The Parents' Choice Foundation has combined efforts with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a research group devoted to helping children with disabilities and come up with some suitable special needs toys. Licensed occupational, physical, and recreational therapists test each toy and game in multiple therapy sessions with children.
They recommend toys based on properties such as:
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
- Sensory motor skills
- Socialization
- Sensory processing
- Communication
- Thinking skills
- Visual/visual motor skills
A ball full of finger holes, the Oball teaches infants and toddlers how to easily and safely throw and catch a ball.. Shiny, Smooth, Flexible, Durable and virtually Indestructible, the Oball is the ideal ball in every situation. It's even dishwasher-safe. The 4" Oball is a slightly smaller version of our Oball Original...ideal for little hands. When we say Oball is "The Everybody Ball," we really mean it! The Oball is perfect for babies, adults, and everyone in between! All ages.4" in diameter; assorted colors
A different kind of matching game, Silly Socks has kids trying to remove three matching pairs of socks from the washing machine. On your turn take an item from the washing machine. If it's a sock that matches one of your three, put the pair in your laundry basket. But be careful. If you pull out a pair of pants you'll lose one turn until you can try for silly socks again. Ages 3 - 5 years
With one deep breath, Elefun blows his 4-foot trunk straight up sending colorful butterflies into the air. How many can you catch? This energetic game sends kids laughing and leaping to catch all the butterflies they can. No one has to wait their turn, everyone plays at once. Good indoor activity to get kids up off the couch and moving. Ages 3 - 6 years.
Stuck in traffic and the little red car can't move. The player is a traffic cop in the Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle where the objective is to get the red car off the road. To play, pick one of 40 challenge cards; solutions are printed on the back of each card. Then set up the cars and buses in a specified pattern on the 6-inch-square road grid. Move the vehicles one by one (obey those traffic laws!) until the red car can escape the traffic jam. There are four levels of difficulty. Kids can alternate turns with another player or just "play in traffic" alone. The game from Binary Arts received a national award from Mensa and is used in elementary school math classes. The design includes clear instructions printed on the sturdy box, which can be used both as a playing tray and for storage. This is a 1999 Parents' Choice recommended toy. Ages 8 and up.
Review from a satisfied customer:
"Every child who comes to our house & plays this game is hooked and asks to play next time. I am a teacher by profession and this is a very unintimidating logic & reasoning game (for all ages)- I would highly recommend! I have just ordered 5 more to give as x-mas gifts this year. " (Read full reviews at Amazon.com)
(Note: The Parents’ Choice Awards committees look for products that entertain and teach with flair, stimulate imagination and inspire creativity. Judges are interested in how a product helps a child grow: socially, intellectually, emotionally, ethically, physically. Products must be free of bias. Above all, products must not extol violence.)
Hopefully these suggestions will help guide you when looking for special needs toys.
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