Day 4- Nearly There! Going LOW-TECH

Great job on the social stories folks!  We got to view a story created using the Book Creator app on: raising hands, personal space, taking turns at the water fountain, and using a (coat) hook.  Everyone was surprised at how fast these could be created and how much easier than the old-school printing, cutting and laminating (and laminating, and re-laminating)...

Now to the low-tech.  After reviewing some developmental checklists, we had an opportunity to explore the able play website and it's search tool which rates toys according to their suitability for students with physical, sensory, communicative, or cognitive abilities.  Here is an example of a way to analyze a toy in a manner similar to their rating system:

The product:  Handy Manny's toolbox.  An icon from the TV show, the tool box allows children to pretend they are Manny and interact with his tool friends. It comes with 7 tools. Press the Manny button on the toolbox and the (removable) tools will move, speak, or sing. Toys can each be removed to play with separately.  Cost:  $42.99

The review:  The suggested age group for this toy is 3-4.  The tools are solid, plastic, and have no moving parts.  The toy box itself holds batteries and has a push button in front.  Portable and light (1.1 lb.) 


Applications for Children with Disabilities

Physical:  2 star.  (+) Children can simply touch the large button or use the accessories independent of the toolbox. Bilateral coordination skills not needed. Gross motor skills can be used to lift the box/ use the tools.  Reaching skills can be developed.   (-) Movement is required to activate the toys physically and aurally.  Precision in placement if returning the tools is needed.  Difficult for children with limited eye-hand coordination skills.  


Sensory:  2 star.  (+)  The individual pieces are detailed enough to discriminate.  Play with the tools is open-ended.  (-) Visual discrimination is required to select/return tools.  Appeal is largely the aural stimulation so children with hearing impairments have less information to gather/ enjoy.  Plastic could slide around- may need a non-skid/ textured liner added.


Communicative:  4 star.  (+) Play is realistic and can encourage positive social behaviours and develop an understanding of the concept of pretend play. Play can be independent or shared.  Very simple functionality.  Children can learn matching skills.  Imaginative play can be modelled/ enhanced.  Connections to known TV character can be made.  (-) Does not require interaction.


Cognitive:  4 star.  (+) Play is open-ended.  Math skills can be incorporated by counting the tools.  Verbal communication can be targeted.  (-) Phrases, songs, movement of the tools could be over-stimulating.


Features and Benefits:  Durable, High contrasting colours, Open-ended, Aurally stimulating, Simple- single action initiation.


Developmental Processes Promoted:  Imaginative play, Cause & Effect, Action concepts (in/out, push, go), Eye-hand coordination, Hand grasp, Pointing, Motor planning, Reaching/ Arm extension, Spatial relationships (up/down), Object recognition/ identification.

As Barbara said, I'm sure we'll never look at any toy the same way again!