- Make sure your child is secure in whatever position she is using for play (laying, sitting, standing). When a child is well supported and comfortable, she is able to focus more on playing. (Consult with your child’s therapist about using pillows, wedges and other equipment for positioning support.)
- Warm up your child’s body for large motor movements before play—try gently moving his arms and legs through a full range of motion while singing him a song.
- It may help your child learn how a toy can be used if you demonstrate or model the play first.
- You may need to begin by taking your child’s body through the motions of interacting with the toy.
- Present toys to your child while she’s in a variety of positions (e.g., sitting, laying, kneeling). Observe her favorite position, where she comfortably interacts.
Toys/Features to Look For
- Toys that require full body or large motor movement such as kicking, rolling, crawling or batting
- Toys that respond to your child’s movements with interesting visual and/or sound feedback
- Toys that respond to almost any movement (e.g., batting, swiping, pressing) or that require a light pressure
- Toys with features that initially provide full support, and then allow you to reduce that support as your child grows
- When looking for ride-on toys, make sure the seat provides enough support and that your child’s legs are at an appropriate height to reach the ground, pedals, or other controls
Play Stages
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Experience Stage: Using senses to explore a toy
The Kick & Drive Gym™ encourages your child’s natural movements of kicking her legs and moving her arms. She will discover that kicking against one of several areas creates dancing lights, brilliant reflections, music and spinning motion … and then she’ll want to repeat her actions to see these interesting things happen again! This toy easily converts from a floor gym to a “sit up and drive!” toy. When she sits up she’ll use her arms to turn or press or bat to play songs, create fun car sounds, and start lights and motion.
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
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Discovery Stage: The toy guides your child's play
The Step and Play Piano offers support at different stages of standing and moving. The high back offers stability for a child who is just beginning to stand. The seat swivels, encouraging him to pivot 360 degrees, and it moves back and forth so he can move safely with support. Or, you may want to remove the seat to provide an open space for your child to create music. In any position, stepping on the large keys under his feet will result in music and lights. And batting, swiping and pressing the many toys on the side rails and hearing the music play will hold your child’s interest.
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
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Expanding Imagination Stage: Finding even more ways to play with a toy
Children can experience independent movement with a simple press of a button in the Get-Set-Go! Kart™. This battery-powered vehicle sits close to the ground and has a high-backed bucket seat for added seating support and security. Your child just needs to press and hold the button on the steering wheel to start moving forward, then release it to stop. The butterfly steering wheel makes it easy for little hands to steer. Sound effects add to the fun as your child turns the key.
Click here to find out what you can do to help your child play and learn with this toy.
