ROYAL OAK, Mich. – At toy shops, shopping is literally child's play. But if the child on your list has special needs, there may be additional factors you need to consider when picking the perfect present.
We asked Two experts from Beaumont Children's Hospital shared their do's and don'ts when it comes to buying toys for children with autism, ADHD, mobility issues and more.
First, do your homework.
"You would want to talk to the child's parents and learn about their interests, learn about their skill levels," said Dr. Stefani Hines, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician.
Don't just follow the age on the box.
"Even though that child may be 5, some of their developmental levels may be more like a 3 or 4," explained Hines.
Do avoid small parts for kids who put their toys in their mouth, even if they're older. Check for pieces that can break off and could pose a choking hazard.
Do pick something that's easy to clean.
"Some children also have difficulty with their immune system, so you'd want to be able to make sure the toy is washable," said Debbie Adsit, an occupational therapist and supervisor of pediatric rehab. "Plastic toys, things without a lot of crevices."
Do find out if a child with autism has any sensory issues.
"Sometimes very loud sounds, very sudden noises, may bother them. So maybe a jack-in-the-box may not be the right type of toy because it comes out of the blue and very suddenly," said Hines. "Sometimes certain textures bother children with autism so a sandpaper or bristle texture. So they may not want that bristle ball or bristle blocks."
Do consider the timing of a toy, especially for children with ADHD.
"Some children with ADHD can't tolerate a really long board game. So you might want to pick one that you know isn't going to last very long," recommended Hines. "They also may be a little bit more likely to be impulsive and without knowing it, may be a little bit more likely to break toys or be hard on toys."
To counter that, pick more durable toys and buy a protective case for any tech toys.
For children with mobility issues, do consider where the child can play with the toy.
"When you're looking at somebody who has say, cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, where you're looking to develop strength and coordination, you want to look at a toy that can be used in multiple positions," said Adsit. "So maybe they're now sitting, but you're trying to get them up to standing. So is it a toy that they can play with on the floor, get engaged with it, but then can you move it up onto a surface that causes them to want to pull up to kneel or pull up to stand."
Adsit is a fan of toys that are multi-purpose too.
"Something as simple as blocks that you can build towers with a block, but you can be building their language skills while they're doing fine motor manipulation of stacking the blocks, but then talking about, 'Look at the blue block. Look at the red block. Let's count the blocks.'"
Don't shy away from traditional toys. Both experts like doll houses to encourage social play.
"A parent or another sib can get down on the floor and be animating a figurine," said Hines. 'Let's have Sarah go to bed. Now she's going to get up and go to school.'"
Kitchen toys and play food are also a favorite.
"If they're maybe not a very broad eater and you play with different plastic toys and talk about making the different foods, and so within that, you're developing language, you're developing standing at the sink and bending down, that's your balance, the fine motor manipulation of the cooking and all that social skill," said Adsit.
Don't buy older kids toys that are too babyish. While they may need a puzzle with fewer pieces, they would still enjoy a design for their age group. Adsit found plenty of easier puzzles with animal or nature designs.
Finally, don't be afraid to ask for advice.
"Asking parents is the best way to go with this because you want to make sure the toy is appropriate and the toy will be used," said Hines.
For a toy shopping checklist, click here.