Games
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There are many reasons parents might have a hard time finding suitable games for their children — especially if they have special needs.
Games and toys are a vital part of a child’s development. Children develop the skills needed for language, social, cognitive, and emotional growth by playing with toys. In addition, children with special needs often require special solutions to play and learn.
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Sensory Assist Games
Sometimes, all you need is a little inspiration to make a difference in a child's life. Whether they have special needs, our sensory games and activities can help your child learn, grow, and thrive.
Sensory Assist products are specifically designed to help kids with developmental conditions, such as Autism, ADHD, ADD, etc. They are perfect for use at home or in the classroom and make fantastic therapy aids. Our Sensory Assist games and activities range from basic matching exercises to more advanced cognitive challenges — there’s something that will help everyone!
Special needs games and activities can benefit children who may have difficulty interacting with others due to their disorder.
Some of these games may not be readily available at your local toy store or department store, but you can get them here! We also offer a wide variety of other products that might interest you.
The Many Benefits of Flash Cards for Kids Age 0-18
Flashcards are not just for preschoolers, and they should be a part of your child’s educational toolkit from the time they are an infant. They’re a great way to teach kids who have special needs because they can be used in many different ways to help with many things — including language development and fine motor skills, among many others.
Choosing the Right Game for Your Child
When looking for the right game or toy for your child, it is important to consider their individual needs. Every child is unique, and what works for one child might not work for another.
Things to consider when choosing a suitable game for your child:
Age
You’ll want to consider the child's age when you’re choosing a game. You don’t want to get something that is too “young” for the child, but on the other hand, you don’t want to give them something too advanced either. They should be able to play the game independently with very little help.
Ability Level
Every child has a different speed of development. Some children may have difficulty manipulating small objects or trouble sitting for any length of time. You need to choose games compatible with your child’s abilities. If a game is too difficult, they will get frustrated and not have fun playing it.
Toys That Encourage Interaction
One important part of development for any child is learning how to interact with others. Toys that encourage interaction can benefit children with special needs in several ways, such as increasing their social skills, language skills, and ability to work as part of a team.
Good options include various games that require multiple players. For example, two to four-player games where the board game encourages communication between players as they try to win.
Safety
Safety should be your number one priority when selecting children with special needs games. Avoid games that have small parts which can become a choking hazard. If you are purchasing a toy or game, make sure there aren’t any missing pieces.
If the game requires small batteries, ensure they are secured in their compartment and cannot come out easily. Some games may involve the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Always check labels to ensure the game is safe for use by children.
Skills That Games Can Help Develop
Communication
Believe it or not, games can help kids develop their communication skills — even if they’re very young. Whether it’s sorting a puzzle by shape and colour, building with blocks, or fitting pieces together to create a model, every toy offers kids a chance to learn new words that describe what they’re doing.
When you’re playing with your child, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use action words, like “push,” “pull,” and “twist.” You can also ask questions that encourage your child to respond.
Sensory Integration
This refers to how we interpret what we are seeing, hearing, touching, and smelling. We have good sensory integration when we take this information in from our senses and use it to react appropriately. One way to help your child with sensory integration is to encourage them to play games that stimulate their senses, like racing toy cars that make noises when they move or playing with dolls that come with accessories that make different sounds.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the coordination of smaller muscle movements that occur in the hands and fingers, like grasping or holding a toy or using scissors. For example, fine motor skills involve using small muscles of the fingers, hands, and wrists to perform small movements such as writing with a pencil or fastening buttons on clothing. Fine motor development begins at birth as your child learns how to hold their head up, grasp objects, reach, and play with toys.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills refer to physical activity involving large muscle groups, including running, jumping, hopping, throwing, and catching. Gross motor skills are essential for overall health and well-being because children who participate in a regular gross motor activity tend to perform better academically than children who do not. Gross motor skill development occurs at different rates depending on the child but typically develops from infancy to toddlerhood.
Cognitive Skills
Cognitive skills are strengthened by toys that help kids solve problems, build things, and make decisions. Appropriate toys for this skill-building include arts and crafts supplies such as paint sets, crayons, craft kits; puzzles; construction toys such as blocks; and board games.