Hobbies And Interests
Sensory Disorders
Children with sensory disorders range from a lack of hand-eye coordination to visual and hearing impairment. For children who experience trouble with motor skills, simple toys like building blocks and a ball are good toys to get. The blocks will teach them how to build and put things together. Playing catch with the ball will let them enhance their reflexes and ability to catch. For children who have a hard time hearing, choose toys with bright lights and colors. They can not hear, so their other senses are very heightened. Textured toys are great for both hearing- and visually-impaired kids because their other senses are so heightened. Toys that are audible and give directions are toys that visually-impaired kids will love.
Autism
Children with Autism are very good at some tasks, but struggle greatly with others, so find what your child is best at. Puzzles, paintings and building blocks are all toys that children with Autism excel at using. Bouncy balls and toys that require differentiating shapes will help them develop their motor skills. Playing with clay allows them to be creative. Tactile toys will help their development as well.
Speech Impairments
For kids who struggle with languages, get them toys that will help them develop these skills. For example, get toys that sing songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Sing along and show the child some hand motions to do with the song. Toys like telephones or walkie talkies will also increase the child's interest in talking and learning to work through the disability. Reading books teaches the child new words and how to say them, so books are a good gift option as well.
Mental Disabilities
Children with mental disabilities like toys that require sorting and planning. Get them toys like clay, finger paints, card games, and games with balls, so they can work on their coordination skills. These gifts all help the child's development, but are also fun and not too challenging to use.