|
|
|
Top Toy Picks for Children with Special Needs
Toy Recommendations by Advisory Panel member Erin Kipple
All of the toys I chose tend to require social interaction when playing with them since that's one of the major problems with autism. One of the best ways parents can help with this if they haven't had training or a lot of experience is with turn taking and social reciprocity (requiring eye contact and social interactions). One of the main things is to not allow the children to play "off in their own little world". These toys seemed to provide less opportunity for that to happen, which is another reason why I chose them.
|
|
Shape Sorting Cube by Melissa & Doug
Matching tends to be hard with children with autism, as is their fine motor control
|
|
Vehicles Maze by Melissa & Doug
Once again helps with fine motor control and can easily be used in make believe for pretending to make sounds (vroom for when the car moves)
|
|
Magnetic Animal Books by Melissa & Doug
Helps with matching, fine motor and can be used for pretend play in a barnyard, especially in identifying animals and their sounds
|
|
Lace and Trace Shapes by Melissa & Doug
Develops fine motor skills
|
|
Victorian Dollhouse by Melissa & Doug
Excellent for make believe play with lots of scenarios possible with their play. Play also seems to be directly correlated to children's language production in that the more multi-step play acts they complete spontaneously the more language they have.
|
|
Let's Play Restaurant by The Imaginative Child
Same as above
|
|
Snail's Pace Race by Ravensburger
Great for learning social reciprocity
|
|
Colorama by Ravensburger
Social reciprocity, shape and color sorting
|
|
Enchanted Forest by Ravensburger
Social reciprocity
|
|
Magnetic Responsibility Chart by Melissa & Doug
Children with Autism tend to be very rules based so this is an excellent way to lay that out for them. It can also be difficult for them to understand what they need to do if someone tells them, this way it is clearly laid out and the token system will be great so they know they have gotten rewards and when to expect their next one (great motivator). This one is one of my favorites...I might even use it for my children when they are old enough.
|
|
|
|
Toy Recommendations by Advisory Panel member Kim Ward
|
|
Primary Lacing Beads by Melissa & Doug
Enhances fine motor skills. Works on hand eye coordination
|
|
Lace and Trace Farm Animals by Melissa & Doug
Again enhance fine motor skills and hand eye coordination with the learning availability of every day farm animals, (identifying).
|
|
Color Puzzle Cards by Melissa & Doug
It invokes both physical and mental learning. Helps to identify colors and at the same time works the fine motor skills. Again learning by playing.
|
|
Stack and Sort Board by Melissa & Doug
This item helps with first differentiating between colors, enhanced with specific colors for specific shapes provides a learning stage based on common shapes and helps to enhance focus on task.
|
|
Nest and Stack Buckets by International Playthings
Allows child to work small muscles and learn at the same time. This one uses cause and effect, muscle control, and identifying proper buckets for stacking. In addition the 4 shape sorters provide and additional learning advantage.
|
|
Sand and Water Table by International Playthings
This one is probably my favorite. For children with sensory needs it's a must. We have had one for years. It allows the child an out for over stimulation that may occur for a number of reasons. It gives them the opportunity to calm down by getting their sensory needs met.
|
|
Teach Me Toddler by Language Littles
It helps with small muscle control and takes it up a notch by talking and working on other things besides buttoning, zipping, such as brushing your teeth, that makes it a bonus item.
|
|
Ball Track Roll n Roll by Haba
This item teaches cause and effect, also allows the child to not only watch but also interact.
|
|
|
|
Toy Recommendations by Advisory Panel member Dr. Ronald Savage
|
|
These are excellent toys to help children develop fine motors skills, visual spatial skills, and sequencing skills. The Dado Cubes, in particular, are a unique twist that combines spatial configuration with linear sequencing through fine motor skills. Very imaginative.
|
|
Dado Cubes
by Fat Brain Toy Co.
|
|
MightyMind
by Leisure Learning
|
|
Geometric Stacker
by Melissa & Doug
|
|
Wobble Deck
by Diggin
|
|
These are all classic toys that have been creatively updated. Lots of color. These toys are ideal for teaching basic concepts (naming, identification, time, shapes), as well as teaching children to perceive details in their environment (I Spy).
|
|
Magnetic ABC Book
by Melissa & Doug
|
|
See & Spell
by Melissa & Doug
|
|
Wooden Shape Sorting Clock
by Melissa & Doug
|
|
I Spy Preschool
by Briarpatch
|
|
Venn Perplexors is an excellent learning toy to teach older children how to see similarities, differences and patterns among several concepts. This is an excellent "cognitive toy" to help older children who need to strengthen their higher level thinking skills.
|
|
Venn Perplexors by MindWare
|
|
|
|
Elkhorn, Nebraska USA 68022