MAKING TOY ADAPTATIONS

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MAKING TOY ADAPTATIONS

• Brian Simms, M.A. CCC-SLP
• Assistive Technology Specialist
• Assistive Technology Partners

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A Plan for Our Time

• Review purpose of play
• Identify steps to adapting toys
• Identify how children use toys and techniques for
  play facilitation
• Examine materials for making adaptations
• ACTIVITY- Brainstorm your toys
• Other?

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Why Do Children Play?

• Cognitive Understanding
• Problem solving
• Practice new skills ? persistence in problems
  solving
• Perseverance- pleasure from completing a task
• Social-emotional development
• Practice social skills
• Language Use
• Motor Development
• BECAUSE IT SURE BEATS WORKIN !!

Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment (Linder,
1993)
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Children with Disabilities and Play

• Children with developmental delays progress
  through the same sequence of development, but
• Reduced repertoire of play skills
• Reduced language during play
• Less sophisticated representational play
• Limited selection of play materials (Not the case
  after today ?)

Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment (Linder,
1993)
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STEPS TO ADAPTING TOYS

• Assess the Childs Abilities (Child)
• Target Play Behavior (Play Skill)
• Select Toy (Toy)
• Make Adaptations Modifications (Materials)
• PLAY!!!!

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STEP 1 Childs Abilities

• Cognitive
• Sensory
• Hearing
• Vision
• Integration
• Motor
• Gross
• Fine

• Communication
• Comprehension
• Production
• Social-Emotional

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STEP 2 Target Play Behavior

• What is the next developmental play step?
• What category of play you would like to target?

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STEP 2 Target Play Behavior (contd)

• Developmental Sequence of Play Behavior (handout)
• Categories of Play
• Exploratory-sensory toys
• Functional- telephone, pots n pans
• Constructive- blocks
• Dramatic or Symbolic- using a shoe for a phone
• Games-with-rules- board games, tag, etc.
• Rough-and-tumble- wrestling

Transdisciplinary Play Based Assessment (Linder,
1993)
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STEP 3 Select the Toy

• Developmentally appropriate
• Multi-sensory appeal
• Method of activation
• Opportunities for success
• Self-expression
• Adjustability
• Safety and durability
• Potential for interaction

The National Lekotek Centerwww.lekotek.org
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STEP 4 Make AdaptationsMATERIALS TO USE

• Velcro (theres a variety!)
• Tongue depressors
• Dycem
• Fabric
• Dowel Rods
• Wooden handles
• Switches

• Magnets
• Felt Dots
• Battery Interrupter
• Rubber Bands
• Pipe insulation/hair curlers
• PVC pipe
• Suction cups

IMAGINATION!!!
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STEP 5 Play!!Techniques for Facilitating Play

• Parallel play- playing along side child
• Imitation- copying childs activity
• Modeling- demonstrating how to play
• Expansion building upon play skills

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ACTIVITY

• Get in groups/teams of
• Pick a toy from the bin
• Describe childs abilities (Child)
• Target play behavior (Play Skill)
• Select the Toy. Tell why you selected that toy.
  (Toy)
• How will you adapt the toy or activity?
  (Materials)

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Questions?
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What we covered

• Why children need to play
• Resources for identifying play skills
• Examined materials to adapt toys
• Created our own, unique adaptations!
• What did you learn that was useful? How will you
  apply it?

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Review Steps to Adapting Toys

• Assess the Childs Abilities (Child)
• Target Play Behavior (Play Skill)
• Select Toy (Toy)
• Make Adaptations Modifications (Materials)
• PLAY!!!!

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Useful Websites

• Lekotek
• Great resource for accessible play ideas
• www.lekotek.org
• Patty King-Debaun
• Alternative communication strategies and
  resources
• www.creative-comm.com

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Useful Websites

• Lets Play Project
• Toy adaptations, communication and play
• cosmos.buffalo.edu/letsplay/AT/at.html  
• Simplified Technology
• Assistive technology and early childhood
• www.lburkhart.com

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Other Resources

• PVC Book
• Great ideas for the early childhood
• How to make inexpensive toys seating out of PVC
  pipe.
• Created by our own Diane Brians

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NOW GO HAVE SOME FUN!!