| All children love having time to play with toys. It is | | | | play. Toys like textured balls, sand and water tables, |
| essential to their growth and development. However, | | | | and lacing boards can help children feel calm and |
| for kids with special needs, playing with toys is vital to | | | | comforted by touching. These simple toys help keep |
| helping them feel in control of their environment and | | | | children connected to the world around them and can |
| increasing their ability to problem solve. Sometimes, | | | | open them up to learning new things. |
| play time is all that is accomplished in a special needs | | | | One challenge teachers have is finding the balance in |
| classroom and through that playtime comes important | | | | providing sensory opportunities without over stimulating |
| lessons and one on one time. | | | | a special needs child. One study showed that children |
| Having the right type of toys in a classroom for special | | | | with Autism retained more information when it was |
| needs kids is essential. It is estimated that over 4 million | | | | presented to them while they were using their sense |
| children have some type of disability that affects their | | | | of touch. For example, simply teaching while a child is |
| learning. Improvements in diagnosis methods have | | | | running their fingers through sand can enhance the |
| allowed pediatricians and other professionals to | | | | learning opportunity without over stimulating them or |
| determine at a much younger age what help a child | | | | using plastic stepping stones with dots, ridges, and |
| may need. This means that more and more | | | | bumps. |
| classrooms and teachers that cater specifically to | | | | Some special needs children have trouble sitting for |
| special needs children are becoming available to | | | | any period of time in order to focus on a lesson. For |
| parents. | | | | these children, it is recommended that they be given |
| Educational professionals agree that for these types | | | | the opportunity to sit on products, that will provide a |
| of children toys become one of the most important | | | | constant motion. This can be calming for many children, |
| ways for them to work on hand-eye coordination, | | | | especially those with various levels of Autism. Toys |
| social interaction, fine motor skills and gross motor skills. | | | | such as sitting discs, therapy balls, and rocking seats |
| In this situation, you don't have to focus on what toys | | | | allow children to keep moving while at least remaining |
| are considered age appropriate. Toys should be | | | | in a seated position. |
| chosen based on developmental level not age. Even | | | | Teaching a child with special needs can be a challenge, |
| older special needs children can benefit from basic | | | | but there are so many helpful toys available. By |
| toys such as blocks, mirrors, and balls of all sizes. They | | | | making many of these toys available in the classroom, |
| help children work on these all important skills. | | | | children can be stimulated and challenged in areas that |
| The more research that is done concerning special | | | | need the most development. For parents of special |
| needs, the more it is clear that another important | | | | needs children, these toys can help enhance learning at |
| aspect of learning for special needs children is sensory | | | | home as well. |