Newswise — During the holiday season and these difficult economic times, finding the perfect toy for any child can be a challenge, but for family and friends shopping for the right toy for a child with special needs, this process can cause even more anxiety and frustration.
According to Elisa Mintz Delia, a trained play therapist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, “People can spend an unnecessary amount of money on expensive toys marketed specifically to children with special needs. But families need to know there are many fairly priced and readily available toys that will be both beneficial to and loved by children with special needs.”
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally recognized medical institution dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, is collaborating with Parents’ Choice Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected authorities on children’s media and toys, to establish the premiere national resource for uniform testing, certification, and labeling of toys for children of all ability levels.
To that end, Kennedy Krieger and Parents’ Choice (http://www.parents-choice.org/) have developed general guidelines to follow when shopping for toys for children with special needs.
1. Choose toys based on a child’s interest. An engaging toy is a motivating toy. Whenever possible, ask the child what he/she likes. If the child can’t express his preference, ask the caregiver.
2. Choose toys that help build skills. Finger paints, blocks and Play Dough™ can help build fine motor skills; board games and reading aloud can help build cognitive and social skills; balls, bikes and games for the Wii help build coordination and gross motor skills.
3. Choose toys that balance the child’s developmental age with his/her chronological age. For example, give a 13 year old whose developmental skills are those of an infant, a rain stick rather than a rattle. If you don’t know the child’s developmental level, don’t be afraid to ask the caregiver.
4. Choose toys that awaken the child’s abilities to reach his/her potential. Toys that encourage a child to improve her skills will be successful and fun. Toys that frustrate the child’s abilities will not. Too many pieces or too many directions may be overwhelming and diminish the desire to play and learn.
5. Avoid toys that put the child in a “win or lose” situation. Choose toys that help build the child’s confidence. Work on accomplishment first, playful competition later.
And above all, choose toys and games that adhere to US toy industry safety standards. With this information in mind, the holiday shopping season will be a bit easier for family and friends in search of toys for children with special needs. Visit parentschoice.org for holiday gift ideas for children of all abilities. For more information on the Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.
About the Kennedy Krieger InstituteInternationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.
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