Last week on my blog, I started a Special Needs Swap Shop. I offered up a $1600 PONY Gait Trainer that Max used when he was little (someone took it). Then I invited readers to send me e-mails mentioning what sort of stuff they were looking for, and to let me know what sort of things they had to give away. I ended up talking on the phone with Ali, mom to a kid with cp, and we commiserated over how expensive stuff for kids with disabilities can be. “It’s like, the second you attach the words ‘special needs’ to something you can charge double,” she said. Sooooo true. I have literally paid double the price for an adaptive Connect Four game because it came with a special stand and rubberized pieces that are easier to hold.
I think there are fantastic toys out there to help kids with special needs. Developmental toys that encourage them to better use their hands, minds and senses. Adaptive toys that help them get beyond their disabilities and play, just like every other kid. I also think these toys are often overpriced. Sometimes, I’ll start flipping through a catalog of them and get ticked off as I see the prices—I feel like I’m being taken advantage of. Like many parents of kids with special needs, I’m vulnerable to wanting to get my child anything and everything that could help him. I don’t like being at the mercy of these companies.
To be fair, maybe these companies charge more for the toys they make or adapt because they are small operations and don’t have armies of people in China mass-producing them. That’s when you start to wonder why the big-gun companies can’t get find a way to make toys for our kids.
Have you also found toys for kids with special needs to be overpriced?
Ellen blogs daily at To The Max
I hear you! I gave up a long time ago buying adaptive toys because I couldn’t afford them. I just buy toys that are easy to use or that I can adapt myself. What a great idea to have a toy swap.
Oh yes…special needs = double in price!
I recently found this website: http://www.fatbraintoys.com
They have a lot of great toys, and even a “special needs” section. The price of the toys aren’t any different, but I have found that their Amazon store is cheaper than their online store.
With any special toys I find, I search online for the cheapest one. We have no “special needs” toys, but have found a lot of great toys that can be used by our Max, who has very limited abilities with his hands.
Sometimes it’s just the catalog that’s expensive. I love the Beyond Play catalog for ideas, but can just go to Walmart and pick up the actual toys. And how do they charge $8 for squishy sensory balls when I get a great assortment of them at the Dollar Store?
Sure have! We recently paid $13 for only six adaptive crayons in 5 colors through a catalog.
However, a few years ago at Target we found “finger crayons” by Rose Art, a pack of thirty, all different colors, for $20. We split the cost and the pack with his teacher. The crayons were the same design.
I am crafty and uber cheap so I tend to adapt toys myself or just find toys he can use at regular stores.
You’re right. So many special needs toys are overpriced…or at least in the specialty catalogs. You can often find similar toys for much less money. Please take a look at http://www.gummylump.com. We retail ALL of the Melissa & Doug toys at 20% off.
We’re also doing a giveaway right now for a Free Multi-Level Dollhouse.
I can’t speak to the cost issue, but try to at least pass-around information that people can choose from –
http://www.therextras.com/therextras/2009/11/tis-the-season.html
How frustrating. I’ve never thought about it much before, but I bet you are very right.
So discouraging to think people would take advantage of special parents. I try to make what I can or buy used and be creative. The bigger toy companies have a huge gap to fill!