Check it Out! Products You Can Use

Buddy Dog

Did you ever feel your child could use a friend, or maybe even his or her own pet?  Well make room at the breakfast table, playground and your child’s bed for a great addition to the family.  Buddy Dog is a toy dog that turns the tables on real pets that need to be trained. This adorable creature helps your child learn skills they need. Seldom do we find toys that deliver such a range of benefits to children, particularly those with special needs.

At first glance, Buddy Dog just looks like a friendly, visually stimulating stuffed animal, but wait till you get to know him. He was designed to deliver a lot more.  First of all his friendly expression, including large face and big eyes, make him a good tool for autistic children to learn to interpret facial cues.  Buddy’s little vest introduces auditory stimulation by producing a crinkling sound that invites handling, hugs and playful manipulation. For children with sensory issues, it can easily be removed.  Tactilely he offers variation of textures from soft plush fur to raised dots to a rough patch on his back.

Buddy even seems to come alive when you pull the tab on his tail. A simple tug activates gentle vibrations meant to soothe and comfort in addition to teaching the basic concept of cause and effect.

Unlike real pets, Buddy loves to be picked up by his big easily grasped ears and tossed around for safe and gentle fun. Like the well-trained dog he is, he even sits and stays nicely in a stationary position allowing children with visual impairments or limited mobility to easily reach and grip.

Buddy Dog is a great dog, good friend and even likes water … being machine washable and all.  What more could a kid want.

Price: $24.99

Web: www.ableplay.org

A Chalkboard for all

The Chalk Spinner is an interactive classroom element that brings play and learning together. This 3-D cylindrical spinning chalkboard is an innovative educational center that promotes creative thinking. The Chalk Spinner offers many activities aimed to encourage drawing, handwriting, refine coordination, and develop social skills. Its unique rotating motion inspires kids to let their imaginations run wild. The Chalk Spinner can be used for individualized work or to promote socialization among peers during small group discovery. Come in three sizes; Big Spin, Skinny Spin and Tubby Spin to accommodate all sizes and budgets.

Review

This chalkboard can be widely used in my special needs classroom because of its versatility. I was able to optimize instruction and working ability with this revolving chalk board. This design allows me to adjust the placement to accommodate different grade levels and children with different abilities.  This item is cost-effective, easy to use and maintain. Dust-free chalk generally lasts longer, doesn’t dry out, and is less expensive than dry erase markers. The grit texture of the chalkboard adds enough resistance for students with deficits in fine motor skills to achieve better handwriting skills.

Regenia Swanson

ESE Teacher

Price: $250.00 – $99.00

Web: www.kodokids.com

iPhone App for special education!

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) has just launched the first ever iPhone App for special education!  It’s called the IEP Checklist App, designed specifically to help families and teachers plan for educational services for students with disabilities.  The IEP app is set up by categories and sub-categories, color-coded and allows space for your notes.

This new IEP app will help parents of students with special needs become better-informed advocates by making IEP information easier to access..

The app can be downloaded from the PEATC website (www.peatc.org) or by entering “IEP Checklist” into the iTunes store search bar. The app is FREE, available in Spanish and is compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

You can view a quick demonstration here: http://www.peatc.org/peatc.cgim?template=IEPChecklistiPhone
Price: FREE

Web: www.peatc.org