Gift giving for some parents can be complex, time-consuming and a bit of a gamble, even more so for parents of children with special needs. Questions like: Will this toy offer my child the right degree of challenge without discouraging them? Will they find enough variety of play experiences to really get our money’s worth from it? Will it be exciting and perhaps even encourage them to push beyond their comfort zone?
Those questions and more are the reasons the AblePlay toy rating website was created by the nonprofit organization, the National Lekotek Center; a pioneer in using toys to help children with disabilities achieve more through play. AblePlay does the time-consuming research for busy parents and provides them with an easy rating system based on their child’s individual needs. Then to further help parents out, AblePlay throws in creative play ideas and developmental uses beyond even those the manufacturer of the toy is often aware of.
This year, Ellen Metrick, AblePlay’s chief toy evaluator has assembled a sneak preview of some favorites especially for the visitors to Parenting Special Needs. Ellen’s picks were chosen not only because they offer children hours of fun but they also offer parents the confidence that their money will be well spent. So we encourage readers to get a jump on the holidays and read about some new role toys can play in their children’s lives. Parenting Special Needs, AblePlay and Ellen just want to make your life a little easier and your child’s a little brighter this holiday season and always.
Remember play holds within it both promise and potential.
[1]
Aeromax Costumes
One area of a child’s development that also needs attention is their imagination. The skills to role-play, create a story and explore the world from another point of view are important and need to be fostered. By taking on new identities, children begin to feel more powerful and capable of controlling their world. Aeromax has done just that with two of its creations, the Jr. Fire Fighter Costume and the Jr. Astronaut Costume and Helmet. Fun, filled with cool design details, and easy to clean, they both allow children to play characters that are compelling and confidant and thereby fuel their own self-esteem as well
AeroMax Website [2]
Amazon.com – Astronaut Costume [3]
[4]
Surprise What’s Inside Toy Box
What’s Inside? Toy Box by OneStepAhead is a soft, colorful fabric toy cube with an “x” slit on one side. Inside the box are eight soft sculpted adorable objects to inspire imaginative play. Interaction is encouraged with the boat, house, octopus, sun, lion, rocket ship, dog, and monkey. The box serves as a wonderful way to reinforce the idea of in and out as well as providing as easy carrying case for mobile play opportunities
Amazon.com – Surprise What’s Inside Toy Box: Baby [5]
Remember play holds within it both promise & potential
[6]
Climbing Tower Playground
The Climbing Tower Playground by little tikes is like a mobile playground. This multi-level climbing apparatus has multiple openings, two slides and a crawl-through tunnel. Playgrounds are magnets for kids to channel excess energy, learn to interact and practice the art of negotiation. For children with special needs this unit creates a great indoor or outdoor personal playground. Playing with the ladders and slides helps them become competent with coordinated movement, balance, motor planning, weight shifting, foot placement and overall core strengthening. This fun can be had both alone or in a group.
[8]
Boble Mountains
Bobles Tumbling Crocodile or Elephant are whimsical creatures that play the role of toy, furniture and exercise motivator. The dense foam material affords an imaginary playmate that is both strong and amazingly light to move about. Your child can rock to smoothing music on the elephant or step dance on the crocodile. These colorful pals inspire a child to explore their balance, body movements, proprioceptive input along with core strengthening and stability exercises. How your child uses these play partners is only limited by their imagination. Plus they are so cool to decorate a child’s room with.
Bobles Website [9]
[10]
Glow Art Studio
The holidays are a great time to encourage family art initiatives, or as a special project to keep children busy while home. Crayola offers the Glow Art Studio art set for just such reasons, plus added an element of surprise with a hint of technology. Instead of using crayons and paper, the child uses a stylus penlight and a light-sensitive pad to create on. Stencil and textured designs are included to inspire ideas. Within minutes, the artwork magically disappears prompting the child to create yet again. This set presents kids with fun ways to work on small motor skills, drawing, writing, or practicing signing their own name. Place the set in a darkened room to encouraging focusing thus adding to the mystique of this enlightened way to create and learn.
[11]
Jacob’s Rib-It-Ball
Jacob’s Rib-It-Ball by PlayAbility Toys, formerly Bill & Bud has taken the standard ball and made it better. Many sports involve balls but learning to catch, throw, anticipate speed, timing of reach and grasping are all skills that a child must develop. Jacob’s Rib-It-Ball has made those skill sets easier and safer for kids to learn. Because of the soft air-filled structure, it is light enough to cause only laughter if a child misses a catch and gets hit by the ball. The special ribs allow even an amateur to grasp and throw easily and this design creates some friction when rolling. This slows down the movement and gives the child more time to trigger their reflexes to catch it. Crinkle sounds and contrasting colors further appeal to young athletics.
[13]
AMC Movie Gift Card
An AMC Movie Gift Card is a 2 for 1 gift. Giving a gift card to a Movie is an event and entertainment at the same time. A gift card to your local AMC theatre is always a perfect gift for any age. Now that AMC is offering sensory friendly films, the whole family can enjoy the show. Make sure the gift card covers the price to the movie with enough left over for a drink and popcorn.
AMC Theatre Website [14]
It is better to Give than to Receive…
[15]
Bookshare
Give Your Child a New Way to Read! Does your child struggle with reading due to a visual, physical or severe learning disability that affects reading? Can’t find books in accessible formats? This holiday season, give your child a new way to read with a FREE Bookshare membership. Bookshare is the world’s largest online library of accessible books for people with qualified print disabilities. Choose from over 60,000 talking e-books like Harry Potter, Dr. Seuss, Amelia Bedelia and more! Visit our website to see if your child qualifies and explore the latest children’s books, teen series, literature, teacher-recommended reading and textbooks, plus free reading software.
Bookshare Website [16]
[17]
Ormon Digital Pedometer
Every day is a New Finish Line with Ormon Digital Pedometer an impact sensitive device, measuring the number of steps one takes during the course of the day. Omron scored high in accuracy for measuring low and high speeds. It can either be worn as a watch or as a clip on attached to one’s hip. A great gift and way to encourage daily activity and achieve the recommended 10,000 steps a day for a healthy lifestyle.
Ormon Website [18]
Amazon.com [19]
[20]
Harry Connick Jr’s new CD “Your Songs”
The Harry Connick Jr’s new CD “Your Songs” is an easy listening CD that contains 14 classics like “Some Enchanted Evening” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You”. Produced by Clive Davis, “Your Songs” has a full orchestra and includes featured guests Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis and Bryan Sutton. This CD make a great gift for anyone young or just young at heart.
Amazon.com [22]
[23]
Susan Boyle’s “I Dream A Dream” CD
Susan Boyle’s new CD “I Dream A Dream” Inspirational “I Dreamed a Dream” is the highly anticipated album from Susan Boyle whose dream has become reality. She captured the hearts of millions and became a worldwide phenomenon with over 300 million hits on You Tube. She presents her stunning debut album. Featuring her signature songs, `I Dreamed a Dream’ and `Cry me a River’ . Look for release on November 23, 2009.
Amazon.com [24]
[25]
Life skill made easier with EZSOX unique design guides your child to put on their socks with ease. Double reinforced loops give tiny fingers a strong grip for pulling over tiny toes. Animal faces act as a guide for your little ones, showing them which way is up. Seamless for sensitive little toes and the bottoms have non-skid sticky grips. Makes learning to put on socks fun!
EZSOX Website [26]
Amazon.com [27]
Happy Holidays from us all!
You May Also like These Gift Ideas
- 100 + “Mom Approved” Gifts for Kids with Special Needs [28]
- 18 “Mom Approved” Gifts for Kids/Teens with Special Needs [29]
- Holiday Gift Guide: Give Gifts That Fuel Creativity, Create Music and Challenge Your Child to Learn [30]
- Special Resources: This Season Give the Gift of Knowledge [31]
- Gift Guide from the Fitness Guy [32]
- Gift Ideas for Those on Special Diets [33]