The Importance of Play

Toys and Disabilities

By Teri Brown

Ain says most children with special needs are visual learners. Typical children tend to learn more from their peers and emulate adults. Special needs children learn a lot through educational and visual games. "Finding the right game is imperative because you are broadening their horizon by using programs that will reinforce and teach," she says.

Diana Nielander is the director of the National Lekotek Center, a center focusing on toys for children with special needs. Lekotek consists of several different components. They have a handful of play centers across the United States where parents can take their special needs children to learn about constructive, social play. They are also consultants to toy manufactures wanting to know how to make their toys more user and developmentally friendly.

"To foster optimal development, children need to play," says Nielander. "Picking and using the right toy and making sure it's a match for the child's interests is incredibly important in helping them raise their skill level."

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