Toys to buy for kids with autism
by Beth
Our son Gus doesn’t talk. He shows a keen interest in very few things, but he sure knows what he likes — handheld tape recorders, for example. He takes the recorder in one hand, places it near his ear, transfers it to the other hand, places it near that ear, transfers it to the other hand, places it near that ear … you get the picture.
While Gus was growing up, we tried our best to find new toys for him to explore — we knew it was good for him to be stimulated by different things. We gave him mobiles, wind chimes, tambourines — anything we could find that was colorful and made noise.
He’d usually touch his new gift, cast it aside, and search for … you guessed it — his handheld tape recorder.
I remember thinking back then that maybe, just maybe, if there was somewhere I could go for a list of toys especially good for kids with autism and other disabilities, I’d find the magic item, the one thing Gus might like as much as he likes his tape recorder. And now, I found that list!
A post at The Autism News touts The Toys “R” Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, a free toy-selection guide for parents and friends of children with disabilities. From a press release:
The easy-to-use resource, released annually, features specially selected toys that promote the development of children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Items featured in the Guide promote the development of specific skills, such as auditory, language, visual, fine motor, thinking and social skills. Symbols are assigned to each toy so parents can easily identify items that are best suited for their child’s needs.
This year, the Guide also introduces a new, easy-to-use toy-finder index that lists toys in separate skill-building categories. This added feature allows users to quickly find and select toys that are appropriate for a child’s specific needs and interests.
Happy shopping!
November 28th, 2011 at 10:17 am
I have been looking for a toy for my 8 yr. old grandson.It is called the amazing machine ball factory.Braiden is autistic and has asked for this toy several times a day.We have looked all over on line and no luck. The toy is dis-cont.but there was a toy library with easter seal in canada that has it.We tried to get in touch with them and no US hwy. 2, Florence,WI.54121
January 6th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Is it too much to ask that USA school personnel would educate themselves on autism? Dear Lord, these people are a strange breed, these educators who know nothing, yet jump and fall on everything. What’s their problem, man? They flip out when a kid brings a cough drop to school or utters the word, “gay,” but they don’t notice the anchor baby pissing in the hallway or the white trash smoking weed in the lunch room. But…oh….wait…we won’t allow a dog to help an autistic child in the classroom? These are the most pathetic group of professionals ever ….the lack of discernment and work ethic they project is scary. What kind of training to teachers get? Does it include “How to not think outside the box 101, 102, 103, etc…”???