Toys for Special Tots and Tweens
A Parent’s Guide to Evaluating Toys for the Disabled
Parents and grandparents of children with special needs have extra considerations when purchasing gifts. Will the child like it? Is it developmentally appropriate?
Certainly every child is different with regards to likes/dislikes and strengths/weaknessses. The list of considerations below is a springboard to get you thinking about possibilities for the special tot or tween on your list.
Do you have ideas to add to the list? Do you have questions?
The holidays are a time of sharing. Let’s share our gift ideas!
Personal Preferences This seems to go without saying, but if your child does not like animals (or worse yet, is afraid of them) don’t buy a gift that has animal characters.
Age Considerations Kids with disabilities are kids first. Often, they have the same social interests as their “typically developing” peers. A disability, however, can make it tricky to enjoy some of the same gifts. (Here we are talking about more than PJs and movies.)
Physical Considerations You will want to consider whether or not the child has physical limitations.
- Example: The child has limited use of his legs.
- Poor gift choice: trampoline
- Possible gift choice: expandable crawling tunnel
Sensory Considerations On the other hand, if your child has tactile defensiveness but loves trains, a stuffed fuzzy train pillow might be a good pick. You would be encouraging sensory integration with a lead in from the child’s preference for trains.
Language Considerations
- Example: The child is in the fourth grade but reads below grade level.
- Poor gift choice: Harry Potter books
- Possible gift choice: Any books from the Calendar Club Mystery series (author, Nancy Star)
Cognitive Considerations
- Example: The child is learning to spell basic words, but is fifteen years old.
- Poor gift choice: Crossword puzzle book
- Possible gift choice: Scrabble Junior
Not sure if a gift is appropriate?
- Ask your child’s teacher or therapists for feedback.
- Check our gift pick idea articles.
Or check out Ableplay for more gift ideas.
