Kaitlynn's Place

Finding toys suitable for a special needs child is a disheartening and challenging task. Many area toy stores just do not carry toys that are congruent with a special child’s physical ability or understanding. Many standard toys also don’t provide the correct stimulation and skill building for special needs children.

For example, a child with Down Syndrome often has difficulty with fine motor skills.  A typical children’s puzzle with 20+ small pieces can be difficult for this child to work with. A large puzzle with just a few pieces works much better, but is hard to find. The same with CP. CP children have spastic and involuntary movements that make working with small tedious toys difficult. ADHD children would find focusing on in-depth detailed instructions difficult. Toys that have more creative leeway are better. And so on…

Able Play is a great resource to find physical, cognitive, age, and sensory appropriate toys for special needs children. Able Play does the research for the parent. The company does a comprehensive product evaluation, and then relates the evaluation to children’s special needs and abilities. The 1-5 rating system on cognitive, sensory, communication, and physical ability for every toy makes it easy to figure out what toy suits your child.

Special Needs Toys provides toys for senses (visual, auditory, tactile, proprioception, and balance) and skills (motor, cognition, independence, communication, and socialization.) I love the adaptive swing selection on this site.



More Toys:

Different Roads To Learning
School Specialty
Ability Station
Fat Brain Toys
Kids Scope Toys
PlayAbility Toys
Sensory Edge