Sometimes You Just Have to Share When You Find Something Really Great!
That’s exactly what AblePlay is doing with our introduction of a new category of products researched, rated and reviewed for children with special needs – GREAT FINDS. In scouring the marketplace for toys, we often find items that don’t fit our play product’s profile. Some “finds” really excite us because they hold the potential to make a child’s life easier, safer, more independent and inclusive. When that happens, we just have to share.
The Learning Tower
Products like The Learning Tower [1] that can make life better and more accessible for children with disabilities. Every child wants the ability to participate fully in family life, and that’s what this wooden step stool was specifically designed to allow. With a 15” x 18” platform, it is big enough for two kids, has four adjustable height levels, and best of all — support on all four sides. Both child and parent can relax and focus on the activity, not the child’s stability.
[2]This handy stool makes counters child-accessible and then frees the parent’s hands to help them engage in cooking dinner, making cookies, washing dishes, and a whole lot more happening in family life. Teaching responsibility has just been made a whole lot easier!
The sense of independence makes the child confident and contributes to his/her self-esteem. The sense of safety allows parents to relax and enjoy while their child is secure. It is solid, sturdy (can accommodate up to 250 lbs), made to be fit tight against a counter and won’t tip.
But wait, put your child’s creative hat on, and presto, this stool morphs into a play station. Just adjust the height and a child in a wheelchair now has a play platform for doing puzzles, art projects or playing with toys and dolls.
This piece of furniture offers children with disabilities independence, involvement and encouragement to share in the many projects and activities centered around a busy family’s kitchen. This “Great Find” was designed for and manufactured by Little Partners [3]. They even gave parents finish and color options to work with their individual kitchen décor.
Atomic Talking Watch
This fashionable timepiece was designed for use by individuals with vision disabilities. It includes all the benefits of atomic time while speaking the day, month and year, with the push of a button. Big numbers on an easy to-read dial, leather band and a cheerful wake-up chime alarm.
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An easy-to-customize alarm that will beep for 30 seconds before stopping and will stop by pressing any button. The watch also has an hourly chime feature, which can be turned on or off.
The watch’s atomic features include automatic adjustment for standard and daylight savings time. It can be adjusted for Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern Time zones.
Buy it at Amazon.com [5]
[6]
Shop [6]
Toy Ideas
- 100 + “Mom Approved” Gifts for Kids with Special Needs [7]
- 9 Great Toddler & Preschooler Toys for Kids with Special Needs [8]
You May Also Like
- Toys“R”Us: Safe Play Tips for Children with Special Needs [9]
- The Upside of Making Your Own Educational Toys [10]
- TOY Safety? [11]
- The Taming of the Toys [12]
- Language and Literacy Learning: Success With Technology [13]
- Interactive Technology May Be a Double-Edge Sword for Children [14]
- Digital Safety: An Ongoing Conversation [15]
- Life-Changing Apps for People with Disabilities [16]
This post originally appeared on our September/October 2010 Magazine [17]