Why is Play So Important?
Play is an important part of every child's life. Play is how children experience and learn about the world. When a child is not able to play due to physical limitations, he is limited in his ability to learn about how things work. Children who are not able to access play can become easily frustrated and overdependent on a caregiver for entertainment. Providing a child with independent play experiences helps increase a child's learning and happiness!
There are many different ways to help a child play using low-tech strategies. Some strategies involve modifying store-bought toys, looking for certain features in toys you buy, or making a toy operable by a switch.
Adapting Toys for Play
How you choose to adapt a toy depends on the needs of your child. There are some basic principles that you may find helpful when considering how to adapt a toy.
- Enlarge
Small objects are harder to hold or manipulate.
If a toy has small buttons or levers, you can enlarge them using items such as foam board (a thick, sturdy poster board); wooden pegs/blocks; or clothespins.
When purchasing toys, consider their size. Look for objects that are large and fit into the palm of a child's hand.
- Stabilize
Many activities require two hands- one for manipulating the object and the other for holding the surface. Think of coloring, for example. You hold the crayon in one hand and hold the paper still with the other.
To eliminate the need for the coordinated use of two hands, you can stabilize items with: velcro; clothespins or chip-clips; or non-skid drawer or carpet lining.
- Position
Consider the positioning of a toy in relation to an individual's range of motion (i.e. the amount of space a person can his arms move in all directions). For example, you may need to bring the activity closer to an individual or limit the area needed to perfom the activity.
- Click here for some EXAMPLES .
Adapting Toys for Switch Use
Using switch toys allows children with limited physical and/or cognitive skills to experience play and learn about how things work. Switches can also empower children to play independently and decrease "learned helplessness."
A switch can allow access through a variety of means, including: directly touching, squeezing, vocalizing, clapping, blowing, moving (motion sensor), or even blinking.
One switch can teach cause-effect or means-end concepts; while adding extra switches or changing toys can help expand how children understand how things work.
Learn more about switches here .
