Selecting Toys this Holiday Season

By Marlena Smith

There is no doubt that play is a crucial part of a child’s development. Through play a child can trigger his or her imagination and creativity, engage various senses, learn and practice new skills, and build relationships and social skills. Since children with autism often display a lack of spontaneous pretend play, selecting toys that promote constructive play can be challenging for parents.

While you are shopping for toys this holiday season, consider perusing the Toys “R” Us Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids. For almost 20 years, Toys “R” Us has provided this free resource, which aids the selection of toys for children with disabilities. Using the guide, shoppers can identify toys that target a variety of skills including auditory, creativity, fine motor, gross motor, language, self-esteem, social, tactile, thinking, and visual skills. Furthermore, the digital version of the guide makes finding the right toy for each child simple by allowing shoppers to limit searches based on age range, gender, brand, theme, and price range. The guide also provides other valuable resources including tips for toy buying and safe playing for children with special needs.

This holiday season, select toys for your child that encourage constructive play, evoke imagination, and support development. To browse the electronic version of the Toys “R” Us Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids click here.