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