What Toys Help Children with Autism the Most
Toys are essential parts of childhood. But while it is relatively easy to choose toys for normal kids, selecting toys for children with special needs, such as autism, require much care and attention.
Basically, children with developmental disorders, like autism have different needs and interests with regards to play and learning. It is no surprise then that parents of special kids would need assistance in terms of selecting the right toys to help their kids’ development process.
First of all, it is important that parents make a keen observation of their autistic children. See what kinds of toys these kids gravitate to. Usually, children with autism like to play with parts of a toy rather than the toy itself. It also helps if parents choose toys in accordance with the ongoing treatment plan. Be guided with the goals and objectives of the plan and focus whether you want to improve their fine or gross motor skills, sensory and developmental. Autistic toys are manufactured in a wide variety each targeting to develop particular skills. There are toys for speech therapy, sensory, oral motor and gross motor skills development.
Speech therapy toys are perfect for promoting the developmental skills of autistic kids. These help in enhancing their socializing and interaction capability. Board games and musical toys or anything that creates sound can be helpful to promote speech development among special children. Parents and caretakers can also use videos that showcase good behavior that kids can take as an example and various pictures of places they usually go to. There are also audio and video tapes that reinforce conversation cues; like how to start and engage in a conversation. These materials are all effective in upholding the interaction and language skills of autistic kids.
Sensory toys are useful in dealing with the sensory deficits common in children with autism. These toys are very helpful in developing the brain when it comes to processing and interpreting sensory information. The most common sensory toys can be played outdoors. They may be set and spin toys, ball pits, sand boxes. Indoor sensory toys may come in the form of touch puzzles, punch bags and play houses. They are effective in improving attention and emotional hyperactivity.
Fidget toys are similar with sensory toys. It enhances self-regulation by promoting attentiveness, tactile perception and focusing. Fidget toys are usually small and can easily be handled with one hand just like small, textured balls and squeeze toys.
Oral motor toys are perfect for promoting exercises that increases muscle tone and strength of the mouth so autistic kids can practice proper speaking. These toys come in the form of chewy tubes, blowing games, probes and chewy toys for aiding in speech development.
Gross Motor Skills Toys
Trampolines, bicycles, jumping ropes and balls are toys most highly recommended in enhancing an autistic kid’s gross motor skills. What is common among these toys are the need for movement and action. With the help of these toys, muscle coordination, strength and balanced is developed. Gross motor toys are also helpful in enhancing the speech centers of the brain. Because of this, not only is a child’s muscle strength and coordination developed, so are their verbal skills and their social interaction capacity enhanced.
In a parent’s and caretaker’s quest of finding appropriate toys for their autistic child, they must remember that they must take into utmost consideration the developmental skills and educational goals these special children must achieve. Remember that apart from fun, these special toys are given to the special children so as to enhance their developmental capacity, social interaction and muscle coordination.
Article by Autismtoys.org
