| From experience, I know that developmental and | | | | I have found cause and effect toys are really good |
| educational toys alone are not enough to help a child | | | | because a child will quickly learn that if he does one |
| with special needs. But, you can easily help your child | | | | thing something else will happen - press the button and |
| learn through play. For example, blowing toys can help | | | | a light comes on, or a character pops up or as with |
| to overcome language delay or sensory toys to | | | | the Sound Puzzle Box where if a shape is correctly |
| overcome touch reluctance in a child on the autistic | | | | inserted into the right hole it makes a squeaky noise. |
| spectrum. | | | | Ball or car ramps and pop up peg toys can be used to |
| Learning to Play | | | | help queue in a child, who otherwise is reluctant to |
| Children do most of their learning through play so | | | | involve you in their play or to interact during play. |
| children with special needs can be instantly | | | | Merely holding onto the car or ball at the top of the |
| disadvantaged if their play skills are impaired. Children | | | | slope saying 1,2 3 'GO' but only letting go once your |
| on the autistic spectrum often lack a natural interest in | | | | child looks at you accompanied with a big whoop is |
| play and will need extra help to learn to play. The | | | | another good way of increasing your child's enjoyment |
| restricted social skills in autistic children and some other | | | | as well as promoting interaction and eye contact. |
| special needs children make it difficult for them to | | | | Games to stimulate social skills, especially in autistic |
| accept social interaction during play. | | | | children |
| As a parent of a child with a severe language delay | | | | Ball and car ramps are also very good for practising |
| and a child with autism, I knew the importance of play | | | | social skills such as turntaking and waiting, you may |
| and was particularly aware of the value of play based | | | | have to work hard to stop your child from grabbing |
| language development. However, I quickly realised that | | | | the ball when its not his turn but doing these sorts of |
| I too needed to learn to play. Merely presenting my | | | | activities frequently can really help your child to wait |
| special needs children with an array of toys was not | | | | and participate more willingly. These are just some |
| sufficient to help develop their play and interactive skills. | | | | ideas to help entice a child with special needs away |
| By spending even a few minutes playing with them, I | | | | from solitary play even for a short time initially and to |
| was able to make a huge difference - and felt much | | | | help develop a desire to play. |
| more confident in my own parenting skills. | | | | How SenseToys aims to help parents and carers |
| Using developmental toys | | | | When my children's special needs were identified, I |
| The first step in initiating play with a child with special | | | | was amazed that I couldn't find a shop or mail order |
| needs is to gain your child's attention. Often they need | | | | catalogue selling the kind of toys I wanted for my |
| to be attracted away from their solitary play or their | | | | autistic son, Eddie. There were plenty of pre-school |
| favoured activity. This requires a toy that is of interest | | | | educational toys but I had to search high and low to |
| - it does not have to be a specialist developmental toy. | | | | find things that were suitable. I also needed some |
| Once you have your child's attention you then need to | | | | guidance on the best way to play with them to help |
| hold their interest long enough to give them enough of | | | | Eddie. It is all very well having special toys but if you |
| a chance to practise the activity and get to like it - | | | | don't know what to do with them or how to engage |
| both of which will build confidence and eventually mean | | | | your child it is not much use. It is not the toy, it is what |
| they will want to do it again. Peek a boo with a scarf, | | | | you do with it that gives it value for an autistic child. |
| bubbles, balls, bean bags and puppets are very simple | | | | The aim of the SenseToys website is to bring you |
| devices for attracting a child to join in with a game and | | | | colourful, fun toys and lots of inspiring ideas for how to |
| can be started easily anywhere at any time. | | | | play with them with your special needs child. |
| Cause and effect toys for children with special needs | | | | |