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