Holiday Gifts A Challenge For Kids With Disabilities

[The Straight Story]

Holiday Gifts A Challenge For Kids With Disabilities



Buying holiday gifts for kids with developmental disabilities can be tricky, experts say, stressing that it’s key to consider the individual’s abilities, interests and needs before making a purchase.

For children with special needs who may not be ready for the same toys as their peers, variations of popular items can be a good fit, says Julie Brinkhoff, associate director of the Great Plains Center, a disability resource center at the University of Missouri. Small Legos, for example, could present a struggle for some, while larger Duplos could offer a good alternative.

It’s also important to keep gifts fun rather than therapeutic or educational since items that highlight trouble areas could prove frustrating, Brinkhoff says. She advises talking to the child’s parents to get a good sense of their interests and to gauge whether a gift will be appropriate for their ability level.

“You aren’t buying a toy for a kid with a disability; you are buying a toy for a kid,” Brinkhoff said. “For kids, the holidays are times to get what they want, not times to get a toy that will ‘fix’ them.”

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2010/11/30/holiday-gifts-a-challenge/11414/

[kickysnana]

1. I am going to chime in because my kids had dyslexia....

but buying toys for all kids is a challenge because most kids attention spans are fleeting. So the fact that they have been lobbying for 10 months for a $50 transformers xyiengh, or my little pony complete stable probably means that one week before Christmas they will have lost all interest in it and want skates.

Somebody bought my kids clearly "educational" toys when they were about 7 and 8 and those never left the packaging despite my asking several times if they wanted to try do something neat with them. At least they offered a polite (but as it turns out insincere) "Thank you" without prompting.