How to Modify Toys for Special Needs Children

Children learn through play, so it's important that special needs children have developmentally appropriate toys to play with. While this could mean buying toys designed particularly for special needs children, these can be expensive and difficult to find. The easiest solution may be to adapt toys you already own to meet your child's needs, interests and abilities.

Mount Toys to Stabilize Them

• 1

  Apply Velcro to the bottoms of action figures, toy animals, furniture for doll houses or anything else your child might want to stand upright.

• 2

  Apply another piece of Velcro to mounting surfaces like floors, table tops or dollhouse floors.

• 3

  Show your child how to make the toy stand upright. Grasp the toy and place it firmly onto the Velcro-covered surface, then let your child try.

Simplify Toys and Games

• 1

  Remove pieces from multi-part toys. For example, if a toy uses stackable rings, remove every other ring to make the toy simpler.

• 2

  Simplify games, modifying rules if necessary. Modify learning games so that only one concept is tested at a time, such as colors, numbers or letters of the alphabet.

• 3

  Place toy cars on a baking sheet or serving tray so the toys don't roll out of reach.

• 4

  Apply Velcro to blocks so they are easier to stack.

Improve Focus

• 1

  Place light-colored toys on a dark piece of fabric, and put dark-colored toys on a light piece of fabric. This will help your child focus on the toy.

• 2

  Create a distraction-free play environment. Turn off TV sets and radios, and remove excess clutter.

• 3

  Use masking tape to make a path on the floor for children to move pull-toys along.