Smart Toy Shopping Tips for Special Needs Toys for Children
Parents Seek Special Needs Toys that Continue To Deliver Value and Delight Children
Parents of children with special needs use great discretion when making decisions about what special needs toys for children to purchase this holiday season. With money tight for parents shopping this holiday season, consumers are choosing special needs toys for children that offer a therapeutic high return for the investment.This holiday season parents buying special needs toys for children are shopping smart to ensure that the toys that are fun and deliver lasting value long after the holiday is over.
Ableplay Helps Parents Choose The Most Effective Special Needs Toys for Children
“What we offer consumers at Ableplay is a brand new tool to evaluate the value factor of toys and play special needs toys for children,” says Ellen Metric, Chief Toy Evaluator at AblePlay, a website that researches, rates and reviews at www.ableplay.org.
“The best thing is that there are many special needs toys available that provide incredible value and help children to have fun and better develop their skills,” adds Metric. “AblePlay helps parents to ensure their toy purchases are smart, simple and deliver more for their special needs children and children with disabilities.”
“I think of toys from a completely different view than the traditional shopper,” Metric notes. “Before we rate a toy at AblePlay, we ask ourselves a number of key questions and put toys through a rigorous evaluation process.”
AblePlay assesses special needs toys for children with ten questions that allow parents to make smart buying decisions with their kids needs in mind.
Top Criteria to Consider for Parents Choosing Special Needs Toys for Children
1. Will this special needs toy for children encourage others to interact with them?
Will my child be able to play with the toy alone or does it allow others to play along with him? Does it allow for family interactions? Will it offer the brothers, sisters and playmates chances to share the fun and provide social learning opportunities?
2. Will this special needs toy provide a number of ways to play?
Does the special needs toy for children provide multiple ways to play with it? While the instructions might not share ideas for various uses, if you brainstorm, there may be other unique ways to use the toy. To get some creative ideas for make this a hyper link to this article on ableplay ( toys for special needs children) toys for special needs children to inspire play visit to www.ableplay.org.
3. Will my special needs child posses the attention necessary to play or does this special needs toy help them learn to focus more?
Special needs children may have varying capabilities when it comes to focus. It's important to make sure your child has the necessary focus to get the best use out of the toy. Some toys with regular use may increase the attention span of your child as they interact with it. That increased focus can help kids with other aspects of their daily life as well.
4. In what ways does the special needs toy for children stimulate the senses?
Look at toys from an auditory, tactile, visual and kinesthetic stand point and determine how it stands against your child's abilities. Does your child thrive on more or less sensory stimulation? To see a list of toys for special needs children rated by sensory benefits go to www.ableplay.org.
5. What specific kind of a challenge factor does this special needs toy for children provide?
Every parent knows their own child and what they are capable of doing, but sometimes having the right toy can meet a needed challenge that would benefit your child.
6. Does this special needs toy for children have progressive levels of play or can it be easily adjusted to my child’s abilities?
Some toys are hard for children to hold and manipulate, but still provide a potential benefit for fun and learning. Often times, a parent can come up with a truly creative approach to making a toy accessible to their special needs or disabled child. For adaptive ideas for mainstream toys go to www.ableplay.org.
7. Does this toy for special needs children hold some potential to motivate my child? Does it appear that there is an element of the toys function that would encourage your child to grow in a specific way that would benefit them?
Often special needs children who resist working towards a goal in a traditional therapy session, can be excited enough to achieve that goal when toys and play are the reward.
8. Does this special needs toy for children address some of my child’s specific developmental goals?
Does it seem that this toy will stimulate your child to move towards those physical, emotional, social and self-esteem goals? To read more on this way of rating toys go to www.ableplay.org.
9. Will this special needs toy help develop my child’s self-esteem?
Self-esteem and empowerment are powerful concepts to expose a child to and toys and play are an excellent way to introduce them. There are special needs toys for children that make the challenges of learning new skills easier from bikes without pedals to baseball tees that make it easy for children to hit. Some toys provide excellent first steps for new learners.
10. Will my special needs child or disabled child outgrow this toy too quickly?
Before making an investment in a toy, it's smart to ensure the toy will provide long lasting entertainment and developmental rewards. Some toys can be adapted to grow with your child as they age and further develop their skills.
For more play ideas and information on specific toys, go to www.ableplay.org
