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A Guide to Choosing the Best Toys for Toddlers with Special Needs

A Guide to Choosing the Best Toys for Toddlers with Special Needs

21 July 2018 Admin General Media


Shopping for toys for children can be quite a challenge, and for a lot of people, the question of what to get a special needs child can be quite daunting to answer. Here are some suggestions that can help you overcome the challenge and get something that the child will actually be able to use, which is something the parents will definitely appreciate.Here you can know about the best toys for toddlers with special needs.

Set of Building Blocks

This is a wonderful toy for children of all ages and levels of ability, including those with special needs. It can be used to familiarize concepts of position, color, shape, letters and numbers, size and counting. Motor skills, both gross and fine, can be developed through play with the blocks. Vocabulary (through the names and descriptions of structures being built) and social skills like turn-taking can also be introduced with time. Building blocks can also be used to develop problem-solving skills in special needs children, as well as planning ability, through exercises like building a structure of a certain height and shape that will not fall.

Shopping Cart Toy

This unusual toy is, surprisingly, a great choice for children with special needs. You can use the cart to help them develop and hone motor skills by using it as a walking aid. Additionally, it can be used for pretend play through games like grocery shopping, where the child can be given a list of items to collect in the cart. Pretend play, or imaginative play, is a major part of child development, as it helps children learn of the world around them. It helps to build speech and language, develop social skills and very often offers benefits by letting the child employ fine and gross motor skills. Action figures, dolls, puppets and Mr. Potato Head are other toys that may be used to encourage creative play.

Art Materials or Musical Instruments

Art materials like crayons, pencils and paints encourage alternative modes of expression in children, which can be extremely useful if their speech development is delayed. Simple musical instruments like drums or tambourines are sure to be a hit, and if the child prefers certain sounds over others, you could even consider compiling a CD. Drawing, painting and playing instruments also call for the employment of fine motor skills, and provide a brilliant sensory experience for the child that they will very likely enjoy.

Children’s Books

Children’s books are typically illustrated, with a few lines of the story on each page, providing for an interesting and interactive session of fun and learning. Reading practice becomes easy, and the illustrations make it easier for the child to understand the action of the story. And, of course, there is the allure of a good story that makes it all the better.

Besides these toys, jigsaw puzzles, cause-and-effect toys like toy phones and laptops or a tent with a tunnel are also good choices that provide both functionality and fun. When it comes to kids with special needs, it is generally a good idea to go for toys that are easy to grip and do not have small parts.