Children with special needs face many challenges. A helpful way to address these challenges is through sensory toys and activities. These toys and activities can help improve attention, focus and cognitive skills.
And they can also help reduce stress levels and improve moods for kids with special needs or their parents.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Sensory toys can be beneficial for children with special needs by providing sensory input and stimulating the senses. |
| There are a variety of sensory toys available, including those for visual, auditory, tactile, and vestibular stimulation. |
| Choosing the right sensory toy for your child depends on their individual needs and preferences. |
| Sensory play can also have mental health benefits for children with special needs. |
| Sensory toys can help children with special needs develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. |
Special Needs And Sensory Needs
Sensory toys are important for everyone, but they’re especially important for children who have special needs. Sensory toys help to develop a child’s sensory processing skills and can lower anxiety levels.
There are three types of sensory needs: tactile, auditory and visual. These are each processed differently in the brain, which is why it’s so important to provide your child with an array of different types of sensory toys to use at home.
If you’re a parent of a special needs child, introducing them to sensory toys can be a great way to support their development. Check out our beginner’s guide to sensory toys for special needs children to learn more about how these toys can benefit your child.
Sensory Toys
Sensory toys are a great way to help children with special needs. They can be used in a variety of ways and they have many benefits.
- Sensory toys are a form of occupational therapy, which is the use of play to improve motor skills, brain development and sensory processing disorder.
- Sensory toys can also be useful for speech delay or language delay in children who don’t understand how things work because they haven’t developed an understanding yet.
Types of Sensory Toys for Children with Special Needs
| Types of Sensory Toys | Description |
|---|---|
| Visual | Toys that stimulate the visual sense, such as light-up toys, bubble tubes, and visual timers. |
| Auditory | Toys that stimulate the auditory sense, such as musical instruments, sound machines, and toys that make noise. |
| Tactile | Toys that stimulate the tactile sense, such as textured balls, sensory brushes, and squishy toys. |
| Vestibular | Toys that stimulate the vestibular sense, such as swings, bouncing balls, and balance boards. |
Brain Development
You may have heard that the brain is the most important organ in your body. And you’re right! The brain is an incredibly complex organ, made up of billions of cells called neurons.
The brain changes and grows all the time, even during childhood. It has the ability to make new connections between neurons called synapses which means that it can create new pathways for learning and memory.
As a child grows, their brains are constantly developing new ways of thinking and processing information. This makes it easier for them to learn new skills or tasks as they get older than younger children who are still building their brains from scratch!
The brain controls everything we do and feel: how we move our bodies; how well we see or hear things around us; what we think about throughout each day (and night).
A sensory-friendly toy can help kids develop these skills by providing tactile input that encourages exploration and experimentation with different textures or sounds while interacting socially with other children at playtime too!
Children with Down syndrome often have sensory processing difficulties, which can be helped with the use of sensory toys. Check out our article on the importance of sensory toys for children with Down syndrome to learn more about how these toys can benefit your child.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing disorder, or SPD, is a neurological condition that affects how children process and respond to the sights, sounds, smells and other stimuli around them.
It can cause kids to be over- or under-sensitive to stimuli. For example, they may cry when someone touches their knees but have no reaction at all when another child throws a ball at them.
While SPD doesn’t affect every child with autism or ADHD (it’s estimated that about 40 percent of children with these disorders also have sensory processing issues), it does tend to manifest itself in children who already struggle with other developmental disorders.
It’s not uncommon for parents of autistic children who are also diagnosed with SPD; if you suspect your child has sensory issues but aren’t sure where to start helping him or her cope (or if there even is something wrong), here are some tips:
Consider getting a referral from your physician for occupational therapy services. This type of therapy helps people learn how to better process information through various activities like play therapy or art projects designed specifically for this goal
Be aware of situations where sensory overload could occur so you can prepare ahead of time—and make sure others know about them too! For example: If there’s going be fireworks at night during Fourth Of July celebrations close by your house…
Sensory play can provide important developmental benefits for children with special needs. Check out our article on sensory play for children with special needs to learn more about how this type of play can support your child’s development
Sensory Systems And The Brain
Sensory systems are the way the brain receives information. Sensory systems are also the way the brain organizes and interprets that information, stores it and retrieves it when needed. We use our senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing to interpret what is going on around us at all times.
Without sensory processing skills, we would be unable to function normally in our environment because our bodies would not know how to interpret what we see or hear as language, numbers or words.
We also need these skills to interpret what we feel like touching something hot versus cold – if we didn’t have a good sense of touch then we wouldn’t know whether something was hot or cold unless someone told us so!
Burnout In Special Needs Families
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to take care of yourself. It’s also essential that you have a support network, and make time for relaxation and stress relief.
Therapists are often able to help with these needs, but sometimes it’s best to find ways on your own. Whether it’s meditation or other types of therapy that work best for you and your family, it’s helpful to know what options are available so you can choose the ones that feel right (and not be afraid of trying something new).
You might want to invest in some sensory toys or items like weighted blankets or vests if they seem like they could help with any problems your child has during stressful times (today!). Try different ones until you find what works best because everyone responds differently!
Sensory play is not only fun for children, but it can also have mental health benefits. Check out our article on the benefits of sensory play for children’s mental health to learn more about how sensory play can support your child’s overall well-being.
Speech Delay And Language Delay
If you have a child with special needs, there’s a good chance that they have a speech delay or language delay. Speech delay means that the child has difficulty in speaking or understanding words and sentences.
Language delay means that the child is having trouble expressing themselves verbally and non-verbally.
What to do?
If your child has either type of speech delay, it’s important to seek out early intervention services as soon as possible so that your little one can begin learning how to communicate effectively with others.
If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to speak because of their age (they’re around 2 years old), go ahead and schedule an evaluation at your local Early Intervention Services so they can assess whether or not further assistance is needed.
Sensory toys can be a valuable tool for supporting children with special needs. Check out our guide on sensory toys 101 to learn more about how these toys work and how they can benefit your child.
Choosing the Right Sensory Toy for Your Child
| Considerations | Description |
|---|---|
| Sensory preferences | Consider your child’s sensory preferences when selecting a toy. Do they enjoy certain textures, sounds, or movements? |
| Motor skills | Choose a toy that is appropriate for your child’s motor skills level. Do they need toys that support gross motor skills or fine motor skills? |
| Developmental level | Choose a toy that is appropriate for your child’s developmental level. Do they need toys that support early learning concepts, such as colors and shapes, or more advanced concepts, such as cause-and-effect? |
| Safety | Always choose toys that are safe and age-appropriate for your child. |
| Individual needs | Consider any individual needs or challenges your child may have when selecting a toy, such as sensory processing difficulties or physical limitations. |
Conclusion
We hope we’ve made it a little easier for you to navigate the world of sensory toys and understand why they are so important.
They can be a great resource for kids with special needs, but they also benefit all children in some way.
The best thing about sensory toys is that they offer hours of fun while encouraging development in all areas: physical, social, emotional and cognitive!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources on toys for children with special needs:
The Five Types of Toys for Children with Special Needs: This article discusses the five types of toys that are beneficial for children with special needs and provides suggestions for each type.
eSpecial Needs: This website offers a wide variety of special needs toys and equipment to support children’s development and learning.
10 Toys Great for Kids with Special Needs: This article provides a list of 10 toys that are great for children with special needs, along with a brief description of each toy.
FAQs
What are sensory toys?
Sensory toys are toys that are designed to stimulate the senses and provide sensory input to the child. They can be helpful for children with special needs who may have difficulty processing sensory information.
What types of toys are best for children with special needs?
There are a variety of toys that can be beneficial for children with special needs, including sensory toys, adaptive toys, cause-and-effect toys, gross motor toys, and fine motor toys.
How can I choose the right toy for my child with special needs?
Choosing the right toy for your child with special needs depends on their individual needs and abilities. It’s important to consider their sensory preferences, motor skills, and developmental level when selecting a toy.
Can sensory toys help with behavior issues?
Sensory toys can be helpful for children with behavior issues by providing a calming and regulating effect on their nervous system. They can also be used as a positive and engaging distraction during challenging situations.
Where can I find toys for children with special needs?
There are many resources available for finding toys for children with special needs, including specialty toy stores, online retailers, and adaptive equipment providers. It’s important to consider the specific needs of your child when selecting a toy.
Meet Hellen James, the multi-talented writer and nurturing mother who takes young readers on a thrilling journey through her sensory-infused blog. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a parent.
