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Selecting Toys for Children with Special Needs:

Choosing toys for children with Special Needs can pose a challenge for many parents and friends. One of the challenges is finding toys that are suited to a child's stage of development, especially when their chronological age is much greater. Another challenge is that children with autism or related pervasive developmental disorders do not always share the same play interests as other children do.

When looking for toys, it is best to consider how your child plays with their toys as a reflection of where they are developmentally. Simplified, you could consider which stage they are at:

1. exploration (examination of the toy through touch, sight, and sound)
2. discovery (realisation of the toy’s uses)
3. interaction (creative and imaginative use of the toy

Remember, talk to your child's doctor or therapist about what skills should be encouraged through play and what types of toys could be detrimental or inappropriate for your child. Physical and occupational therapists should be able to recommend some toys that your child will enjoy playing with and can help further their treatment program.

The following are some examples of types of toys which may be suitable for particular impairments:

• For children with cognitive delays, look for simply designed, realistically configured toys. Toys involving more than one basic concept e.g. colour and shape may cause confusion for children with severe learning delays, so therefore each concept is best taught separately before combining them. Toys that encourage children to act out real life situations may also be helpful, including pretend play toys and dolls as well as simple games that they can play with others.
  
  
• For children with communication disorders, look for audible, interactive toys. Toys that allow children to experiment with different shapes, colours, and sounds while also encouraging their motor skills would be appropriate.
  
  
• For children with Autism, look for toys made specifically for sensory stimulation, development and social skills. For instance, musical instruments are excellent toys for children with autism. They integrate the senses and can be used for language development. Wind instruments help develop oral motor skills. Drums, keyboards and xylophones are ideal for combining fine motor, visual and auditory stimulation. Toys with moveable parts and visual tracking toys, such as cars, trains, mazes and marble or ball runs are also very popular with children with ASDs. Play Doh, shaving cream, slime, playfoam and other substances that offer a range of tactile sensations are also terrific as part of play or therapy.
  
  
• Children with hearing impairments are often attracted to visually interesting, volume-controlled toys. For instance, toys that have lights, are brightly coloured or activity tables, which are highly visual toys, sometimes with musical elements, which offer creative tasks such as stacking and building exercises.
  
  
• For sight impaired children, magnified, tactile and mirrored toys are enjoyable. Consider toys that provide sounds, interesting textures or surfaces. Also, consider realistic pretend-play toys.
  
  
• For children with physical impairments, look for toys that your child can operate or play with but still provide a challenge. Ensure that your child feels safe and secure with the appropriate seating or positioning equipment to enable them to fully enjoy their play.
  
  Messy play is an important activity for children with all types of disabilities as they can enjoy the tactile experience. Finger paints, gluing collage materials, cornflour mixed to a paste with cold water, play dough, aerosol cream and shaving foam, jelly, instant puddings, and cooking can all be used to provide messy play activities.