Let Kids Play!!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities Holiday 2011 Toy Guide

2011-12-20T06:00:00.061-05:00

#50 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Well, it is December 20th and we have reached end of 50 Toys in 50 Days. As usual, many more than 50 toys were covered in all types of categories. Hopefully, you have found ideas for the kids on your list this year. In case you missed any, here is the list of toys from this year. If you click on the link, it will take you back to blog posting where the toy was reviewed. From there you can find out where to purchase the toy.

Happy Holidays!

Mara

Pretend Play
Fairy and Butterfly Wings
Green Toys Sandwich Shop
Green Toys Pizza Maker
Rubbabu Play Set
Rubbabu vehicles
Doodle Track Car
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head
Automoblox

Seedlings Doctor Kit

Puzzles
Your Own Name Puzzle
ImagiPLAY Puzzles
Multi-Solution Puzzles

Kid O Small to Large Puzzle
Melissa and Doug Chunky Puzzle

Blocks and Construction Toys
Plan Toys' Blocks
Tegu Blocks
Rubbabu Blocks
Dado Cardboard Blocks
Rainbow Sound Blocks
Tobbles

Dado Cubes
Twigs
Gears, Gears, Gears
Quadrilla
Q-Ba-Maze
Marble Run from Mindware

Clothing
Hanna Andersson
SOFT

Art
Makedo
Brain Noodles
Make Your Own Monsters

P'kolino Triangle Crayons
Make Your Own Super Hero Cape
Emotion Stamps and Ink Pads

Games & Brainteasers
Giant Pick Up Sticks
Blunders
Bug Trails

Flip Over
Hyper Swipe
Rush Hour Jr.
Safari
Snack Attack
Zingo
What's Gnu
Zingo 1-2-3
Perplexus Rookie
Rory's Story Cubes

Music
Circo Piano
First Act Discovery Illumitrex 5 Light Up Electronic Drum Pad
Jamtown Musical Instruments

Gross Motor Play

Rainy Day Platform Swing
Ace Flyer Teeter-Totter
Spooner Board
Jump Start Trampoline
Switch Pitch
Skwish
Bilibo
O Ball
Swing Seat and Tote
Round and Round Outdoor Swing

Emotions and Feelings
Kimochis
WorryWoos
Emotion Flashcards
Goosie Cards

Sensory Play
HugglePod™ Indoor Canvas Hanging Chair
What'zit Fidget Toy
Whoozit Discovery Ball
Whoozit Table Top Toy
Brain Food
Sensory Balls Mega Pack

Teachable Touchables Texture Squares
Sleep Sheep
Jiggly Jewels
Insta-Snow

Fine Motor Play
P'kolino Stackers
P'kolino Plump
Kid O Stacker
Babal
See 'n Say

Furniture
Soft Silly Seating
Klink Desk

Books
WorryWoos
Sidewalk Games by Eeboo
Anna Banana 101 Jump Rope Rhymes

Clothing for Children with and without Disabilities: SOFT

2011-12-19T06:00:00.003-05:00

#49 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

My daughter grew out of her texture issue with clothing before SOFT Clothing was created. So I didn't have the opportunity to have her wear their special clothes. She may have grown of of her clothing issue--but please don't ask me about textures in food.

Soft® is the first line of inclusive clothing designed with the needs of all children in mind, including those with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and tactile defensiveness/sensitivity. They use flat seaming and seamless construction for extra comfort, 100% of the softest combed cotton and a specially developed Soft Sensory Blends , wide collars, encased elastic waistbands, printed labels (tagless), and custom fits.

The line of clothing was created by a Mom and Special Education teacher, whose goal is to design clothing that can enhance social skills, sensory organization, concentration, by addressing unique sensory needs, but without sacrificing personal style and self expression.

The founders asked over 5,000 parents and individuals with sensory sensitivity/tactile defensiveness to tell them how their ideal clothing would be constructed for maximum comfort and style. They incorporated the most common responses. This does not mean that Soft clothing will work for every child--it just means it's a few steps closer to comfort. Soft clothing is not therapeutic in itself, but rather takes into consideration symptoms of sensory disorders, and will compliment any therapeutic program. As teachers and parents--the designers and founders of Soft realized that one size does not fit all when it comes to children with special needs. But it is their hope that they have come close in their designs.

Their clothing line includes seamless socks and underwear. YEAH! Of course, they also have shirts, pants and dresses as well.

SOFT is committed to helping the community is other ways in addition to their great clothes. They help military families who are raising a child with a sensory processing disorder by providing them wholesale pricing on the clothes. The support a wide variety of disability organizations with financial donations. They are also giving to children with disabilities in India where some of their clothes in manufactured.

They have recently started making sensory toys. I will be those my list of things to review for next year's series.

Clothing for Children with and without Disabilities: Hanna Andersson

2011-12-18T06:00:00.005-05:00

#48 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

My daughter has a mild form of Sensory Processing Disorder. For the first six years of her life, she basically only wore clothes that did came from Hanna Andersson. Shirt (or sweater), skirt and tights. She had tons of tights in all colors and patterns. She became known for her tights. She wore Hanna Andersson Clothing because it was soft and the seams didn't bother as they did in other clothing. Their clothing is designed to let kids be kids. Meaning that they are very soft and loose fitting to enable kids to run around. I liked them because the washed so well and lasted forever. We were able to hand down tons of clothes to my niece even after my daughter had worn them for years. Their PJ's are fantastic.

Hannah Anndersson also is committed to giving back to our community. A portion of every Hanna purchase goes to help children through donations that support children in need. Their HannaHelps Program continues the company's 20 year tradition of charitable giving by awarding yearly grants to hundreds of schools and nonprofit groups serving children across the nation. It also helps the environment through their offerings of organically grown cotton.

They currently have a sale going on. Long John's are almost 50% off. So head over to their site, your kids will thank you.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Musical Instruments from Jamtown

2011-12-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

#47 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Jamtown fair trade world music instruments bring the joyful experience of hands-on music and art to children, families, and music lovers of all ages. Our Jamtown Junior Percusion Set features three authentic, rich-sounding instruments handcrafted by village artisans in Peru and Bali. This unique set includes one pair of claves (wood rhythm sticks), one shaker (carved dried gourd), one drum (double headed goat skin stretched over wooden bark frame), an instructional CD, a 30-page activity guide, and simple rhythm cards. All items are conveniently packaged in a sturdy Jamtown drawstring bag. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Jamtown buys directly from artisans around the world, supporting their work through the principles of Fair Trade. This pack has won both the Oppenheim and Parent's Choice Gold Seal.

Here are more options that your child might enjoy:

These are Goat Hoof Rattles. They are great for a child who can not hold a musical instrument. Put the rattle on a wrist or ankle and have the child move around and experiment making music. More about them: The agricultural communities of Bolivia depend on the goat as a main source of food, both dairy and meat. As their ancestors did before them, the villagers cleverly apply all available resources to their daily existence. The hooves of the goats are clipped from milking herds and are then boiled and strung together on a fabric band to create ankle and hand rattles. To play the rattles, hold in your hand and swing using short arm motions. Alternately, grab some or most of the hooves to muffle the shake, then release for a louder SHAKE! Experiment to discover the unique characteristics of your rattles.

Native to Ghana, the Vivi Shaker incorporates four small gourds and a smooth wooden handle to create an instrument that is lightweight and provides a range of volume levels. Again this is an easy to hold instrument.

This is a Cucu Shaker. The seeds trapped inside this small gourd shaker make a quiet, pleasing sound when shaken gently and a resounding snap when shaken with more force.

This is a Small 9" Gankogui with beater. It is a traditional rough hewn African Agogos. It makes various open and closed sounds. Easily hand held, includes stick.

If you are interested in a bigger group of instrument, you might want to try Family Percussion Pak.It is a perfect family or school activity to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and musical skills- no matter your age or ability. It includes: "The Road to Jamtown" 30-page activity guide; 15 Simple Rhythm Cards™ (each with a simple beat for everyone to play); and a drawstring heavy canvas travel bag. The instruments include: rough-hewn agogo bell (from Ghana, average length 9"); hand-decorated gourd guiro with scraper (from Peru, average size 10.25" long x 3" to 4" diameter); pair of renewable-source hardwood coconut palm rhythm sticks (from Indonesia, 8" long x 1.25" diameter); goat hoof shaker (from Bolivia, goat hooves sewn on a fabric band); and rebana frame drum with wood mallet (from Indonesia, average size 9.5" diameter x 2.5" thick). Remember, due to the natural materials used these instruments will need to be handled with some care; also, the instruments may vary in size and each will have its own unique timbre and character.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Rory's Story Cubes

2011-12-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

#46 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Here is another good stocking stuffer. It is a wonderful way to get children to use their imaginations and speech. I would think it would be a wonderful game to have at a restaurant while you are waiting for the food. Rory's Story Cubes have 9 cubes the size of dice. Each side of the cubes has an image (that makes 54 images). This results, according to the Story Cube website, in 10 million combinations. All that fun for less than $8.

So basically, you roll all of the dice (or fewer if your child will get overwhelmed by 9). When the images come up, someone tells a story using the different images. There is no order you need to use and there is no right or wrong answer. People of all ages like playing with Story Cubes. Here is an example of a story and how they are used:

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Marble Runs

2011-12-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

#45 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

One of my daughter's favorite toys was a Marble Run from Mindware Toys. It was one of the only construction toys she would play with. After many years of play, we sent it to my nephew who is now enjoying it greatly. My daughter specifically asked that I include Marble Runs in this year's series. This particular marble run is made of plastic and the parent reviews often mention that it is not stable, it falls apart easily and it is difficult for a child to do on their own. I would agree with some of this. But it was always a project that we did together, so we didn't have that big of a problem. This product costs $40.

All marble runs provide great educational value. They:

Challenge imagination
Inspire observation
Encourage deductive reasoning
Require logical thinking & problem solving
Stimulate creativity
Engages both fine and gross motor skills
Make a great first experience in design

If you want a similarly priced plastic marble run that is more stable, then try the Q-BA-Maze. They come in two different color sets: hot colors and cool colors. A beginner Q-BA-Maze costs $25.00

One of the marble runs that get the best reviews is the Quadrilla Twist and Rail. Quadrilla sets are expensive, but if your child is going to play with it for years, it could be worth the investment. Just read one mother's review and it might convince you:

Having a special needs child, I find myself having to research toys to see what my son might be interested in. We bought him this set a couple of years ago and we buy him a new Quadrilla set every Christmas. You would not believe the joy in my sons eyes when he receives a new set. He keeps adding on and builds marble runs that astound us. They are amazing, complex, and just so much fun to watch. Yes, this set is more expensive, but the plastic runs break very easily. The quality of the quadrilla sets is fabulous....no need to worry about breakage, and the set will last for years! If you are considering getting a marble run, do yourself a favor and just get Quadrilla brand. Great investment!

According to Fat Brain Toys, Quadrilla is setting a new standard in marble run construction. It is a marble run that is stable, easy to construct, infused with the potential for thrilling speed, and is brilliantly conceived.

It is easy to construct a fast moving marble run. Habe Toys studied all of the marble runs in the world, before making this one. The wooden runs notch together with ease making Quadrilla doable for even the youngest children. Tracks sit level and speed results from the use of different connecting blocks, accelerators & action pieces. All simply combined for fast moving effects. You can also get musically blocks to go with it if you want to add more sound and engage your child even more. The Quadrilla Basic Set (which you can see above) costs $75.00, the Sound Block Extension costs $70.00 or you could purchase the Quadrilla Melody Basic Set for $65.00.

Here is a pretty long video (5 minutes) that shows you more about Quadrilla.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities:Jiggly Jewels & Insta-Snow

2011-12-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

#44 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Here are two toys from Be Amazing Toys that are great stocking stuffers as well as a wonderful sensory experience for your children. Both Jiggly Jewels and Insta-Snow use the science of superabsorbent polymers! The are both non-toxic and fully tested. The best part is they are hours of fun and cost less than $10 each.

The Jiggly Jewels are slippery-smooth when you touch them. You can grow a treasure trove of colorful, squishy crystals just by adding water. Your child can also discover the secrets of the substance that scientists call superabsorbents and learn about where real jewels come from. Just watch the video.

I have used Insta-snow with many different children of different ages and abilities. They are love it. You take a powder and add cold (as cold as you can get) water. The water absorbs and you get SNOW! The powder absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Once it dries out a little, just spritz with water to make it fluff-up and you can keep playing. Just watch the video:

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Sleep Sheep

2011-12-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

#43 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

When introducing toys I try really hard not to call anything an infant or toddler toy. I also try to stay away from babies playing with toys. I do this because so many of our children are playing with these toys for years, not just as young children. However, I really want to show you this toy and the only pictures and video I can find is of babies. Please excuse me.

The toy is Sleep Sheep by Cloud B. It velcros on to the bed and then makes sounds to soothe your child. It makes four different sounds: a heartbeat, rain, whale noises, and ocean waves. The white noise helps a child sleep and when they sleep we, as parents, are much nicer people.

Here is a commercial for Sleep Sheep where you can hear all the different sounds. Hope this helps one of you to get a better night sleep. Happy Dreams.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Toys R Us Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

2011-12-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

#42 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

The Toys R Us Guide for Differently-Abled Kids is another place to get good ideas for gifts. They have been putting out the guide for 20 years with the help of the National Lekotek Center. The Guide is 64 pages with tons of suggestions. There are too many choices that require batteries--but that is just my opinion, these maybe the toys you are looking for.

Some of my favorite toys from this list are old favorites. When my son was young his all time most used toy was a See 'n Say from Fisher-Price. He liked it so much we needed to have one on every floor of the house. For his third birthday, every child in his inclusive preschool told their parent they needed to buy Samuel a See 'n Say.

As you know if you have read this series a lot, I love open ended construction toys. The Guide includes Legos. All time great toy!

The Guide includes Chunky Puzzles from Melissa and Doug:

The O-Ball from Rhino Toys is an awesome ball that makes throwing and catching easier:

The one toy that I hadn't seen before that I really liked was Educational Insights Teachable Touchables Texture Squares. Here is the product description, "Scratchy, slippery, silky, or soft? Young learners build tactile awareness and vocabulary skills as they interact with these twenty texture squares (ten different pairs) in a variety of hands-on activities. Each textured pillow or patch is approximately 2" to 3" in size to fit perfectly in small hands and in the handy cloth drawstring bag. Includes a Tip Sheet packed with fun activities that touch on matching, vocabulary, communication and tactile discrimination skills."

Have fun exploring the Toys R Us Guide for Differently-Abled Kids!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Time to Play Magazine's Special Needs Toy Guide

2011-12-11T06:00:00.003-05:00

#41 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Here is another source for great toy ideas for this holiday: Time to Play Magazine's Special Needs Toy Guide. It is written by a mom who has a child with autism. She, too, has learned that you don't always need to purchase the most expensive therapy tool for your child. There are many off the shelf toys that help your child develop. Make sure you click on her links to see all of the toy recommendations.

My favorite two toys on her list are: The Sensory Balls Mega Pack and Gears, Gears, Gears. Here is what the author wrote about the Sensory Balls: "This all-in-one pack provides great sensory feedback to any child. It comes with four colorful nubby balls in a variety of colors. The mega pack includes two 7-inch balls and two 4-inch balls in see-through and opaque colors. The bright colors will captivate your child visually, while the nubs provide great feedback to their upper extremities (fingers, hands, arms). The nubby texture provides a massage-like sensation. Try rolling the ball on their legs, arms, back and belly to awaken their senses. My son loves to hug these as it will stimulate a larger area of his body all at once. You can use the sensory balls for gross motor skills as well by practicing throwing, kicking and catching the balls."

Here is what Fat Brain Toys has to say about Gears, Gears, Gears. "Clever first building sets can be hard to find. The beginning gears set from Learning Resources inspires learning and sends young minds spinning with the possibilities! Sized right for small hands, vivid toy gears encourage fine motor skills, creativity and problem solving. The colorful, 95-piece set of gears includes plenty of extras for unlimited fun: gears, pillars, connectors, cranks to set creations in motion and interlocking plates for limitless building. All pieces are compatible with all Gears! Gears! Gears! building sets."

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Holiday Toys Ideas from Love That Max

2011-12-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

#40 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

I promised you some other holiday gift guides for children with special needs. One of the best lists out there is from Ellen at Love that Max. She sent toys to families that are raising children with disabilities and had them review the toys. The families also took pictures of their child playing with the toy. The pictures are just wonderful.

My favorite toy on her list is First Act Discovery Illumitrex 5 Light Up Electronic Drum Pad It is, of course, one of the most expensive items on the list at $100. I think I like it best because the young man that reviewed the toy looks and acts like my Samuel. The rest of the toys on the list are great as well.

With light-up drumheads, the drum pad delivers rhythm and flashing fun. Players can choose from 16 rhythm and 4 music styles as well as three playing modes.

Music plays an important role in every child's development. Beginning at birth, music stimulates the brain and provides a platform for listening, language and creativity.

Music enhances a child's:

Intellectual development
Inspires imagination and creativity
Develops abstract reasoning skills
Promotes concentration and memory retention
Sharpens problem-solving skills
Emotional development
Boosts self-confidence
Builds self-discipline
Makes learning fun
Physical development
Sharpens hand-eye coordination
Hones sense of rhythm
Social interaction
Encourages self-expression
Builds relationships with peers

Love That Max is currently giving away two $50 T.J. Maxx/Marshalls gift cards. To enter, go to Love That Max and share: What are you planning to get for your kids' teachers and/or therapists? The giveaway is open until Tuesday, December 13 at 11:59 EST, and is for U.S. residents 18 and older. Good Luck!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: ThinkFun

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

#39 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

ThinkFun's mission is to translate the brilliant ideas of the craziest mathematicians, engineers and inventors into simple toys that can be appreciated by boys and girls around the world. They have done a pretty good job of meeting their mission. They make wonderful games and brainteaser puzzles that are enjoyed from the beginner to the expert. Rush Hour has kept many people in this household engaged for hours on end.

Many of the puzzles are perfect for a child that likes to play alone and who is good at figure things out. Children from the ages of 5-6, which is when a child can developmentally understand game playing. The games pictured above are all designed for this age group.

ThinkFun's games win awards every year. Just look at what they have won this year alone:

Bug Trails™--Simple strategy, visual matching game play

Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence Award - 2011

Cartoon It!™-- A fun, fast-paced memory game with an artistic approach. The game promotes drawing and memory skills.
Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award - 2011
Parents Choice Recommended Award - 2011
Dr. Toy Best 100 Products Awards - 2011

Best Toys Guide "Best Board Game" - 2011

Gordian's Knot™--The World's hardest brainteaser
TD Magazines Top-10 Most Wanted Puzzles - 2011

HyperSwipe™--A visual memory game that requires fast-matching of popping patterns!
Creative Child Magazine Game of the Year Award - 2011

MathDice Jr.™--Roll the 12-sided Target Die to obtain your target number, then roll the five 6-sided Scoring Dice. Using addition and/or subtraction, combine the Scoring Dice to match the target number, moving one space on the track for every Scoring Die used.Toy of the Year Nominee - 2011

PathWords™--Where Word Search and Visual-Logic Puzzles Meet. It a tetris game, word game, and brainteaser all in one.
Games Magazine Game of the Year - 2012
ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award Winner - 2011
Parents’ Choice Gold Seal Award - 2011
Creative Child Magazine Puzzle of the Year Award - 2011
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award - 2011
National Association for Gifted Children Honorable Mention - 2011

Raging Rapids™--A new take on a traditional jigsaw puzzle, this whitewater adventure challenges players to put each of twelve paddlers in the right seat.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award - 2011
Parents’ Choice Gold Award - 2011

Rush Hour®--Better than a brain teaser, Rush Hour is a premier sliding block puzzle designed to challenge your sequential thinking skills.
ASTRA Best Toys for Kids: Classic Play Nominee - 2011

Rush Hour® App (iOs & Android)
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award - 2011
Parents Choice Gold Seal Award - 2011
Children’s Technology Review - Editor’s Choice Award - 2011
Babble.com Top 25 Android Apps for Kids - 2011

Rush Hour® Deluxe Edition
TD Magazines Top-10 Most Wanted Puzzles - 2011
TD Magazines Best Selling Specialty Toy -2011

Snack Attack™--Start play by cranking the Spinner Platter to reveal seven Snack Tokens, then race to match these tokens to the foods already on your plate.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Seal Award - 2011
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award - 2011
Parents’ Choice Recommended Award - 2011
Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award - 2011
ASTRA Best Toys for Kids: Game Play (ages 3-7) Nominee - 2011

Solitaire Chess™--A sequential logic puzzle based on the rules of Chess
Toy of the Year Nominee - 2011
Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award - 2011
Parents’ Choice Gold Award - 2011
Parents’ Choice Silver Award Seal - 2010

Solitaire Chess™ App (iOs & Android)
Parents Choice Gold Award - 2011

Swish™-- A spatial card game that challenges you to be the first to make matches, otherwise known as Swishes. Swishes are made by layering cards so that every ball swishes in the hoop of the same color.
Parents’ Choice Silver Honors Seal Award - 2011

Nominated for Educational Toy of the Year (TOTY) - 2012

Tilt™--Choose one of the challenge cards and set your pieces. Using the innovative tilting game board, your goal is to slide the green sliders through the center exit hole. To make your job a bit trickier, the blue sliders must stay on the grid at all times!

Nominated for Specialty Toy of the Year (TOTY) - 2012

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Seal Award - 2011
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award – 2011
Parents’ Choice Gold Award - 2011
ASTRA Best Toys for Kids: Game Play (8+) Nominee - 2011
Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award - 2011
National Association for Gifted Children Recommended Toy - 2011

Zingo!® -- Kids get a kick out of pulling the Zinger forward to reveal two mystery tiles and attempting to be the first to call out the tiles that match the images on their cards.
ASTRA Best Toys for Kids: Classic Play Nominee - 2011
TD Magazines Top-10 Most Wanted Games - 2011

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Kid O

2011-12-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

#38 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Kid O Toys is another company that makes really well designed toys. Toys that have opportunities to explore built right in. Their toys engage and stimulate children again and again with a rich variety of shapes, colors, and sizes — so the possibilities for open-ended, creative play are limitless. The last sentence was from Kid O's home page.

Kid O makes wonderful puzzles and stacking toys. They also make unique toys like Bilibo and Babal.
They have a new line called Seedlings which are pretend play and make your own superheros cape, puzzle, kite and more.

Here are Bilibo and Babal in action:

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Fat Brain Toys

2011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

As I am sure you have figured out already, I am a big fan of Fat Brain Toys. They have a wonderful selection of educational and fun and award-winning customer service. I don't know if you are aware that they also make their own toys. Their most newest toy, Tobbles (seen above), has recently been nominated as the 2012 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards in the Specialty Toy category by the Toy Industry Association.

If you are interested, you can influence who actually wins the Toy of the Year by voting at the TOTY Website.

You can win a set of Tobbles or 7 other toys that have been featured in this year's series at Florida Crossroads Magazine. You need to sign up by December 9th. Good Luck!

Look how fun Tobbles are:

Throughout the years I have written about other Fat Brain Toys, including Brain Food, Dado Cubes, Twigs, and Dado Cardboard Blocks.

Fat Brain Toys also makes constructions toys, a selection of games, puzzles and more.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: P'kolino Toys

2011-12-06T06:00:00.027-05:00

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

I love the well made and creative toys from P'kolino Toys. The company was started by two dads that wanted to improve the way we play at home. The company is incredibly generous giving back to such organizations as Best Buddies, The Toy Industry Foundation and Give Wink Drive.

Currently they are sponsoring a unique auction to support the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital located in Florida. P'kolino, creators of playfully smart children products, has teamed up with several artists one-of-a-kind art pieces! The pieces will be auction on ebay until December 10th and will be exhibited during the Miami Art Basel at the Genius Jones Store in South Beach from Dec. 1st to the 10th. Bid Now!

I like P'kolino Toys so much that have written about them often. Read the other posts about:

P'kolino Stackers More P'kolino Stackers P'kolino Puzzles and P'kolino Art Supplies

P'kolino also makes children's Furniture that I have enjoyed seeing when at Toy Fair. Here are a couple of pieces, but you should check at the entire line.

This is the Soft Silly Seating which comes in many different colors.

And this is the P'kolino Klick Desk

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Manhattan Toys

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

#35 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

The next two weeks are when most of us really buckle down and get our shopping done for the holidays. After all Chanukah is only 15 days away. It will be here before I even finish the last couple of toys. Christmas shoppers have a little bit more time--20 more days. Therefore, for the next two weeks, I am going to be talking about my favorite toy companies--which means I will point out multiple toys that I love. I will also point you to other holiday toy guides for children with special needs. With these I will share with you my favorite toy on the list.

We are going to start with Manhattan Toys. When I requested ideas from parents on what toys to include this year, one parent told me "Anything from Manhattan Toys" So here we go...

Manhattan Toys have a variety of different brands including Automoblox, Whoozit, Groovy Girls, and more. I have written about Automoblox in a prior post.

I really like the Whoozit brand. They are wonderful for children working on cause and effect. They also provide excellent sensory input. The Whoozit Table Top Toy has a suction cup on it making it easy to put on a wheelchair try. The Discovery Ball has crinkly stars, mirror, textured fabrics, ribbons, rolling beads, and teething rings.

Manhattan Toys also make the classic Swkish. An absolute favorite in our family for years.

Manhattan Toys makes about 500 different products. You shouldn't have any problem finding a toy that meets your child's needs. Have fun shopping.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Emotion Stamps

2011-12-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

#34 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

I love Ready2learn Giant Stamps. They are easy for children to use with their big handles. This stamp isn't from the feelings collection, but you can get an idea of how big the handle is and see that includes a picture of what the stamp will look that on the outside. The circular stamps are 3".

There are tons of different kits that you can purchase if your child really likes this type of art. The feelings kit comes with 10 stamps-- happy - sad - nervous - surprised - mad - content - scared - tired - sick - confused. This lets your child express their emotions in real detail. As in the other toys we discussed over the last week, there are many ways that you can use the stamps. You could have a piece of paper on your refrigerator and when your child wants to let you know how they are feeling, they go get the correct stamp and make an image on the paper.

Don't forget to purchase one or two ink pads. Ready2learn's ink pads are also nicely designed. The fact that they are so big enables a child to put the stamp down on the ink easily.

We purchased the alphabet stamps when my daughter was three. She used the stamps all the way through middle school on her school presentations. These are a great quality.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Make Your Own Monster

2011-12-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

#33 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Make Your Own Monster Puppet lets kids' imaginations run wild with all the different ways to design their puppet. It is an opportunity for a child to vocalize what they may feel; but not really say themselves. They can also use the different parts to design a puppet that represents different moods. Take a look:

The toy comes with one Puppet body, 30 puppet pieces and a storage bag. There are hooks and loops to connect the pieces. Puppet play inspires imagination, communication, creativity, socialization, fine motor skills, motor-planning, sensory awareness & interaction. Children love manipulating their puppet creations, expressing feelings, making up stories, and sharing ideas.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Goosie Cards

2011-12-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

#32 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

If you want flashcards that are personalized, then you want Goosie Cards. Goosie Cards will enable you to take pictures of different people in your family with different facial expressions. Then download the pictures at Walgreens and create your own cards.

It is very easy to create the Flashcards. They have 200 free pictures you can choose from if you don't want to use your own pictures or if you want a combination. They have a selection of emotion pictures as well as other categories.

You can get the Everyday Collection (which is shown above) for $1.99 per card. You need to make at least 10, which would cost $19.99. They are laminated on a thick card stock, 4-1/4 x 7-1/2. Each flashcard has one picture and up to 5 lines of text. If you want the cards to be as heavy as a credit card, then you will want the Signature Collection. With the Signature Collection you can add borders and get free hole punching. This collection costs $27.99 for 10 cards.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Emotion Flashcards

2011-12-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

#31 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Some children need to see actual people having emotions rather than characters in plush or in books. That is why Learning Stages' Emotion Flashcards are a great tool. There are 80 cards. Half of the images are against a plain background, showing only the upper body and face, and clearly depicting a single emotion, so the children can begin to understand and recognize basic facial expression. There are a distinct 5 emotions: happy, sad, angry, disgusted, and surprised. The remaining cards show people in real situations and activities with natural settings and contexts, inviting discussion about a range of emotions, why the people may feel that way, and possible responses to these feelings. With these cards, you have an opportunity to talk about a wider range of emotions.

The back of each card is numbered, provides a label for the featured image, and lists suggested activities for which the card is targeted. This makes it easy for you to use them with your child. An activity booklet is included and provides more detailed ideas. Each hi-gloss card is 3½" x 5".

Learning Stages has many other Flashcard sets geared to help children with autism learn language. They also provide free downloads of flashcards on their website. One of their suggestions is that when your child is having difficulty expressing how they feel, you give him/her the cards and ask him/her to point to what they are feeling.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Blunders Game

2011-11-30T06:00:00.005-05:00

#30 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Blunders is a fun game that teaches about social and dining etiquette. It is designed for children 5 and over, which is good as most children can not understand games until they are this age. The game also encourages a child to learn through their own learning style as the questions come in charade, multiple choice and true/false formats. It is very interactive. As a result it develops childrens' logic, kinesthectic, auditory and visual skills.

As children try to help Bobby, Brenda, Billy, and Becky Blunder improve their manners, they learn about:

Polite table manners and set the table properly
Introducing themselves with confidence
Using nice manners at school
Treating others with respect, empathy, and kindness
Being a gracious guest and host
Having polite telephone manners
Understanding the benefits of having good manners

The game gets great reviews from both parents and teachers. Many of them spoke of working with children with disabilities and that the game was beneficial in changing behaviors. They also said that the game works when for children of a lot of ages. In addition, the game was the winner of the "Game of the Year Award" from Creative Child Magazine and 9 other prestigious Toy and Game awards.

The game includes:

300 questions in 3 card decks to teach social and dining etiquette: “Dine with the Blunders,” “Play with the Blunders,” and “At Home with the Blunders”
6 types of interactive, funny, and challenging types of questions: Charade, multiple choice, true/false, scenario, reward, and consequence
1 beautiful, hand-illustrated game board with “seek and find” objects
1 Meet the Blunders story booklet that cleverly introduces the Blunders’ characters and their neighbors, the Mannerlys
9 reward tokens
9 table setting cards, which players use to learn how to properly set the table
4 pawns of the Blunder children: Becky, Bobby, Brenda, and Billy Blunder

If you purchase the game, let me know how your child like it.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: WorryWoo Books and Stuffed Animals

2011-11-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

#29 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

WorryWoos books and animals are another great way to discuss emotions with your children. WorryWoos has been chosen as a winner in the 2011 Fat Brain Toy Awards which means that visitors to Fat Brain Toys have chosen it as the best-of-the-best in specialty toys, games, and gifts. Fat Brain Toys has a wonderful description:

WorryWoos - they’ve all got little worries, just like us – and that’s okay.

Cute little WorryWoo monster books teach kids big important things about emotions.

WorryWoo Books contribute to the understanding that it’s natural to be worried, or scared, or confused, or lonely, or undecided. Recognizing feelings is the first step towards better mental health. Each WorryWoo Monster has a corresponding plush character (sold separately) to help kids see that we all share the same feelings!

With WorryWoos, children recognize emotions and learn strategies to live in a healthy way.

Lonely & depressed?
Meet Nola! The Lonely Little Monster
She’s cuddly and green with a playful pomp of red -but Nola is also lonely and bored. Nola’s just the monster to help a child learn to look outside of themselves and reach out to others. Help her discover she has friends around her who care about her!

Meet Fuddle! The Monster Who Couldn't Decide

Fuddle can never decide things without worrying about whether she’s making the right choice… “yes or no?”, “shall I or shall I not?”, “today or tomorrow?” Remembering to speak encouraging words to herself helps Fuddle gain confidence. Fuddle is a great reminder to take hold of confidence and, “Go for it!”

Meet Rue! The Nose That Didn't Fit
Shaggy hair, wooly wings, banana-ish ears, and a nose the size of his belly – Rue feels so different that he hides. If he only knew that his unusual features make him interesting! Get to know Rue and you’ll find something out about yourself too- there are so many things that make you amazingly wonderful!

Meet Squeek! The Monster in the Bubble

The pip-squeak of the bunch, Squeek is most comfortable watching others. A shy fellow, Squeek needs to know that everyone feels shy once in a while. But guess what – stepping out to be brave has benefits!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Kimochis

2011-11-28T06:00:00.004-05:00

#28 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Communication takes more than the spoken language. To truly understand what is happening around you, you must be able to read people's expressions and body language as they speak. For many children, especially children with autism, this is an extremely difficult task. For some it never needs to be taught, but for others specific instruction in how to identify expressions and recognize moods is essential. This week I will be discussing toys that help teach this important skill.

The toy line that does the most to teach about feelings is Kimochis. The company describes them like this, "Kimochis are small pillows with a feeling (happy, sad, silly, brave) printed on one side, and a corresponding facial expression on the other. Each Kimochi character comes with a set of three feelings and a How-To Kimochis Feel Guide. The characters also have a special pocket where kids can store their "Kimochis" - or feelings. Using the characters and their Kimochis, kids can get in touch with their emotions through puppetry and play. The Feel Guide introduces the fun and quirky personalities of each character and offers parents fun tips and engaging activities to help strengthen parent child connections and develop healthy social and emotional skills."

The three levels of Kimochi communication is behavior, personality, and feelings. Each plush animal has a different personality--while inside of them is a set of feelings.

Lovey the Bird is worried.
Cat is bossy.
Huggtopus, the octopus, is overbearing.
Cloud is moody.
Bug is fearful.

Here is one way to use Kimochis:

You can purchase a box set with one of the characters. Each box set contains one of the characters, three feelings, and a fun & easy lessons in a feeling guide.

You can purchase a bag of feelings.

Or even more feelings.

Here is a video that shows how Huggtopus teaches kids in a gentle way - there is a time to be silly and a time to be serious.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head

2011-11-27T06:00:00.003-05:00

#27 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Head

Eyes

Ears

Mouth

Arm

Foot

Are these some of the words you are working on either to recognize them or the pronounce them more clearly? Then Mr. Potato Head is a great toy for you. You can practice all of those words, plus more. You can work on developing stories--where is Mrs. Potato Head going today?

How about emotions--is this something you and your child are working on? Mr. Potato Head works for that as well. Is Mr. Potato Happy? Which way would you put the mouth on if Mrs. Potato Head is sad?

So much learning from such a simple toy that many of us had when we were a child. This set has the most pieces I have ever seen with a Mr. Potato Head. 40 mix and match pieces Which can lead to rich learning, but hard to keep together. Although it comes with a case and the pieces can hit into the back of Mr. Potato Head, I would suggest keeping it in another type of container. The case isn't very stable. And it costs less than $20.

Mr. Potato body comes with 4 ears, 3 pairs of eyes, 2 sets of teeth, 4 mouths, 1 tongue, 3 noses, 3 mustaches, 1 pair of glasses, 6 arms, 1 baseball hat, 1 pair of feet, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 fireman hat, 1 fire extinguisher, 1 police hat, 1 police belt, 1 police badge, 1 handcuff, 2 thin mustaches, 1 bowtie and carry case.

Mrs. Potato body comes with 4 ears, 4 pairs of eyes, 1 set of teeth, 4 mouths, 3 tongues, 5 noses, 2 pair of sunglasses, 2 earrings, 2 flowers, 2 arms, 3 handbags, 1 pair of feet, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 flower hat, 1 ribbon hat, 2 wings, 1 pair of bunny slippers, 1 visor and carry case.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Great Fidget Toy

2011-11-26T06:00:00.002-05:00

#26 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

This is my favorite fidget toy of all time. When I go into the toy store where they have it, I pick it up and have a hard time putting it down. I like the colors and the feel of it in my hands. I hope your child likes it as well as I do.

What'Zit is a great and inexpensive, imaginative toy and a great party favor. It is the perfect fidget toy. Six brightly colored blocks strung together with elastic your child can put into whatever shape he wants. Attach two or more together and the possibilities are endless. Your child simply won't want to put it down and its hours of fun for all ages.

Have you discovered Office Playground yet? It is an amazing website to find fidget toys and other small items to play with. They are often much cheaper than a sensory or special needs catalog. The What'zit is only $3.99.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Circo Piano

2011-11-25T06:00:00.005-05:00

#25 in 50 Toys in 50 Days--Half Way There

The Circo Piano is exclusive to Target and is perfect for a child with significant cognitive disabilities. It is easy to hit and get a reaction. It provides excellent cause and effect lessons. It is simple to Velcro to a wheelchair tray or table, thus stabilizing it to ensure greater success.

The eight-key piano also works for children with cognitive abilities in the 18-24 month range, encouraging creativity and features normal and easy play settings, a microphone, numerous sound effect options, and both instrumental and musical modes. It is one of my son's favorite toys.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Pick Up Sticks

2011-11-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

#24 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Happy Thanksgiving!!

How about an old fashion game of Pick Up Sticks to play while you are waiting for dinner to be done? How about making them bigger so that hands that need some work can get in on the fun as well? Here are some other suggestions to make the game easier for our children that need to work on fine motor skills or motor planning: You can use less sticks to help a child figure out the best way to pick them up. You can drop them from up high so that get very spread out making it so there is only the challenge of picking up the stick, not having to worry about whether you move another stick.

Here are two different sets of Pick Up Sticks that are larger than the norm.

First there are Giant Pick Up Sticks from Fat Brain Toys. There are 31 sticks in this wooden set. Each stick is 3' long (36").

Second are the Giant Pick Up Sticks from Pressman Toys. It contains 30 colorful, 9-3/4" long wooden pick sticks, in a bright nostalgic container.

Last are Pick Up Sticks from Melissa and Doug. Parents rave about this product. Here is Fat Brain Toys' description of this toy. "Melissa & Doug's Past-Tyme "Classics Pick-Up Sticks" is part of a very special collection of heirloom-quality games, hand-crafted, hand-sanded, and hand-stained for generations of family play time! This pick-up sticks game is made of solid wood, painted by hand in handsome colors, and features clever storage that holds all of the pieces securely. This item is designed to add beauty to any table top! Includes 41 pieces."

Have fun this holiday season, playing family games!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Brain Noodles

2011-11-23T06:00:00.003-05:00

#23 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Brain Noodles are 18" fluffy fiber stems that resemble jumbo pipe cleaners. They bend and twist anyway you want. They are easy to hold and manipulate making it easy for someone with poor fine motor skills to be successful creating art. They provide a unique sensory feel which many children love. Your child can make simple to complex sculptures including things to add to their dress up play. They are great to have around during the holidays when you need to occupy your children and don't want to make a huge mess.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Doodle Track Car

2011-11-22T06:00:00.004-05:00

#22 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

The Doodle-Track Car follows the line your child makes with a black or blue marker. You draw the track and the car goes. Make sure that you are using a thick marker so that you have success. In the picture above you can see that the boys have drawn an entire scene for their car to drive through.

If your child cannot hold a marker or loves designing on the computer, you can go to the Doodle Track website and create your race track using the computer. This provides an easy way for a child to be creative and witness the results of their imagination. On the computer you get to choose how big you want to make your track (remember that you need to print it out so watch the size). Then you choose the track--straight, up and down, curved, etc. Finally you can add stop signs, grass and bushes, houses and businesses. Then you print it out and put the car on it and it goes.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Perplexus Rookie

2011-11-21T06:00:00.004-05:00

#21 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

During the Week of Thanksgiving, I am going to talk about a variety of toys. They don't fit nicely into any of the categories, I am covering this year. Also, because we are all so busy this week, most of the recommendations are very short with a video to accompany them so that you can see the toy in action.

So have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is the first toy of the week. It is a great toy in which to work on logic and reasoning as well as motor planning. Children and adults that like brain teasers as well as those that like playing individual games will like Perplexus. It is a good toy for traveling as it can keep someone busy for a long time and there are no loose pieces.

I recommend the Perplexus Rookie to start with, but if you have someone in your family that is really good at puzzles like this there is also the original Perplexus and the Perplexus Epic.

According to Fat Brain Toys, "Rookie Perplexus offers newcomers to Perplexus a three-dimensional puzzle challenge like no other. 75 barriers to your success draw you into the action. This puzzle maze twists and turns, takes you in and out, down dips and around winding spirals.

Guide the metal ball toward the maze finish. Maneuver surprising routes of challenge that test your hand-eye coordination, focus and perseverance. The biggest reward of Perplexus Rookie is tough to distinguish. Is it found in the fun along the way… or the moment when the metal ball finally reaches its destination?

6.5 Inches in Diameter, Perplexus Rookie is filled with layers of detailed maze structures. It’s a brainteaser puzzle with facets you’ll find both fascinating and mind-bending. A shelter finish keeps the ball in place at the end to secure your success because after this remarkable achievement you’re going to want to show the whole family!"

The Perplexus Rookie is easy to play, but challenging to complete. As seen in the video below, you need to flip, twist and turn the sphere to solve the puzzle. The perpluexus improves hand-eye coordination and spatial relations. It also develops motor and dexterity skills.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Outdoor Games

2011-11-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

#20 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Remember when you would spend hours jumping rope and doing rhythm songs? How about when you played Mother May I or Horseshoes? I have strong memories of skipping rope at school--but I don't remember how any of the songs went. I also have strong memories of playing with my cousins in their backyard just making up new rules to old games.

If you want to promote this type of free play, but are like me and having trouble remembering, here are some books that will help you teach your children the games we played as children.

The award-winning Sidewalk Games by Eeboo features games that have your child drawing, hopping, rolling & developing strategies. The Sidewalk Games set includes sidewalk chalk, a rolling coin, and easy to follow instructions.

Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes helps you remember the jump roping songs of your youth. Some may not be appropriate for this generation, but with 101 songs you can pick the best ones.

Here is the description from Booklist of another Sidewalk Games book "From Freeze Tag to Rooster Romp, this compact, uncomplicated title guides children through a wide assortment of playground games. The first three sections group games according to category: tag and running games, jump rope, and ball games. The final section, "Let's Compete," is more random, putting Limbo and Duck, Duck, Goose in the same section. Each game's description is brief, but it provides all the necessary instructions in clear, accessible language."

If you have a Kindle, here is a 99 cent book for you to check out: Games for Kids - 77 Exciting Indoor and Outdoor Games for Children - Free and Low Cost Fun Children's Play Activities for Boys and Girls! - For Any Child Age 5 and Up!

Enjoy Playing!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Switch Pitch

2011-11-19T06:00:00.004-05:00

#19 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Switch Pitch is an easy to throw ball that is exciting to play with. As you toss it up in the air or from one person to another it flips and changes colors. It is excellent motivation for a child to use their fine and gross motor skills.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Trampoline

2011-11-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

#18 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

The Jump Start Trampoline is especially great for children with autism who need the proprioceptive input of jumping. It is perfect for keeping the child who needs to be active indoors. It features a five-in-one multi-game sound system that can enhance skills in counting, music and rhythm, sound recognition and memory. So offers the opportunity for additional learning while jumping.

Jumping on a trampoline helps children figure out where they are in space and helps them begin to feel the pressure through their joints and muscles. The trampoline can help a child reduce their stress.

The soft safety cushion ensures that your child will remain safe while using the trampoline. The trampoline’s maximum weight is 80 lbs. It should always be used with adult supervision. Be prepared many of the reviews say that it is a little difficult to put together, but very worth the effort.

Here is a video showing how one child uses it. This will give you the idea of how the sounds work. You don't need to watch the whole thing : )

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Spooner Board

2011-11-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

#17 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Using the Spooner Board, riders of all abilities can pretend they are catching a wave, riding the slopes, or burning up the asphalt without leaving the comfort of the family room. Designed for beginners, kids starting at age 3 can simulate spins, twists, slides, wobbles, and more, while getting a workout. The wide base makes this perfect for working on gross motor skills including improving balance and coordination. Children of all ages and abilities can use the Spooner Board. There are three sizes. Spooner Boards are made in the US.

Here is a video where you can see all the different ways that a Spooner Board can be used. The video is a little long, but you can get the idea within the first 30 seconds.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Ace Flyer Teeter-Totter

2011-11-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

#16 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

If you want your backyard to be the one where all the kids want to play then invest in this exciting teeter-totter.

The Ace Flyer Teeter Totter holds up to 7 children. You can really encourage socialization and eye contact with this play event. It moves both back-and-forth and side-to-side providing therapeutic benefit for children with sensory processing disorder. Two of the seats have backs and I would bet with a little work it wouldn't be hard to add a seat belt or you could use a strip of Velcro to help hold up your child. It is weather resistant and can hold up to 600 lbs.

It is a little pricey at $300, but depending on your child's needs and interests, may just be worth it. You can get it at Hearthsong. Bounce Over for Outdoor Fun at HearthSong!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Swings

2011-11-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

#15 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Everyone loves swings. Many children with disabilities especially like to swing as the vestibular motion helps develop their sensory systems. I know that my son would spend all day in a swing if we would let him.

Here are some swings that I found that you maybe able to easily adapt so that your child can swing everyday. All of the swings are available from Hearthsong.

This is the Round and Round Outdoor Swing. Kids can sit in a variety of positions on the handwoven seat that features a tight weave so small hands and feet won't fall through. To use it: attach to a strong tree limb. It is designed for children 5 and up and takes up to 110 lbs.

This Swing Seat and Tote can be hung either outside or inside.

This HugglePod™ Indoor Canvas Hanging Chair can also be used either indoors or outdoors. Its snug fit is perfect for children who need deep touch. It is designed for children 4-12 years old and will hold up to 175 lbs.

The portable Rainy Day Platform Swing hangs in a door frame. The wood composite platform is topped with a washable foam surface and mounts with included hardware onto the required metal Indoor Playground Support Bar (which is sold separately). Dismounted, the board's plastic rollers make it a scooter kids can ride across hard surfaces. It is designed for children 2 years and up.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Outdoor Play

2011-11-14T06:00:00.004-05:00

#14 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Did you know?

That a new analysis of recent eye health studies shows that more time spent outdoors is related to reduced rates of nearsightedness in children and adolescents. Read more
That the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says free and unstructured play is healthy and - in fact - essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.
That The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that children and adolescents should do 1 hour (60 minutes) or more of physical activity every day and most likely your children are not doing this.
That approximately one-fifth of American children are obese and that obesity in people with physical and cognitive disabilities is even higher than that.

For these reasons and much more, I am supporting the Every Day is a Play Day Challenge. Polarn O. Pyret and ActiveKidsclub.com are challenging everyone to get their kids outdoors everyday this week. They are asking parents to get their kids outside EVERY DAY--even if it is raining, muddy, windy or cold. They want to hear about kids walking and biking to school, on the playground, jumping in leaves, exploring the woods and just plain getting out, no matter the weather. I totally agree with their philosophy: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

Like both Polarn O. Pyret and ActiveKidsClub.com Facebook pages and during the week of Novemeber 14th - 19th share your fun ideas with them on how you embrace the elements. Get deals, win prizes and participate in chats on how we can best embrace the elements with some fun outdoor play ideas.

I will be helping by recommending great Outdoor Toys all week. To get you started here are other Outdoor Toys that I have recommended in the past. Many of the links may not work, but all of these toys are still available and still highly recommended.

Gripper Balls
WePlay
Rody Horse
YBikes
Dodge Tag
Balance Bikes
Plasma Car

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Rainbow Sound Blocks

2011-11-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

#13 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Rainbow Sound Blocks are a great sensory blocks. They have interesting colors and sounds. With these introductory blocks, your child can practice sorting, matching and association skills. Looking through the blocks, children will see the world in different colors. They can learn to make new colors by layering transparent blocks. Yellow and red make…orange. Blue and yellow make…green. And so on. Each block has different kinds of beads inside so that each one makes a different sound.

The Wonderworld Rainbow Sound Blocks are comprised of wood and transparent multi-colored plastic, and are filled with rattling beads that produce different tones when shaken. They are artistically designed and eco-consciously constructed. The set of two circles, two rectangles and two squares stack in the rubber wood box frame for easy storage.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Dado Cardboard Blocks

2011-11-12T06:00:00.003-05:00

#12 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

If you are looking for big cardboard blocks, I can recommend Dado Cardboard Bricks. Dado Bricks are interlocking which ensures that when they are stacked they won't easily tumble and retain a rigid structure. Dado Bricks enable little children, especially those 2 to 5 years old, the opportunity to advance in logical thinking skills, refine motor skills, and explore in a big way through imaginative play!

Dado Cardboard Bricks do require assembling. But as you can see at the beginning of this video, they are not difficult to put together.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Makedo

2011-11-11T06:00:00.003-05:00

#11 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Gather up items from around your house: cereal boxes, egg cartons, fabric, toilet paper rolls, whatever you have laying around. Then using Makedo connectors, build anything that you and your child can imagine. It is easy and fun and teaches how to recycle and re-purpose.

Watch the video to see how it works:

You can buy many different size containers of connectors. You can find them at Amazon or Fat Brain Toys. There are also kits that include theme stickers for building a car, house, robot or dollhouse.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Rubbabu

2011-11-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

#10 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

I love all the Rubbabu products; they just feel so great in your hands. The toys are made from natural rubber foam. They are then covered with (flocked over with) nylon flock which is sourced from the finest flock company in the world: Swicofil in Switzerland. Natural Rubber Foam, besides being durable and flexible and mostly stronger than synthetic foams, is also anti microbial, is dust mite resistant, mildew resistant, hypo-allergenic and flame retardant. Natural rubber foam is made from the sap of the rubber tree, the tree does not even have to be cut unlike wooden items. Being natural, it is biodegradable, except for the nylon covering and the ABS used in tire axles / hubs.

Their toys have won every toy award out there. I talked about their Vehicles and Balls in previous postings as amazing sensory toys. Today I am introducing blocks and playsets. The high quality building blocks are truly unique. They are large in size, and are constructed from a durable rubber material. They are soft and squishy, yet sturdy and durable. They will gently bounce when tossed, making them safer for indoor fun. These great rubber building blocks are nice and soft, so they are far less likely to hurt someone or break anything when someone gets carried away, or an accident happens.

If you want to add cars, trees, or animals to the block city your child is building, then there are Rubbabu Playsets.

There are different sets. The one pictured above is the City Life Playset. There are also Animal Farm and Water World Playsets. They come with 9 pieces and a mat. They are easily stored in a cardboard box or just added to your bins of blocks. They will add to the imagination play as well as providing a great sensory experience.

Your child will love anything Rubbabu!

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Tegu Toys

2011-11-09T06:00:00.004-05:00

#9 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Tegu Blocks were recommended to me by my friend Angela Carney Alcerro who works at Lakeshore Learning Materials. She war right. These are really great blocks, especially for children who are working on their fine motor skills.

They are beautifully made wooden blocks with magnetics embedded in each one. So they stick together, making it easier for a child to build without knocking the blocks down accidentally. They are made with hard wood. Safely embedded magnets that you don't even see and a water based coating.

The brothers who started Tegu Toys are committed to making a difference in one of the poorest countries in the world. Tegu is derived from Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. This new toy company is making a lasting difference in the lives of Hondurans and the country’s economy. Paying living wages, making possible long-term career growth and partnering with local schools to send children to school, the Tegu company is helping Hondurans on many levels. Harvesting wood responsibly, each tree is hand selected at maturity for use, facilitating the forest’s natural regeneration cycle.

Learn more about their efforts in this video narrated by one of the brothers who started this innovative company.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Plan Toys Blocks

2011-11-08T06:00:00.018-05:00

#8 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

If you are looking for a high quality set of blocks, then those from Plan Toys is an excellent choice as is any toy which is designed and manufactured by Plan. Plan Toys' toys are all eco-friendly and the company was "Green" before green was green. They were the first company to use wood from rubber trees that no longer provide latex. Their manufacturing processes are also designed to to reduce waste. One of the company's main philosphies is to practice the 3R's of green living: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Their overall mission is to encourage creative play in a postitive learning environment.

This set 50 piece construction set is nice size set to start with. If you determine that your child loves blocks you can always add to your collection. It is only $20 and has 36 natural blocks and 14 colored blocks.

If you are interested in spending a little more money and want to purchase a Unit Block Set, Plan also has a 50 Unit Block Set which sells for less than $50.

Either one of these sets will make a great start to your building collection.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Blocks and Construction

2011-11-07T06:00:00.008-05:00

#7 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Blocks are so important to a child's development, that I am going to dedicate an entire week to different kinds of blocks and building materials.

Good wood blocks are expensive, no doubt about it. View as an investment. After your children finish with them 13 years or so down the line, you can save them for your grandchildren. As a baby gift, go in with 3-4 friends and purchase some good blocks, your friend will thank you. There are also many new block sets out there that are not anywhere that expensive.

Here is what a child learns from playing with blocks:

Stack and Pile
Share
Cooperate
Build the strength in their fingers and hands
Eye-hand coordination
Understand perspectives.
Develop skills in design, representation, balance and stability
Build vocabularies
Develop skills of grouping and sorting
Add
Subtract
Multiply
Gravity
Balance
Geometry
Creativity
About self in space
Impulse control
Longer attention spans
Boost Language development
Classify
Measure
Order
Count
Use fractions
Become aware of depth, width, length, symmetry, and shape
Wonder and exploration
Problem solve
Planning
Develop dispositions toward curiosity and learning
Dramatic Play
AND SO MUCH MORE

Read previous posting about blocks (you will see again how much I love blocks and construction toys)
Bumpity Blocks
Twigs
Stonees
Magneatos Jumbos
My Soft World
Dado Cubes
K'nex Kids
Wedgits
Q-BA-MAZE

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Imigaplay Puzzles

2011-11-06T06:00:00.045-05:00

#6 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Have you discovered ImagiPLAY puzzles yet? They are eco-friendly, creative, and fun to play with.

Some of the puzzles have your child working on their alphabet or numbers.

ImagiPLAY Butterfly Alphabet

ImagiPLAY Number Snail

There are puzzles that you can color:

ImagiPLAY ColorMeUp Love Bears

There are puzzles that enable your child to take the pieces and use them as separate pieces.

ImagiPLAY Rainforerst Puzzle/Playset

ImagiPLAY puzzles are made from plantation-grown, chemical-free rubberwood. Rubber trees produce a sap that is used to make latex products. At the end of their latex-producing years (generally 25-30 years) the trees are harvested and new ones planted. The wood used to be burned, until people realized these wonderful trees had one more gift to give, that of their beautiful hardwood, which many companies now use to make hardwood toys.

ImagiPLAY puzzles are made in small, mostly family run factories around Asia. Their factories are placed close to the neighborhoods where their workers live. The majority of their factory workers walk or ride their bikes to work each day. Just another way the company strives to be green.

The staff of ImagiPLAY visits every factory to insure:

There is no child labor

Workers are paid a fair, living wage

Workers are provided with a clean, safe environment to work

Workers are treated with respect and dignity

Only local workers are utilized

Here are more examples of ImagiPLAY puzzles. You can purchase ImagiPLAY puzzles on Amazon or at YoYo.com

Majestic Oak Puzzle by ImagiPlay

ImagiPLAY Monkey Tree

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Your Own Name Puzzle

2011-11-05T06:00:00.006-04:00

#5 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

With the name MARA, I was never able to have any of those name toys. They just didn't make a Mara one. Neither do they make one that says SHOSHANA, so I wasn't able to fix the problem for my daughter. Now too late for her, but not for you, I found out that Fat Brain Toys is now carrying a personalized puzzle for less than $25.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling a child gets when they see their own name in a puzzle. Kids feel special, unique, noticed, important when they get something that has their name.

Each of these name puzzles are custom created. It doesn't matter if your child has an uncommon name or it is spelled differently, they will make this puzzle just for you.

You can get the puzzle, which is made of high quality wood letters, in either solid primary colors or soft pastels. The individual letter sizes are 2" by 3".

Encourage logic abilities, fine motor skills, letter recognition, name spelling, and early self esteem with a personalized name puzzle.

If you want other suggestions about puzzles and why they are important, read some other postings I have done in other years: Melissa and Doug puzzles. Seasonal Puzzles, and Multi-Solution Puzzles,

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Imaginative Play

2011-11-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

#4 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

It's lunchtime! Are you interested in sandwiches or pizza today? What type of sandwich can I get you? These will be the questions your child will be asking with Green Toys' newest editions to their line of eco-friendly toys.

Green Toys Sandwich Shop or Pizza Maker are great for children’s imaginations. Your child will be taking orders, creating sandwiches and serving guests. While serving you lunch, your child is working on writing, memory, speech, and many other cognitive skills.

The Sandwich Shop comes with 15 pieces including two bread slices, bun top and bottom, burger patty, fillet, two cheese slices, lettuce leaf, tomato, two sets of onions, one red pepper, one set of pickles, and Sandwich Shop order form.

While the Pizza Parlor comes with 4 pizza crusts, 20 pizza toppings (4 sauce, 4 cheese, 4 sets pepperoni, 2 sets mushrooms, 2 sets onions, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, 1 red tomato, and 1 green tomato), pizza cutter, Pizza Parlor order forms, and pizza "delivery" box.

Each realistic part is made in the USA from food-safe, 100% recycled plastic milk containers which save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Toys for Children with and without Disabilities: Dress Up

2011-11-03T06:00:00.003-04:00

#3 in 50 Toys in 50 Days

Playing Dress Up is a rite of childhood. Children love to put on special clothes and pretend to be someone or something else. As adults we should encourage pretend play as much as possible as a child learns an incredible amount while playing.

Here a just a few skills that child works on while doing dress-up:

Feeling empathy
Increasing their vocabulary
Exploring imagination
Thinking in the abstract
Building social skills such as taking turns, cooperation and socialization
Problem solving
Acquiring confidence and a sense of self

Setting the environment for dress-up is easy. First get a box and decorate it as storage for the dress-up or alternatively use an old suitcase for storage. Add to the box, old Halloween costumes, scarves or jewelry that you no longer want or old dresses or shirts. Then you can make a run to your local Goodwill pick up other items for your child's dress-up box. You have now created an exciting gift for your child that didn't cost you very much money.

If you want to add one exciting costume, HearthSong Toys & Games has some really wonderful ones. I really like the Fairy and Butterfly wings.

Have a great time dressing up. What are your favorite dress-up stories?

Toys for Children with Disabilities: 50 Toys in 50 Days from 2010

2011-11-02T12:11:00.006-04:00

#2 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Part of Let Kids Play annual Holiday Toy Guide

Before I start with another 50+ toys, I thought I would refresh your memory of the toys I recommended last year. I covered about 85 different toys in 8 categories. I will not be repeating any of these toys this year--so it is a little like getting 100 toy recommendations.

What were your favorite and successful toys from last holiday season? I love to share your ideas with others, so if you tell us your story, I will be sure to add your toy to our list.

The 2010 list is divided by the toy store which was selling the toy last year. The link takes you to the blog posting where I described the toy originally.

Amazon

Shape Stampers--Art Toy

EnviroBlox--Art Toy

Color Me House--Art Toy

Swinx--Gross Motor Game

Pocket Disc--Gross Motor Game

Gripper Balls--Gross Motor Toy

Thanksgiving Box of Questions--Family togetherness game

Lego Turkey--Construction Toy

Uno: Macy's Thanksgiving Parade edition--Game

Thanksgiving Little People--Pretend Play

Jammin Band Piano--Infant Toy

Neurosmith Music Blocks--Music Toy

Neurosmith Sunshine Symphony--Infant Toy

Neurosmith Jumbo Music Block--Toddler Toy

Scanimation Book--Sensory Book

Bumpie Gerti Ball--Gross motor/Sensory Toy

Glow in the Dark Gerti Ball--Gross motor/Sensory Toy
Finders Keepers--Game
WorryWoos Books and Plush Monsters--Book/Emotional & Social Toy
Sprig Toys Blocks Secret Stories Castle Playset--Construction/Pretend Play Toy

Sprig Toys Blocks Ol Mac's Barnyard Playset--Construction/Pretend Play Toy

Ebeanstalk

Rody--Gross Motor Toy

Roly Poly Shape Sorter--Fine Motor Toy
My Soft World City--Construction/Pretend Play Toy
My Soft World Farm--Construction/Pretend Play Toy

Fat Brain Toys

P'kolino Crayons and Markers--Art Toy

YBike & YBike Extreme--Gross Motor Toy

Rody--Gross Motor Toy

Weplay Pedal Walker--Gross Motor Toy

Platform Swing--Gross Motor Toys

Wavy Tactile Path--Gross Motor Toy

Rainbow River Stone--Gross Motor Toy

Gripper Balls--Gross Motor Toy

Little Cook Set--Pretend Play

Moon Jar--Educational Toy

Multi-Solution Puzzles--Puzzles

Kid-O Stacking and Nesting Toy--Fine Motor Toy/Bath Toy

P'kolino Stacker Puzzle--Fine Motor Toy/Puzzle

P'kolino Plumb Stacker--Fine Motor Toy

Kushies Zolo Fuzzi Nubbinz--Infant Toy/Sensory Toy

Magic Gerti Ball--Gross Motor Toy

Nobbie Gerti Ball--Sensory & Gross Motor Toy

BOING Magic Balls--Sensory Toy

Cube LCD Light--Sensory Toy
Kanoodle--Puzzle Game

Find It Games--Game
Pengoloo--Game
Green Toys Fire Truck--Pretend Play
Green Toys Recycle Truck--Pretend Play
Build it Up--Construction Toy

Gummy Lump

Mellisa & Doug Art Easel--Art toy

Rody--Gross Motor Toy

Thanksgiving and other puzzles--Fine Motor Toy

Kid-O Stacking and Nesting Toy--Fine Motor Toy/Bath Toy

Rubbabu Balls--Gross motor/sensory toy

Rubbabu Cars--Pretend Play

Rubbabu Blocks--Construction Toy
Green Toys Recycle Truck--Pretend Play
P'kolino Plumb Stacker--Fine Motor Toy

K'nex
K'nex Kids--Construction Toy

Mindware
Batik--Game

Office Playground

Atom Ball--Fidget Toy
Bendeez--Fidget Toy
Flashing Neutron Ball--Fidget Toy
Hand Massager--Sensory Toy
Inside Out Ball--Sensory Toy
Mood Mudd--Sensory Toy
Tangle Fuzzies--Fidget Toy
Wee Critter Puffs--Fidget Toy
Wooden Fidget Puzzle--Fidget Toy

Pocket Full of Therapy

Doodle Track Car--Art Toy

Whoops--Gross Motor Game

Hide and Seek Safari--Game/Auditory Sensory
Stare Jr. Edition--Game
Green Eggs and Ham Speedy Diner--Game

Toobeez

Toobeez--Pretend Play/Construction Toy

EZ-Fort--Pretend Play/Construction Toy

Toy Recommendations for Children with and without Disabilities: 50 Toys in 50 Days

2011-11-01T06:00:00.007-04:00

#1 in 50 Toys in 50 Days
Let Kids Play's Annual Holiday Toy Guide for Children with and without disabilities

Unbelievably it is that time a year again, when Let Kids Play brings you a series of toy recommendation over the next 50 days. This is the fourth year I will be doing "50 Toys in 50 Days" and I as always I have found new toys that you might not have seen before as well as classics you may have forgotten. I concentrate on toys that children with disabilities might enjoy. This often results in a toy all the children in your family love.

As a reminder, Let Kids Play believes:

A toy should last a long time. After a child opens the box, s/he should play with the toy for more than a day, preferably years and years.

Natural materials are preferable to plastic.

Toys should be open-ended; meaning the child decides how it should be played with. Block sets and art projects where there is only one thing to do is not open-ended.

Toys should challenge a child regardless of their ability, help grow their brain, develop their muscles, and help them learn to play together.

For the most part, there is no need for a "special needs" toy. Every child regardless of their ability has things they like to do and play with and most likely there is a toy in your favorite toy store that will work for them. This is especially true if the toy is for play and not therapy.

Toys are better without plugs, batteries and computers.

It is better when you can shop on-line and don't need to leave your house. Further, shipping should be free.

Of course, all rules are meant to be broken and I will recommend some toys that break each of the above thoughts.

Once again, I ask that if you enjoy this series that you support Let Kids Play, by starting your holiday purchases from this website. You can bookmark the site to make it easier.

When you select one of the toy companies that you see on the side of the blog, they give me a small commission when you purchase something. It does not cost you any extra to do this and I do not pick toys based on any relationship with these companies. I make my list prior to seeing who sells what.

These are great toy stores and I highly recommend them. They offer good customer service, have high quality toys, and often good deals. Throughout the holiday season, I will share any deals that they are offering, so you can get the most for your money.

So let's get started. If you don't want to miss a day, make sure you sign up for the RSS feed.

50 Toys in 50 Days Starts tomorrow!

2011-10-31T17:50:00.000-04:00

Stop back tomorrow for the start of our annual

50 Toys in 50 Days blog series

Cooking with Children: A Recipe for Kitchen Safety & Fun

2011-09-26T10:37:00.000-04:00

Here is a guest post from Emily Patterson from Primrose Schools. She has some great ideas for cooking with your kids. It is easy to adapt her ideas for children with disabilities. Enjoy!

Bubbling pots, sizzling skillets anddelicious smells can make the kitchen a fascinating – yet dangerous – place foryoung children. However, the potential hazards don’t have to keep children outof the kitchen. Dr. Mary Zurn, vice president of education for Primrose Child Care Facilities, sayskitchen time can be a great way for families to regain some lost, but valuable,family time.

“The kitchen is often the mostpopular place in the house for families to gather. It’s a place for learningand sharing, where the family can enjoy quality time. Children can also developa sense of responsibility by participating in daily tasks,” said Dr. Zurn.

Parents can keep the kitchen safe and fun for childrenby following this simple recipe:

1. Engageyour child meaningfully. Think about what tasks yourchild can do independently. Completing simple jobs like mixing batter, rollingdough and measuring water can boost a child’s sense of pride andaccomplishment. Tearing lettuce, adding sprinkles to sweets and shakingparmesan onto pasta are other safe, satisfying tasks children can easilyaccomplish. Even very young children can get involved – give them some pots,pans and wooden spoons so they can pretend to cook with you or use them formusic-making. The tuneful accompaniment will let you know they’re safelyengaged and give them a way to feel like they’re helping too.

2. Setsome ground rules. Children need supervision whenthey’re in the kitchen, so establish a list of basic safety rules and make surechildren are always within sight. Teach children to wash their hands before and after handling food to avoid spreadinggerms. Discuss on a regular basis what’s safe to touch and what’s not. Makesure the handles of pots and pans are turned inward on the stovetop so you andolder children don’t accidentally bump them and spill hot liquids or food.

3. Buildup skills step-by-step. Children can develop manyessential skills in the kitchen, such as following recipes or counting slicesof bread. For more advanced skills, start slowly and have your child mastereasy tasks before attempting harder ones. Teach older children to use a knifeby starting them off with cutting soft items like cheese and cooked noodleswith a dull spreader. As your child’s coordination develops, they can move onto slicing or sawing vegetables and fruit with a plastic knife.

4. Keepit fun. Cooking can be messy even without children, sodon’t stress over the “oops” moments. If the cookie batter ends up on the floorinstead of the baking sheet, offer some guidance and let your child try again.You can make cleaning it up fun too!

When your meal is complete, be sure tocompliment your sous chef on a job well done. Offer them the first taste ofwhatever you cooked together and ask them what you should make next time. Bonappétit!

What do you with your kids in the kitchen?

Mr. Biggs in the City--A Book Review

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

Have you met Mr. Biggs yet? You should, you will enjoy reading about him.

Mr. Biggs is a very curious Sasquatch who has huge feet and an even bigger heart. One day, when he climbs to the tippy top of the tallest tree, he spots a city. He is very curious and we wants to visit the city and do all things people do there.

I'll bet there are times that you wanted to do things that other kids were doing, but you just couldn't do for some reason. Mr. Biggs has the same problem. He tries ride a bike--he is too big. He tries to ride a roller coaster and a skateboard--but they go too fast and as I mentioned before--he is too big. He keeps trying to do things that look fun, but he has lots of trouble. You will love looking at beautifully drawn pictures of Mr. Biggs trying all the different things. I think Mr. Biggs is very brave for keep trying and trying.

Finally, Mr. Biggs finds one of my favorite places--you guessed it--a playground! But he couldn't play at the playground either. It wasn't designed for someone as big as he is. He is so sad. He can't even play. Have you ever felt so sad that you can't do what you want that you cry? That is what Mr. Biggs did.

But then do you know what happened. All kids on the playground saw him crying and came to play with him. They climb on him, play with him and laugh with him; and Mr. Biggs is happy. Isn't amazing that everyone can find something that they are good at and helps other people to have fun? Isn't amazing, that everyone has the ability to see someone who is sad and make them feel better. We all have the ability to make the world just a little bit better.

Mr. Biggs In the City is written and illustrated by Kevin Bloomfield. The pictures are great as you saw above. The letters are big and easy to read. You can get the book in both English and Spanish or just one language. I love the bi-lingual book, but there might be too many letters on the page for some kids. Kevin sent me his book to read, but everything I told you about the book are my opinion. I really liked this book. It is fun to read and you can find a fun lesson at the end that our children can relate to.

If your children want to make footprints just like Mr. Biggs, you can visit Raventreepress for an activity sheet that provides a great sensory art project.

How Can a Very Young Child Volunteer

2011-08-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

generationOn is the global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world. As the youth division of Points of Light Institute, generationOn has brought the nation's leading youth service organizations and programs under one umbrella including New York-based Children for Children, The League, Learning to Give, Points of Light Institute's Kids Care Clubs, HandsOn Schools, and HandsOn Network's youth-driven programs. By partnering with teachers, parents, schools, community organizations and businesses, generationOn gives kids the opportunity to see firsthand the issues in their communities and the tools and resources they need to respond and become part of the solution.

In addition to lesson plans, ideas for parents, the key to starting a caring club at your school and other great tools for parents, teachers and non-profit organizations, they offer up 65 ways children can help in their community.

What I like about the list is how many of ideas children with a variety of disabilities can do. So often our children are being helped. It is nice to turn the tables and help others.

My son who has very severe disabilities could draw a picture for a senior citizen home (with some hand-over-hand help). A child who uses a communication system could read a story for someone. A child with an intellectual disability can understand that they want a present and when they get a present, they should also give a present. There are hundreds of ways to modify generationOn's ideas to meet the goals, interest, and abilities of your children.

Here is the beginning of their ideas (then you can go to their site to read the rest and see all the resources available to you and your family):

Sharing

Seniors love your artwork! Brighten walls – and smiles – at the local senior center.
Got a favorite game? Teach it to younger kids.
Win brownie points! Organize canned goods at home and take extras to a food pantry.
Got talent? Share it!
Your old backpack needs a new friend…donate it!
Gather up outgrown, gently worn shoes and clothes for your local Salvation Army, Goodwill, church or synagogue.
Party leftovers? Local soup kitchen guests are gonna love ‘em!
Neglected stuffies in your room? Little kids at shelters are aching to cuddle them.
Like a challenge? Your game board skills are in demand at the senior center.
Friend forgot their snack? Share yours!
Read aloud to little kids at the library – they’ll love you!
Dust off your old - but still good - books and give them to your school library.

Giving

It’s your birthday! Give a gift to someone in need.
Share your lemonade stand $$$ with your favorite worthy cause!
How about a toy drive for kids stuck in the hospital?
Get a haircut! And give your ponytail to Locks of Love.
Got old sports equipment? Bring it to your local Parks & Rec!
Calling all chefs! Bake cakes and donate the proceeds.
Feed your furry friends at the animal shelter…drop off a bag of food!
Time is precious…share a bit of yours to help others.
Kind words lift spirits…give a compliment and lift yours too.

The list continues with the categories of Conserving and Doing. The last idea on the list is "Brighten the World--Smile Often" Those of you who know my son, who is turning 18 years old next week, does this every minute of the day. He makes everybody's day better, every day.

So go check out the rest of generationOn's list and help your child decide how they can start changing the world.

Tomorrow, we review a book about how Mr. Biggs uses his special assets to help people.

Small Hands Can Make a Big Impact

2011-08-22T06:00:00.002-04:00

In today's Parade Magazine, they worked with GenerationON to introduce the 2011 All-American Service Team. This 16 and 17 year olds have done amazing things to help our world. But our children do not need to wait until they are in high school to start helping others. They can start as young as 3 years old. So we asked Emily Patterson from Primrose Schools, to be our guest blogger today and share her ideas of how engage our youngest children in volunteerism.

Many parents in today’s world find it more important than ever to raise compassionate children. But some may find it difficult to know where to begin. Dr. Mary Zurn (V.P. of education for Primrose Schools) suggests parents introduce volunteerism at an early age.

“Giving back is an important year-round habit to establish with young children,” said Dr. Zurn. “Volunteering plays an important role in the development of character. It teaches children that they can do things that positively impact the world around them. Even young children can learn to become active participants in their communities.”

Here are four key steps for parents to teach their children the value of volunteering in a meaningful way:

First, clarify your personal goals and motives for wanting to include your child in volunteer activities. Volunteering is a wonderful way to a share your values with your child. Pick a cause that is meaningful to you and your family rather than one that is simply convenient. If your kids love animals, then bring them to the local SPCA. Or if they really enjoy reading, maybe bringing them to a local Senior Center and have them read to the elderly.

Next, explain the importance of volunteerism and the contribution volunteers can make. A child’s favorite question is “why?” Keep your answers simple and concrete.

Third, choose volunteer activities to do with your children that are age-appropriate. Children as young as three can begin volunteering. At this age they begin to enjoy participation in group activities and are better able to follow directions. Remember that a preschooler’s concept of the world is not very large and is usually limited primarily to their home, neighborhood and school; therefore, it is important to keep the activity within the realm of what they can imagine.

Finally, find a child-friendly not-for-profit. Ask the following questions to help you select the volunteer opportunity that is right for your family: Does the organization have experience with and a history of successfully working with children and families? Are they going to be patient with my child? Will the organization staff welcome my child’s participation? Is there a specific job that my child can do successfully? Can the organization provide a concrete example that will help your child understand how his or her efforts benefit others?

Ultimately, we know a compassionate child is more likely to grow to become a compassionate adult. Volunteering is a positive way to encourage this behavior by getting your child involved in your community at an early age. So with these steps in mind, sit down with your family and make a plan to lend a helping hand.

Primrose Schools: innovated educational child care and the best in preschool education..

How can your child help, especially if they have a disability and need help themselves? There is always something that you can do to help another person. Tomorrow, we will share with you GenerationOn's ideas for kids and volunteering. You will surely find something that you and your child(ren) can do together.

Inclusive U Training Dates for the next few months

2011-08-19T12:51:00.000-04:00

The NYS Inclusive Recreation Resource Center will be providing several Inclusion U trainings over the next few months. Please share the attached Inclusion U training flyer and registration form broadly with your contacts and networks.

Just a reminder that students and a limited number of Medicaid Service Coordinators and Supervisors can attend for a reduced rate of $40.00!

Also, we are currently seeking a location in the lower Hudson Valley Region or New York City Region for an Inclusion U training on Thursday, November 17^th. If you are interested in hosting an Inclusion U training or know of an agency who might be interested please contact me. I have provided the details for a training space below. Thank you and have a great day! Laurie Penney McGee

Inclusion U Training Space needed for Thursday, November 17^th 8-4:30 PM

Inclusion U requires a space that is large enough to accommodate up to 35 people, with 2-3 people sitting at tables to provide them space to spread out their training materials. The site must also have internet access so that participants can experience the NYS IRRC database as well as learn about website accessibility. The NYS IRRC will provide a laptop and LCD projector, but the site does need to provide a screen. IRRC staff generally arrive by 7:15 AM to set up for the training.

Inclusion U has a registration fee of $95.00 per person, which includes the cost of all materials as well as the tool kit needed to conduct assessments. As part of our ongoing outreach to build partnerships with agencies across the state, we have a strategy in place for those who are willing to host Inclusion U. In exchange for hosting the Inclusion U training, we offer one free Inclusion U registration ($95 value) to the agency that provides the location. We are also hoping that the hosting agency might be able to assist us by providing coffee/tea/water for the day and provide some ideas of where to send participants for lunch on their own nearby. Thank you!

Laurie Penney McGee, M.S., CTRS

Project Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty

SUNY Cortland

New York State Inclusive Recreation Resource Center

P.O. Box 2000

Cortland, NY 13045

Phone: (607) 753-4833

Fax: (607) 753-5982

laurie.penneymcgee@cortland.edu