Gift giving for some parents can be complex, time-consuming and a bit of a gamble, even more so for parents of children with special needs.  Questions like: Will this toy offer my child the right degree of challenge without discouraging them?  Will they find enough variety of play experiences to really get our money’s worth from it?  Will it be exciting and perhaps even encourage them to push beyond their comfort zone? 

Those questions and more are the reasons the AblePlay toy rating website was created by the nonprofit organization, the National Lekotek Center; a pioneer in using toys to help children with disabilities achieve more through play.  AblePlay does the time-consuming research for busy parents and provides them with an easy rating system based on their child’s individual needs.  Then to further help parents out, AblePlay throws in creative play ideas and developmental uses beyond even those the manufacturer of the toy is often aware of.

This year, Ellen Metrick, AblePlay’s chief toy evaluator has assembled a sneak preview of some favorites especially for the visitors to Parenting Special Needs.  Ellen’s picks were chosen not only because they offer children hours of fun but they also offer parents the confidence that their money will be well spent.  So we encourage readers to get a jump on the holidays and read about some new role toys can play in their children’s lives.  Parenting Special Needs, AblePlay and Ellen just want to make your life a little easier and your child’s a little brighter this holiday season and always.

Remember play holds within it both promise and potential. For more toys and play ideas visit www.ableplay.org