Want to connect with other special needs families? Come join the conversation at Blogfrog!

Congrats to our Voice4u Giveaway winner!

Our dear friend and writer here at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, Anissa Mayhew, recently suffered a stroke. We are praying and sending our love to Anissa, her three children, husband and family.



April 4, 2009

Able Play Toys at One Step Ahead!

Psssst: Got Grandparents and friends who want to purchase just the right toy for your child? You are going to want them to read this review. Just a friendly heads up!

OSA_Toys_Top

Lake Bluff, IL – All kids love new, cool, fun toys, and that includes kids with disabilities. But it’s not always easy to find, let alone choose, the right toys for a child with special needs.

That’s why One Step Ahead has partnered with the National Lekotek Center—the leading not-for-profit authority on play for children with disabilities—to offer a different kind of toy selection.

Here Come AblePlayTM Toys!

Fun for All Kids…and Rated for Kids with Special Needs

AblePlay toys are rated on a scale of one to five stars in four disability categories:

* Physical disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy
* Sensory disabilities, like hearing/vision impairments and Sensory Integration Disorder
* Communicative disabilities, including Autism and speech delays
* Cognitive disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, ADD, and learning disabilities

“The AblePlay ratings provide a snapshot of a toy’s appropriateness relative to specific disabilities. They make it easier for parents and family to choose specific toys for their child.

At www.onestepahead.com, parents can easily review each toy’s AblePlay rating. And even parents of kids who don’t have special needs can use the ratings as a toy selection tool.

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The beauty of AblePlay toys is that they’re inclusive—that is, they’re the same exact toys kids will find at a cousin’s or neighbor’s house. There are 6.2 million kids with disabilities in the=2 0U.S., or 13.2% of the child population—and when it comes to play, says Mendoza, “they want to be included in the same way as everyone else.”

“But they’ve also been rated by play experts in the area of special needs regarding their suitability for kids with disabilities."

Parker and I have been playing with the Tater Tot Toss and the WEDGiTS and love them.

Want to win your own Tator Tot Toss AND WEDGiTS from One Step Ahead?

1. Take a look at their toys.

2. Choose one that would meet your child's specific needs.

3. Come back and tell me not only which toy, but WHY. Let's help each other out with some great therapy ideas using the wonderful selection of toys at One Step Ahead.

Want to earn an extra entries?

1. Follow us on Twitter. We are 5MinSpecNeeds

2. Tweet this giveaway @5MinSpecNeeds

This contest will go through April 11th.

Offer available in the U.S and Canada!

Please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions.

You can also find Tammy and Parker hanging out at their other blog, Praying for Parker and on Twitter where they are known as ParkerMama.

Filed under Contests and Giveaways, Stuff We Love by

Comments on Able Play Toys at One Step Ahead! »

April 4, 2009

Leslie @ 4:01 pm

I would love the Bright and Beyond Activity Cards. It looks like a great way to incorporate skill building by using things that I have around the house. I love using games and play to help reinforce and teach.

Gather Round Dinner Games. Anything to help my SPD child enjoy meal time! Since he barely eats anything, he hates being at the table (and finishes way before everyone else!)

I am following you now!

Maddy @ 7:38 pm

twitter, twitter, twitter……..

Janet @ 10:09 pm

We need a "Tummy Time Safari" mat. The bolster would be perfect to keep Alexander from laying on his trach while doing tummy time stuff, and the fact that the toys aren't hanging over his head would help encourage a different sort of reach than he's normally doing.

kate @ 10:23 pm

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE the Stack n Smile Photo Blocks. Our 18 month old son, Gavin, doesn't speak yet so we would love to have photos in the blocks to help him associate words with pictures of his favorite things or people.
I'm going to tweet from Gavin and his brother's Twitter page – I hope I do it right!!
Thanks!

April 6, 2009

Michael Capp @ 9:10 am

I'd love to win!

c. clemens @ 10:03 am

great prize, good luck everyone

Tamie @ 10:42 am

The Configuration Balance Beam would be a real hit with my 5-year-old son (he has autism). He loves walking on sidewalk curbs and I think he'd have a lot of fun with this. He is very active and this would be a great addition to our collection of "gotta move!" toys!

Also, it's not in the "able play" rating feature, but I highly, highly recommend the "Rainy Day Combo Kit." My son's Occupational Therapist brought this to our house for his sessions when he was 2-years-old. He loved it so much we bought our own. It is a bar that you can put up in a doorway (without mounting permanently…so it's great to take to hotels, grandma's house, etc).

There are a number of different attachments available…swings, hammocks, gliders, etc. We've had it for three years now with HEAVY use and it is worth it's weight in gold. You used to only be able to buy it from Abilitations and it's great to see a mainstream store like Leaps & Bounds carring the starter kit (if you search online for "rainy day indoor playground" you can find more of the additional attachments for it). As I type this, my son is trying to do pull-ups on the bar… ;)

~Tamie

Meredith Rogen @ 12:10 pm

I think the Stack n Smile Photo Blocks would be great for the little girl with Autism I care for.

Heather Diotte @ 12:11 pm

Thanks for the great giveaway!!

More Canadian Contests and Freebies:
coolcanucks.ca

Also win a member’s only $20 Subway gift card!

Meredith Rogen @ 12:11 pm

I follow on Twitter under Meredycat.

Amber Pollard @ 2:03 pm

I like this one because it helps brandon with Grasping and sensory skills. There is others out ther but I did see to many made for kids with vision impairments. I would like to see more with lights and sound and maybe more sensory to it also.

An all-time favorite. It's a toddler's joy, but even babies can press Skwish flat, and watch as it snaps back to its old shape. Made of safe, smooth Birchwood, with a nylon-covered elastic cord. 6" of fun for birth and up.

Skwish® Classic
Item #: 01705
$14.95
(* = required fields)
Product Rating

Randy Bailey @ 4:41 pm

Fantastic Spinners and Refills for my artistic grandaughter.

susan varney @ 5:05 pm

the Stack n Smile Photo Blocks

Sarah @ 5:11 pm

I like the monster bubbles and refil.

Sarah @ 5:26 pm

Honestly, this giveaway caught my interest because my new friend's son has cerebral pausy and I picked the toy that would be easiest to play with, with him.

Sarah @ 5:33 pm

I twittered you at: http://twitter.com/ScrewLucy

Elaine R @ 5:38 pm

Stack and Smile Photo Blocks sound great for my autistic nephew. The photo blocks would help memory of family and the blocks are soft and don't make a loud noise when they fall-autistic children are often sensitive to noises. The repetition of stacking the blocks would be an enjoyable activity.

Lily Kwan @ 7:45 pm

I love the Yellow Lab Asthma Friendly Plush Puppy because it provides a huggable friend and encourages communication and expression.

nancy @ 7:46 pm

I have been looking for a trike or a bike for ty for so long. That little trike they have along with the pedal extenders. If I don't win I am buying it. He needs one so bad. I al so glad that you put that out there.

He has cerebral palsy and has spastic muscles and can't ride a bike like a normal kid. Those bike pedal extenders would let him ride a trike with his little friend in the the neighborhood.

nancy @ 7:48 pm

I twittered it…. twice.. I so would love this for Tyler

Amy A. @ 9:43 pm

I like the photo blocks. My son is having trouble with face recognition and names. This is a great way to help reinforce what he is learning.

amynhtown@yahoo.com

April 7, 2009

Tari Lawson @ 6:41 am

My son has low muscle tone. I really think the Configuration Balance Beam would be very good for him.

israel y @ 1:40 pm

I like the Sock Monkey – my nephew is in love with monkeys and this would be great to help encourage body part identification.

Vicky Boackle @ 2:48 pm

i like the tummy time safari mat.

April 8, 2009

Monique Rizzo @ 7:20 pm

The photo blocks are cool! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

April 9, 2009

Jenn @ 3:34 pm

My son has SPD and fine motor skills delays and I think the E-I-E-I Dough would be great for both things – the clay for the sensory input and the accessories would help with his fine motor skills.

jennifernew81 at hotmail dot com

April 10, 2009

Kathy D @ 7:17 am

I really like the "Tummy Time Safari" mat

Kathy D @ 7:18 am

subscribe via e-mail

PsychMamma @ 8:55 pm

I would choose the Configuration Balance Beam because our 3 y/o needs the most help with gross motor skills. I love that this can be configured into lots of different patterns/shapes to keep it interesting for a little one and that it encourages attention to foot placement, balance and stability. I also love that it looks like it would be easy to set up a small version inside in the winter or on rainy days. Cool!

My other favorites are the Bright and Beyond Activity cards, because it looks like they have great activity ideas including motor skills development, and the Asthma Friendly Plush Puppies, because J loves stuffed animals, but we minimize them due to her chronic lung problems.

Thanks for the chance to enter!!

PsychMamma @ 8:56 pm

Follow at Twitter!

Melanie @ 9:27 pm

The Foam Construction Set would be great.
It looks like fun but it really works the brain.
It would be perfect.

April 11, 2009

Donna M. Clark @ 2:09 am

Rub a Dub® Dunk and Score would be a useful and helpful toy for us. My Baby sister has always been Special, but this past Christmas she has\d a breakdown, and regressed even further. She was at the level of a high functioning 8-10 year old, now she is at the level of a 2-4 year old, and afraid of baths. This would help her not be afraid of the water if she had something easy to play with while in the tub.

Nancy L. @ 2:10 am

My daughter is 11 and has a physical disability. She enjoys arts and crafts so I think she would enjoy the Glow-in-the-Dark PlayFoam. I liked the carpet skates. When I taught preschool special ed, we would skate on wax paper, though I did have to hold their hands to make sure they didn't fall.

Donna M. Clark @ 2:15 am

I follow you on twitter.

Teresa Prevette @ 4:51 am

I love the Asthma Friendly Plush Puppies. This would be great for my son who has asthma. I have to keep everything so clean. These seem perfect.

Jennifer Hedden @ 9:18 am

the monster bubbles and refil

Jennifer Jozwiak @ 9:41 am

I would love to get the tummy time safari mat for my little one.

leah cole @ 9:47 am

The dinner games look fantastic! My little nephew has such a time at the dinner table. I really think this is something that would help keep him focused.

thanks for the great offer

Lisa Taylor @ 10:09 am

My little cousin would love the Touch and Feel Cards because he has an aversion to loud noises but loves different textures and toys that he can move with his hands

Sarah Denton @ 11:14 am

I like the Configuration Balance Beam, this would be great to develop balance and motor skills

Janet @ 2:59 pm

Personalized My Little Puppies Set

Gianna @ 7:42 pm

I love the Configuration Balance Beam.. I think it would help my son a lot with his balance :)

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