a game with a specific goal, or |
| interest in a future career or simply provide the | | | | can the child make up his or her own games as he |
| inspiration for children to be greater than they are. | | | | goes along? |
| But what about disabled children? When we think of | | | | 5. Disabled kids want toys that everyone else is |
| children playing with toys, images of happy, healthy | | | | playing with. Is the toy based on a current popular |
| children usually come to mind. We might not consider | | | | movie or book? Is the toy something that everyone |
| the child bound to a wheelchair or one confined to a | | | | else has that the disabled child can have too? |
| bed due to a debilitating disease. These children need | | | | 6. Does the toy allow for self-expression and |
| toys, too. | | | | creativity? |
| Buying toys for disabled children shouldn't be any | | | | 7. How adjustable is the toy? Try to account for |
| different than buying toys for healthy children, but for | | | | height, volume, speed and difficulty. Will the toy grow |
| some reason, the thought of a disabled child | | | | with the child or is the toy for a very narrow age |
| sometimes brings a mental block. You might feel like | | | | range? Does it have the potential as a collectible? Is it |
| you don't know what toy to get a blind child or one | | | | something that the child will come back to repeatedly |
| who is deaf. | | | | or will the child outgrow it quickly? |
| Selecting a toy for disabled children is really not that | | | | 8. Safety is always a consideration whether the child is |
| difficult. All you have to do is try to look at the toy | | | | disabled or not. Take into consideration the child's size |
| from a different perspective. The National Lekotek | | | | and strength, as well as the durability of the toy. Does |
| Center, a non-profit organization, devotes its research | | | | the child have the dexterity to handle small moving |
| to making toys for children with disabilities. Here are a | | | | parts, or do bigger pieces become necessary for the |
| few tips the center has for those looking for toys for | | | | child to manipulate the toy? Can the toy get wet |
| disabled children: | | | | without being ruined? Is the toy easily cleaned? |
| 1. Consider how the toy would appeal to a child on | | | | 9. Is the toy appropriate for the child's developmental |
| more than one level of sensory perception. A toy that | | | | and chronological age? |
| has a unique texture might appeal to a blind child, while | | | | 10. What is the level of interaction between the child |
| one with lights or movement would be wonderful for a | | | | and toy? Is it an active toy, or is it a toy that requires |
| deaf child. | | | | very little effort on the part of the child? Does the toy |
| 2. How user-friendly is the toy? Make sure that the toy | | | | have the potential to encourage social interaction with |
| is not so complicated that a child with a disability will be | | | | other children? |
| frustrated. Think about how many steps the child will | | | | Disabled children are no different from other children. |
| have to go through to activate the toy. Will it work with | | | | These children still like to play, and they still need toys. |
| a simple push of a button, or are there several things | | | | With these tips in mind, you should have no problem |
| the child must first do before the toy works? | | | | finding that special toy for that special child. |