Welcome to the AblePlay Website ("AblePlay Site"). Please review the following rules that govern your use of the Lekotek Site (the "Agreement").
BY ACCESSING THE ABLE PLAY RATING SYSTEM ON THE ABLEPLAY SITE, YOU ARE INDICATING YOUR AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS SUCH TERMS MAY BE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME.
Dense foam structure in the shape of an elephant can be used for whimsical furniture and playful motor development. The elephant has six layers of EVA foam striped in two-tone colors. It can be used upright for stable play or upside-down for rocking motions.
Approx. Price: Over $100 Box Age Range: 0+ yr # of Pieces: 1 Washability: Surface Wipe Storability: Bulky Directions: Simple Play Locations: Indoor and Outdoor Adjustability: Position Levels of Play: Five or More Levels Batteries: None needed
Description
The elephant is made of EVA foam and is very durable.
The elephant is very sturdy.
The edges are soft and will not hurt a child.
The elephant is two toned in color and uniform in texture.
The elephant is low to the ground, which may be more inviting for children who have limited vision to explore.
The rocking movement of the upside-down elephant can be soothing for some children.
Skills
Motor planning, gross motor skills, balance and coordination are all worked on during play time with the elephant.
Work on balance reactions using the elephant upside-down.
Play Ideas
Use the elephant upside-down as a teeter totter. One child can sit on each end and rock back and forth. This may help children who have visual impairments and who are developing typically work together.
Place the elephant upside-down. Sit in the well of the elephant with both legs on one side. Gently rock back and forth. If need be, have the child hold on to someone’s hands for support.
Use the elephant on its side as a sturdy stool to sit on.
Adaptation Ideas
Description
The elephant is made of EVA foam and is very durable.
The elephant is very sturdy.
The edges are soft and will not hurt a child.
Skills
Work on balance reactions using the elephant upside-down.
Children receive proprioceptive input when rocking on the elephant.
Motor planning, gross motor skills, balance and coordination are all worked on during play time with the elephant.
Play Ideas
Place the elephant upside-down. Sit in the well of the elephant with both legs on one side. Gently rock back and forth. If need be, have the child hold on to someone’s hands for support.
Use the elephant upside-down. Stand with each foot on an elephant’s foot and rock back and forth. This may need a caregiver to hold on to the child’s hands or waist for support.
Make an obstacle course using the elephant as one obstacle. This will challenge a child’s balance, movement and coordination skills.
Lay over the back of the elephant in a supine position to stretch core muscles.
Lay over the back of the elephant in a prone position to give children time playing on their tummies and working on neck muscle strength. This also stretches core muscles.
Use the elephant on its side as a sturdy stool to sit on.
Place the elephant upside-down. Sit in the well of the elephant straddling it. This wide stance provides balance assistance and helps to keep stiff legs flexed and separated.
Use the elephant upside-down. Place one hand one each leg of the elephant and rock back and forth. This works the muscles in the arms, shoulders and back.
Place the elephant upside-down. Using hands, rock the elephant as forcefully as possible to flip it right side-up. This works on arm strength.
Use the elephant to pull up to stand.
Adaptation Ideas
Description
The elephant is made of EVA foam and is very durable.
The elephant is very sturdy.
The elephant is abstract in design and therefore leads to open-ended play and creativity.
There is enough space for two children to sit next to each other on the elephant’s back.
The movement of the rocking elephant can keep a child’s body in motion. This may help some children maintain attention.
The rocking movement of the upside-down elephant can be soothing for some children.
Skills
Turn taking can be targeted during play.
Sharing the elephant and playing simultaneously, such as using it as a teeter totter, can be encouraged. This also helps children practice sharing space and playing in close proximity.
Pretend play emerges as children learn, play and discover using this elephant.
Play Ideas
Use the elephant upside-down as a teeter totter. One child can sit on each end and rock back and forth.
Pull a scarf through the various cutout sections of the elephant.
Roll a car or ball back and forth under the elephant.
Use imagination to pretend play circus. Take turns riding on the elephant’s back.
Pretend that the elephant is a river rock and try not to fall into the water.
Adaptation Ideas
Description
The elephant is made of EVA foam and is very durable.
The elephant is very sturdy.
The elephant is abstract in design and therefore leads to open-ended play and creativity.
Skills
Counting skills can take place as children count the colored layers on the elephant.
Work on action concepts such as go/stop and fast/slow when rocking on the elephant.
Play Ideas
Use the elephant as a tunnel to drive small cars through.
Use upside-down as a doll cradle to rock back and forth.
Use the elephant right side-up. The colored layers can be lanes of traffic for your own play cars.
Use the elephant on its side as a sturdy stool to sit on.
Use the elephant upside-down as a scale, balancing things on each side. This helps develop problem solving skills and higher order thinking skills.
Turn the elephant upside-down and use it as a boat.
Use the elephant as a table or footstool.
Adaptation Ideas
Fosters Imagination/Promotes Creativity
Versatile
Simple
One-Piece Unit
Provides Pretend Play Opportunities
Hands-on Approach to Learning
Furniture Friendly
Soothing
High Quality
Can Be Used Independently or w/Others
Open-ended
Innovative
Inviting Due to Uniqueness
Wide Age Range
Visually Stimulating
Lightweight
Durable
High Contrasting Colors
Developmental processes promoted
Motor Planning
Gross Motor
Balance
Proprioceptive Input
Physical Range of Motion
Imagination/Pretend Play
Coordinated Movement
Core Strengthening, Trunk Strength, Stability
Spatial Relationships e.g. Under, Over, On, Off
Eye-Hand Coordination
Action Concepts e.g. In/Out, Push/Pull, On/Off, Go/Stop
