Like all children, our special kids love to have fun. Hearing their giggles and laughter uplifts us- parents, caregivers, and even their teachers. Choosing toys special needs children will love should be prioritized, especially if they are recommended by therapists.
Playing the right toys, aside from giving them fun, promotes the enhancement of social skills and development of their imagination and creativity, as well as improvement of their fine and gross motor skills.
More so, learning the basic concepts like colors, shapes and numbers would be benefits, as well.
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Let us look at some of these toys, shall we?
Toys that promote learning
I recently read a post from a behavior analyst who said that her daily life consists of treating children with autism spectrum disorders and when she gets home, she implements similar practices with her own children. She uses the same toys for the same reasons.
She believes that all kids want to have fun while they are learning.
Thus, parents need to find developmentally appropriate toys for their kids, whether special or not, to create opportunities for learning while playing.
For our special kids though, because they have delayed mental development, we have to choose toys which are recommended below their chronological age.
We have to consider their mental development. For example, a 10-year-old child with Down syndrome with a mental age of 4-5 years, would enjoy playing a toy for a 5-year old, because a toy for a 10-year-old might be too advanced for him. Toys about numbers for a 5-year old would be identification only of the numbers, or simple counting, but toys for a 10-year-old would be involved with addition, subtraction, or easy multiplication and division.
Here are some toys that experts suggest
1.Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Match and Build Soft BLOCKS SET ( click the image to see the price )
- These blocks are washable, soft and lightweight, thus ideal for babies, toddlers and older kids with special needs, for easy manipulation and lifting.
- Kids will learn to identify numbers, animals, and shapes.
- Skills that they develop include sensory, fine motor, logical, creative, linguistic, communication, and self-esteem.
2. PUZZLES ( click the image to see the price )
- Our special kids need big puzzles which are extra thick and with large knobs for easier grip.
- These puzzles enhance their imagination and creativity.
- Because of delayed mental development, our special kids need to play with simple puzzles so their minds can solve easy problems of identifying shapes and images.
- Playing with puzzles also develop their fine motor skills, socialization and hand-eye coordination.
3. SPEAK TO ME ( click the image to see the price )
- For kids with autism, toys that promote interaction like this laptop, that encourages a verbal reply when they push a button, are suitable.
- Various categories include letters, numbers, farm animals and musical instruments.
- The games within also enhances imagination, creativity and develops intelligence.
Toys that calm anxiety and improve behavior
Children with emotional and behavioral disorders like ADHD and Autism, need to balance fun and calm their anxiety while playing or just sitting down, maybe in a doctor’s office waiting impatiently for his turn.
Usually, they thrive on holding on to something familiar to them like a favorite toy or a calming thing like a pillow.
1. SENSORY RING and FIDGET TOY ( Click the image to see the price )
- These soft, flexible rings and rubber spikes reduce stress and anxiety by providing tactile stimulation to calm a racing mind and to bring restless hands busy with something, while doing writing in school or at home.
- If your kids have short attention span, these bracelets sensory toys bring focus, attention and relaxation, so they are more attentive in school or even at home while doing homework.
2. SOOTHING RAIN TUBE ( Click the image to see the price )
- It is perfect for highly visual kids.
- When this 8-inch tube is turned over, a cascade of multi-colored beads fall that creates a soothing sound of rain
- It diverts attention from meltdowns and encourages self-soothing.
- The tube can also be shaken or rolled over for more sensory fun!
3. TRANQUIL TURTLE or FROG ( Click the image to buy )
- The soft lights and comforting sound that create a calming underwater effect helps the kids to relax and have a good sleep.
- Kids are soothed by the visual effects which with the press of a button, the awesome underwater effects ( waves ) are projected to the ceiling.
- The brightness of the light can be easily adjusted.
- It needs 3 AA batteries and has automatic shut off feature if your child has fallen asleep.
Toys that Improve Kids’ Fine and Gross Motor Skills
1. GYMNIC HOP BALL ( click the image to see the price )
- These hop balls are made of heavy-duty yet soft vinyl latex-free material for long-lasting use.
- Inflation by a hand or foot pump needs to be done by grown-ups.
- They are great for exercise indoors and outdoors on smooth surfaces.
- Our special kids will develop their body coordination, balance, and lymph circulation .
- They come with a hand grip safety handle.
2. MAGNETIC NUMBER MAZE ( click the image to see the price )
- Your special child will enjoy and develop fine motor skills as he guides little red balls with a magnetic pole.
- It develops small muscles in the child’s hand to be able to hold the pencil properly for better writing skills.
- This is also a learning tool for numbers and counting.
- Hand-eye coordination is also developed as the child guides the balls.
3. CRASH PAD ( click the image to see the price )
- It is filled with a long lasting foam with heavy duty stitching, thus a safe place for special kids to calm down and relax by sitting or lying down.
- Children will enjoy crashing, jumping, exploring or cuddling, thus developing their gross motor skills and balance.
- It can be used with a weighted blanket to provide relaxation and comfort.
- Suitable for kids up to 150 pounds
[amazon fields=”B07S4FTP8W” value=”thumb”]
Parents and caregivers must play with their kids
Your presence in your special child’s activities will help him a lot to improve his social and cognitive skills.
Deep trust in you will be developed as well, as you regularly play with your special child.
Likewise, while playing with him, you are able to observe your child up close on how he interacts and how fast he is learning.
Remember, playing is the best form of bonding for you and your kid.
You will both have fun and it will be a stress reliever for you, too.
Playtime with a partner needs to be encouraged
There are various benefits if your special child is allowed to play with you and others.
As much as possible, expose your child to a playmate to promote engagement and interaction.
Various studies recently have shown that interactive experiences actually change the physical structure of the brain.
“We now have evidence from neuro-imaging studies (e.g., MRI, PET, and SPECT scans) that new neuro-pathways are created and connections among neurons are enhanced when the brain is stimulated,” explains Dr. Ron Savage, Executive Vice President of the North American Brain Injury Society and expert on neuro-developmental disabilities.
Based on these studies, special needs products and toys are made to improve motor skills, mobility, sensory processing and communication skills.
These specialized items can help children enhance their basic abilities while also soothing their anxiety and improving behavior.
Playtime provides both fun and opportunity for learning
Play therefore, is the best stimulation for children, especially when children are enjoying their toys and games, and parents and caregivers are devoted to helping them learn.
Studies have proven that loving relationships, meaningful toys, and time engaging in play together are the best ways to open avenues for our special kids to grow up and be the best that they can be.
So my dear parents and caregivers, please choose wisely toys special needs children will love and recommended by experts.
It will be remarkable to witness the joy of your child while playing and in turn, his brain is stimulated to develop with added neurons for more wisdom.
Originally published: July 30, 2018 Updated: June 4, 2020
How do you choose toys for your special child? Do you observe that your kid learns while having fun? What is his favorite toy?
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Toys, like play itself, serve multiple purposes in both humans and animals. Toys promote children´s cognitive development by stimulating their concentration and memory skills (board games) and giving them the ability to solve problems creatively, which is key to their future autonomy. They aid in the development of physical and mental skills which are necessary in later life.
Hi Philebur,
Yes, toys have lots of benefits.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Wow, what an insightful article you have written here! While I do not personally have a need for such information, after reading your article, I can definitely see how this info would be quite helpful to those parents and caregivers who do. When you consider just how important learning is, as early as possible for non-special-needs children, I can only imagine its importance for those with special needs. Great work.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your nice words.
God bless,
Marita
I agree with you, toys shouldn’t just be about fun especially for kids that need special help, they should also be about educating and helping them communicate with other kids and everyone else and fortunately toys are the best way to help any kid get that.
Great tips here, I love the ideas and most of all the crash pads for kids, they are a great help but I’m sure they also go with the age of the child in question.
Hi Donny,
Basically parents need to buy toys that are endorsed by therapists so the benefits are maximized, but of course they are fun for their special kids, as well.
Yes, the crash pads are really enjoyable, not really age specific but parents need to supervise the kids especially if they are very young mentally.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers,
Marita
These are not only great learning tools for special needs children, but also any children and adults as well, especially puzzles. This is a very informative post that I enjoyed reading, though I do have a question that I’m hoping you can answer.
Are these toys more effective for certain disorders than others? Or are these toys good for any child suffering from many different neurological disorders?
These toys are okey for any type of kids with neurological disorder, you just have to consider the mental age and find the appropriate toy.
They are not specific for certain disorders, so aside from mental age, you also have to consider their needs, like are they hyperactive and cannot focus, then you have to offer toys that give them engagement.
Thanks for passing by.
Marita
You know I always say this, the special needs kids are smarter than us. They can do all these wonderful things but they just can’t communicate to us. I think i stand corrected. My eldest sister was diagnosed with Down syndrome since birth becuase our mom contracted a German measle. She is still the smartest, people said she has a mind of a 5 year old but she can still surprise us with her capabilities from time to time. Unfortunately, these toys won’t work on my sister but they will be a great donation gift for the kids in need. It will be the best Christmas gift that I can donate to the needs this year. Thank you for this wonderful list. Happy holidays
Of course, the special needs kids can always outsmart us in many ways, whatever their mental age is.
I also had a sister with Down syndrome, unfortunately she passed away 4 years ago. She also had a mental age of 5 and always loved playing the toys of her younger nieces and nephews.
Yes, these toys will be useful and appreciated by all kids, especially those with special needs.
Enjoy your holidays!
Marita
This is a great post and it was very informative. That is great that these types of toys promote imagination and creativity. Those are two traits that benefits everybody. The Crash Pad looks like a great toy for children to have to develop their motorskills and balance. Sooner or later all children will fall or tumble. That certainly was the case for me in my youth when I was learning how to balance on a bicycle. I fell off more times that I could remember. I fully agree with what you said about parents and caregivers being present. That is a very important for a child’s development especially in their informative years.
Hi Kenny,
Truly, toys for our special kids need to be educational and promote creativity, as well as develop their motor and sensory skills.
Lots of parents like the crash pad, myself included, because aside from giving joy to the kids, jumping is a good exercise, and their balance and motor skills will be enhanced.
Thanks for passing by.
Marita
Hi Marita,
you gave really useful tips and advices here! I was once at my friend’s place when she guarded a child with special needs. The kid was 8 years old than and was pretty calm and also happy. He smiled a lot actually. I noticed that she gave him some stuffed geometrical toys – similar to that you put in #1 part. She had soft bed so it was useful, because the kid jumped on it (I think that ‘Crash pad’ is a great option, cause all the kids love to jump, especially on bed and something similar to that).It was a different experience for me, but not to much because they are lovable and people should respect them – to be gentle when they are young but also when they grow up.
I watched tv show ‘What would you do’ with John Quinones once, and they set up a guy with special needs to work in the mall – his job was to put stuff into bags. When the lady who was also an actor, deliberately commented with owful and ofensive words, the people protected the guy and stood up agains the ‘lady actor’. I was so glad to see that people care and treat them as equals. It is very important to give them ‘wind in the back’, to make them feel accepted and to let them know that they are good, smart and beautiful persons.
Of course, also proper education and games (toys) just like the ones you listed in your post, are important.
Thank you for sharing this info,
Best wishes,
Strahinja
Hi Strahinja,
I’m happy to learn that you had first hand experience in dealing with a child with special needs, as well, you have watched that show wherein it was shown that these kids need to be accepted and cared just like normal persons.
With proper support, including providing them with toys that suit their needs, these children will grow up and be the best that they can be, eventually will be helpful citizens, just like the one in the TV show.
Cheers,
Marita
Hi,
I think some parents take a short cut on parenting and resorts to tablets and ipads to make their kids “behave”. I am wondering if we can give do those to special needs kids.
Also, I know most parents would love to see their kids with special need interact with other kids of their same age. In those cases, I am afraid that parents may ask their kids to use toys appropriate to their actual age so others will not make fun of them. What is your advice on that?
Regards,
John Greg
Hi John,
Tablets and ipads could be useful to our special kids because it will somehow enhance their communication skills, but there should be a limit to their use, and parents need to buy educational toys that will promote creativity and enhance their imagination, like puzzles, which should be offered more.
I always emphasize that toys for these kids should be appropriate for their mental age because they will not be able to cope and understand how they work if given toys for their actual age. It’s good to let them play with kids their age as long as those kids understand their incapacities, so parents and caregivers need to guide them at first.
Thanks for reading!
Marita
From my experience I can tell you that the sought of toys we give children to play with really matters. Like you said, kids like to learn as they are having fun and knowing the right type of toy to give to your kid really matters.
I would like to ask a question. I don’t know why some parents like to give their kids action figures. I don’t know how that is going to help with the kids learning. Do you maybe have an idea why parents do this because I have no idea why they do.
Hi Jay,
I believe it is their kid’s choice to ask for those action figure toys, most probably because they see them on TV , movies, or on magazines/flyers.
In a way, kids learn because they start to imitate these superheroes and learn the values that they impart, such as helping those in need.
For special needs kids, parents need to give them toys appropriate for their mental age, so even if the child is already 12, but mental age is only 4-5, those action figures could still be helpful to them, too.
Cheers,
Marita
What a great article. My grandson who we raise has very severe ADHD as a result of drug use by his mom when she was pregnant.
Few of the best toys we have figured for him is Fidget spinners, lego and playing checkers. Of course we do allow a little bit of screen time but not much.
I love some of the ideas you have portrayed here and you can bet we will try a few of them.
Once again thank you for a great article that Im sure many people can use.
Dale
Hi Dale,
Your grandson is lucky to have you who understands what toys to give him so he will maximize his learning and help him in his sensory needs. With proper support, he will grow up and be the best that he can be.
Thanks for reading!
Marita
These are all great gift ideas for toys for special needs kids. I have a special needs niece who is the sweetest little girl. I have been looking for some good Christmas gift ideas, and looks like I have found the right page! I like the sensory ring and fidget toy. What age group do you think this toys is recommend for?
Happy to know that you appreciate and love your special needs niece for what she is.
Those sensory rings and fidget toys can be helpful at any age, as long as you want them to focus, relax and en-gage in whatever they are doing, such as when you read to them or let them do some writing activities.
Hugs to your niece!
Marita
I agree that toys should promote learning, especially for children with disabilities. They need to adapt much more because of their special needs. One of our neighbours has a 10 year old girl who has some disabilities. It is hard to go to school for her and she needs special treatment all the time. When we look toys for her for various occasions it is not always easy to find the proper ones. Lately we were able to find some toys as described in your 3rd chapter ‘speak to me’. We saw the result that these toys are more effective and helpful.
I find entertaining using hop balls because you can play together with kids. And it is a good mood for you and for your kids.
I would definitely want to try a crash pad. Is it durable and strong? Because we do like quality stuff and items which last a little longer. Of course, kids have a variety of toys to play with and they always want to get new toys a lot. But toys like crash pad may be good for a longer term and usage.
Thank You for an inspiring post and information which will be very useful.
Regards
Tomas
Hi Tomas,
I’m happy that you value toys that promote learning because learning while playing will not be boring at all for our special kids.
Playing with them or looking for the caregiver or other kids to play with them is also very helpful for them to enjoy more and learn from each other.
Yes, this crash pad is durable and strong and kids have lots of fun jumping on it , even with a friend. It develops their motor skills and balance, as well.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
I use to work with children with emotional disturbing pasts and I am amazed on how similar the chronological aging is the same for autistic kids when it comes to learning. In my experience of working with kids with a delayed response or even growth taught me so much patience when trying to just communicate let alone teach them anything. They appreciate just the little gestures. Colors really do play a part in toys and food for special needs children. I love how different each toys is and describes what unique function it offers because that is important as well to know why these toys are that much more helpful with slower functioning kids.
Hi Kira,
I would say you are lucky to have worked with children who had some psychological issues in the past, because their vulnerability made them rely more on your care as much as they needed support.
I’m sure you have learned a lot from them as well, like becoming more patient and giving more love and support without thinking of accepting something in return.
That was an experience that you will always treasure.
Likewise, I do agree when you said that colors are important in choosing their toys because these special kids of course do enjoy colorful stuff because it brightens their day.
Thanks sharing your experiences.
God bless,
Marita
Playing with your children strengthens the bond that you share with them, although this is important for any child it is so much more important for a special needs child. It is great for a child to have a toy that comforts them and keeps them busy. Keeping them active and engaged in what they are doing helps to calm them. I like the sensory ring and fidget toy.
Hi Shy,
Special needs kids especially those who are quite anxious, like those with autism spectrum disorder really benefits from toys that have calming effect like the sensory rings and fidget toys that you mentioned.
These are recommended by therapists so they are very helpful.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Thank you for sharing with s this helpful post on Toys for specials needs children.In many countries ,people don’t take care about children with special needs but it is very important that people understand that those children are just part of our families and must be treated like normal children .
In my village,many parents would feel ashamed to give birth to a kid with special needs, they could try to hide the kid from the society so that people never found about that kid.That was awful no?But these days our government has set rules that kids with special needs must be treated like other kids and they are living normal life.
They are studying together with normal children ,playing like others and that’s a fantastic improvement .
It is great that there are toys which are made just for them, thi shows how those children are loved by the society.
Hi Julienne,
Sorry to hear stories about parents in your place who feel embarrassed giving birth to kids with special needs. But thankful as well that the government is doing their best to let them be cared well so they live as normal as possible and learn to be independent in the future.
Government support to these kids are very crucial and well appreciated by families.
After all, as you said, our children with special needs deserve the love and support of everyone.
Cheers,
Marita
This is very informative and interesting. I love the idea of thinking through what toys or learning styles should be used with kids with special needs. And the examples here are very good!
Is there any information on technologies that can help or not help these kids in their development? Like in regards to computers and video games or whatever?
Great article!
Hi Kory,
Technologies are also helpful, like if the kids watch video Nursery rhymes or kid’s TV shows, but their time needs to be limited for health reasons.
Video games, as well, for the older kids or those with mild mental incapacities, as long as they are guided and limited for at most 2 hours a day.
I would still mostly suggest toys that are organic; that enhance their creative minds and thereby let them learn through them , such as puzzles.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Dear Marita,
Wow! I love your website and your story. What you do is so beautiful!
I love the toy selection you have here. I totally agree that some of them can be enjoyed by all children and that parents should play with their children. My husband and I have so much fun playing too.
I’m sure my son would LOVE the crash pad. And so would I, most likely! 😉
Thank you so much for your beautiful work.
May you be blessed,
Nathalie
Hi Nathalie,
Indeed, playing with our kids, especially if they have special needs, promote bonding and lots of happy time together. We are also able to observe up close how they react to the toys and how they learn from them, and we are able to guide them so their joy and learning are maximized.
Yes, the crash pad is a good choice, your son will squeal with delight playing and jumping in it.
Thanks for the beautiful comments.
Marita
What a great website. With the holiday shopping season underway, I am glad I found this. I like to get something for co workers kids, and I know a few have kids on the autistic spectrum. Not having a lot of experience myself, I definitely need some guidance.
I’m going to get a frew of those stretchy dino wraps, I think anybody can enjoy that as a gift!
Hi James,
I agree, those stretchy dino wraps will be a big hit for the kids.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
In looking over the list of recommended toys, I find that most of them are first and foremost, safe! Soft, cushiony toys that wouldn’t hurt, most of them, if thrown. Then I see that they have tactile benefits or educational benefits, and of course blocks are a staple for the development of every child. I love your site – it’s a wonderful resource – and I just wanted to pop in and thank you.
Hi Babsie,
These toys are recommended by therapists for special needs kids and are very safe and educational, or promote enhancement of their skills.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Hello there. Thank you for sharing this awesome toys special needs children will love. Toys these days are fun, educational and would make our kids smart. Indeed parents and guidance feel inner joy and happiness when their kids are happy. I love puzzles. Fun and kinda tricky to play them too. These recommendations are good to go.
Thanks Barry for dropping by.
Indeed we parents need to think real hard when buying toys for our kids, be they special or not, so they get the best, for them not only to enjoy but be educated as well.
Puzzles are real fun, and especially for children with special needs, it would be a big accomplishment for them when they fit together all the pieces.
Cheers,
Marita
Hi Marita,
What a fantastic site and resource you have here for parents and carers of children with special needs. My nephew is autistic and he is so amazing I love him to bits. We found that he loved toys and other objects that were very sensory in nature. He would have loved the sensory rings you have on this site. He used to like a toy we had that had lots of changing colours but really didn’t like very noisy or noise repetitive toys.
Have a great day, Again great site and resource.
Emma
Hi Emma,
Glad to know that you have a first hand experience with your nephew who is autistic and observed how he loved certain toys that address his sensory needs. He didn’t like noisy or loud toys because it triggers meltdowns.
Thanks for your nice comments. I’d like to offer as much great information to parents and caregivers of special needs children to help them give the best to their kids.
Enjoy your day.
Marita
Once again a very good article Marita and you give some solid parental advice also!
For example, I make it a point to play with my kid every day. Even if I’m not in the mood, which is something a lot of parents can relate to. But I notice that kids appreciate it soo much when you play with them. For them it means everything.
Keep up the great work!
Our kids will always appreciate the time that we spend with them. Especially if we play with them. These moments will be etched in their minds and hearts for years to come. Even with special kids, the more that parents share with their playtime, the more trust they build.
Thanks for visiting again. I really appreciate it.
God bless,
Marita
Excellent article.
I live in a rural area in South Wales, just outside a town named Carmarthern, which has a large secondary school which has a large department set out for the special needs children in the area. It was actually the school I attended in the 80’s, but this specialised department was not there then.
I actually have three friends that work in this department, and they had little experience with special needs kids before taking it on. They now insist that the kids they look after there are some of the most loving and caring kids they have come across – you only have to come at them with a slightly different angle, understand things from their point of view.
They will be really excited to see this sort of website, and article surface – I will share it with them this week. I see from your bio that you have medical experience – have you ever worked with special needs kids?
Hi Chris,
Special education programs for special kids are now part of regular schools, unlike before, so these kids and their parents are so lucky to have this resource nowadays.
Kids with special needs are angels in our midst- they are so innocent and fun loving, oozing with unconditional love. I understand how your friends who are working with them find them so loving and caring.
I took care of all kinds of kids when I was in active practice with my profession. From time to time I got to see special kids and I have a family of special kids- my sister and brother and 2 nephews and one niece. They are all awesome and so easy to live with.
Thanks for reading and planning to share my website to your friends. I have written lots of articles that they can learn from.
This post above will help them decide what kind of toys their kids in school will love depending on their needs.
Cheers,
Marita
Good Morning Marita,
As I liked my first visit to your website I have come back to read your latest post.
When playing one learns and special children, the same as other children need to explore this exciting new world. Smells and colors are everywhere. New shapes they need to touch, all this is wonderful and broadens their still small horizon.
You are right in saying that parents need to take care to buy toys which are good for their childs level of understanding.
You present a nice long list of great toys. I like the Stretch Dino Wrap. I can imagine that a child wearing this will have great adventures. Then I also think the Magnetic Number Maze looks really pretty, while playing one can tell some nice animal stories along the line.
I think your post will be a big help for parents who need to get the right toy for their special child.
Regards, Taetske
Hi Taetske,
I remember you from last time with your unique name. Thanks for visiting again.
These toys that I mentioned are all therapist approved and I know children with special needs will love to play and learn from.
You are right, parents and caregivers need to spend time with their special kids and guide them or encourage them to explore their toys just like the magnetic number maze and tell them animal stories while playing. It is a great bonding time for them, as well to build trust to their parents or caregivers.
Enjoy your day.
Marita
I loved reading your article. There is just a special place in my heart for special needs kids, because they are the sweetest people on this earth. My mom used to teach special needs kids and she loved it more than anything. What makes these toys geared for special needs kids? Is it that they’re softer toys and can’t hurt you?
Hi Danny,
Thanks for appreciating my post.
Glad that you had a nice experience with special kids through your mom. Truly, they are angels on earth. They could uplift our mood anytime when we are around them.
These toys are are usually tried by therapists and are really fitting for special kids because aside from giving them joy, they are soft and comfy like you said and most are educational as well. Some of them like the puzzles are big enough so the kids will not have a hard time grasping them. They also motivate their minds to explore and be creative, while some provide soothing and calming effect.
Different toys have varied purposes or effects on the special kids, and therapists usually know which are best for them depending on their needs and present developmental milestone.
God bless,
Marita
Hi Marita,
These toys look really neat. I especially like the look of the Sensory Ring and Fidget Toy, the hop ball (I had one of these as a kid and loved it), the magnetic toy and the crash pad. The Sensory Ring and Fidget Toy looks like something many people might want!
I am glad educational games and those that provide sensory experiences are becoming better understood for all kid’s development. Good for you for sharing this information with the world!
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
All these toys are actually recommended by therapists so they are very useful for the special kids, and even all kids, I would say.
Glad to know that you appreciated how they are helpful for our children with special needs.
Of course the sensory rings and fidget toys are awesome.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Hi Marita,
Great post! I used to work on toy development. For toys in developing motor skills development, there’s no different for regular and special kids. But for learning language is concern, there is a difference.
One point I want to raise out is the risk of choking by small objects, it could be something that parents of special kids to pay attention.
All kids in the world, whether regular or special, have the right to enjoy learning and playing with toys.
Brian
Hi Brian,
You are right, all kids whether special or not, have the right to play with toys and of course, parents and caregivers need to supervise them especially those with small parts, which in the first place the kids should not be allowed to play with.
For toys that help in developing the special kids’ language, they need to be exposed anyway, like the “talking” phones or laptops because with repetitive exposure, they will eventually learn to speak and understand, though with different pace for each child. Even the cell phones and television, letting the kids listen or view for an hour or two everyday would help them develop their verbal capacity. Reading to them as well would be very helpful. Or just talking to them at all times.
Thanks for your nice comments.
Marita
This is a great topic. I do not know any children with special needs at the moment, but I will keep your advice in mind.
I certainly agree that kids need play and stimulation. Especially the special kids that you are talking about.
My only concern is letting kids with 10-year-old bodies and 5-year-old minds play with real 5-year-olds. That could be challenging.
Hi Peter,
I know, physically it could be challenging, but mentally, they would be talking and thinking at the same wavelength, so eventually they will understand each other. Guidance of grown ups is very important here.
Just like with parents or caregivers, they need to play with their kids at their level so they can connect.
Thanks for visiting.
Marita
I don’t have children so my experience is with others who have special needs children. One friend had a daughter who experienced numerous strokes before the age of one. This was back in the 1980s when there was a lot of unknowns on interacting with her.
I didn’t live close by but when I visited I played with her. Her parents attitude was ‘why bother’. I don’t know what she retained but she was always glad to see me and stuck to me during my visit.
Fortunately things have changed. I can honestly say I would love playing with the toys you introduce. I wouldn’t mind some sensory rings myself. It might stop my unconscious nibbling at junk food!
Currently I don’t know anyone who lives with this but if I do meet someone I will give them your web address.
Keep up the good work.
Ciao
Helen
Hi Helen,
Your past experience playing with your friend’s daughter who had special needs only showed that this kid , like all other special kids, always appreciate the time that we spend with them , especially playing with them. Even without toys, just our mere presence brings them a lot of joy. This is a special bond that parents and caregivers need to develop with these kids.
The toys that we offer our special kids are there to help them focus and allay their anxieties and provide them with additional learning while having fun.
Thanks for passing by and for planning to refer my site to your friends.
God bless,
Marita