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2019-02-04

How Occupational Therapy And Specialized Toys Can Work Together

By Frank Richardson


Play helps babies develop. A toy is something they use to learn about color, shape, texture, and structure. It can be critical for brain development. For children with special needs, a toy can help in various developmental areas while being therapeutic at the same time. There are many ways in which occupational therapy and specialized toys can work together to improve the lives of kids with special needs.

Cause and effect playthings engage kids with autism. The repetitive sequences are great for autistic kids and give them the chance to explore the senses. This kind of toy helps them develop hand eye coordination and discover how something they do causes a reaction. A good example of this is a toy that has a light that will flash whenever the child pushes a button, or has a bell that rings when they turn a knob. Light up and pop up toys, shape sorters, and water squirters are good playthings for autistic kids.

Kids who are developmentally behind in fine motor skills can benefit from puzzles. They have to pick small pieces up, grab onto knobs, and place the right piece in the right spot to create a specific pattern that fits together. Kids have to make choices about which pieces will fit and process how all the pieces work to create a whole. These children appreciate and understand clear goals. You can choose from interlocking, sliding, and non-connecting puzzles.

Kids who have issues with chewing and other oral motor skills benefit from oral stimulators. You can find chewy tubes and chewable jewelry that will give your child practice biting and chewing. Kids benefit developmentally by blowing bubbles because they have to control their breathing and purse their lips. Slides and bird whistles help kids develop oral control and strength.

A child who does not have normal responses to sensation must be introduced to sensory playthings to help him overcome those obstacles. Textured object appeal to the sense of touch. Objects that light up are visually appealing.

Playthings that snap, burst, pop, and explode can ignite a child's sense of hearing and vision. It's important to understand which sensory response the child is lacking. A child may respond inappropriately to the wrong toy and hurt himself in an effort to create the sensation he is seeking.

Fidgets can be wonderful playthings for a child with an attention deficit disorder. They will keep his fingers busy while his mind is processing the activity. Fidgets help the child concentrate and stay focused. They reduce stress and provide the kind of tactile response these kids crave. Inflatable cushions are also a good toy for kids with ADHD. Their attention is diverted while they're trying to balance on them.

Play dough is a wonderful toy for kids, no matter whether they have attention disorders, autism, or are right on track. There are now a number of different forms this substance can take. It might be foamy, slippery, or slimy. Kids love the tactile nature and the ease with which it can be formed into almost any kind of character, building, or shape. It is affordable and available everywhere.




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