Christmas Gift Guide for Children With SEN
It’s that time of the year again when you’re trying to find exciting toys for your child or a young relative with special education needs and worrying that they might not be interested in the latest gadgets and fads, or even playing with toys. And that’s ok.
Remember that your goal is to engage the child with something that he or she will enjoy. If it is not a health and safety hazard, it doesn’t matter what the box says about “recommended age”. All children learn and grow at their own pace and if the child will enjoy it then it’s a Christmas present worth buying.
To help you out the PlayWise team have put together a Christmas Gift Guide with our top 10 presents for SEN children this Christmas. As an education service it is pretty impossible for us to not buy a gift that doesn’t have an educational purpose – so be warned!
10. Tactile 3D Puzzle Shapes
You can’t go wrong with wooden inset puzzles – a great way of learning to discriminate tactile surfaces, develop motor skills and concepts such as object permanence.
9. Classic Pop-Up People Toy
This one is a classic portage teaching toy. It’s a durable wooden toy designed to encourage hand-eye coordination and introduce colours.
8. Building Blocks
We love building blocks -there are so many things that you can do with them. Children can spend hours of fun building creative castles, and more importantly knocking them down again!
7. 1 Up Bobble Ball
The ball is compact with clever sensory technology so it comes alive with flashing lights as it jiggles when activated. While we won’t recommend it for children who are sensitive to loud sounds, others may find it intriguing.
6. Books! That’s Not My ……….(Christmas Collection)
You can never have enough books. This collection of “That’s Not My….” tactile easy read Christmas books are a delight.
5. Balloon Launch and Powered Race Car
This is a super fun activity for children and adults alike. It is great for ready steady go, turn taking and anticipation as well as requesting for more. You can’t go wrong with balloons and cars as they are always top favourites for children.
4. Lego!
Lego grows with your child from chunky Duplo blocks to Classic Lego & the Lego Creator sets for adults – all depending on ages and stages. Lego can keep children independently playing and learning and it is also an activity you can do together as a family. You can create your own designs & lose yourself in imagination or quite simply build a green tower and smash it down again.
3. Click Clack Track
This is a great toy to teach children turn-taking and early listening and language skills by helping them to wait their turn and play ready steady go games. Watching a car roll back and forth on the track with a mesmerising sound can keep a child happily engaged for hours.
2. Sensory LED drawing board
What a great idea for your little Picasso! The drawing board allows children to let their imagination run wild. They can play day and night, creating masterpieces, practice handwriting or just doodle the hours away.
1. Chad Valley Large Bubble Fountain
This bubble fountain throws out hundreds of bubbles but don’t forget to get spare batteries and bubbles. This primarily outdoor toy helps to stimulate children, improves their hand-eye coordination and most importantly provides hours of fun and laughter.
