Education is extremely important, but it’s all the more so when it comes to children with special needs and learning disorders. If your child struggles with focus, or has vision or hearing or mobility issues, you may have to work extra hard to make sure they are getting the same education as everyone else in their class. Fortunately, educational toys and games can help to fill in the gaps, as well as provide fun ways for your child to learn about things that they wouldn’t otherwise get exposure to.

Braille Alphabet Magnets 26 Upper Case Letter

Colors and Shapes Memory Match Braille Cards

Why Educational Toys Are Important

Educational toys are essential because in developing and improving a variety of necessary skills in special needs children. There are other benefits that children can get from using educational toys such as self-esteem building, critical thinking, creative expression, along with language development.

Play therapy with meaningful sensory toys naturally encourages exploratory learning. Sensory toys arouse interest, rivet attention, and make it possible to discover different textures, sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.

Ruffs House Teaching Tactile Set

Poke A Dot What's Your Favorite Color

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Sensory Toys Broaden Potential for Children to Freely Engage Their Senses

When you’re looking to purchase educational toys or games, consider your child’s age, physical abilities, interests, and personality in order to choose just the right toy or game.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Age: Is your child old enough to play with certain types of toys and games? In most cases, you shouldn’t expect them to master these before they turn two years old.

Braille Uno Cards

• Physical Abilities: What are your child’s physical disabilities? For example, if your child has trouble using their hands due to cerebral palsy, it might be a good idea to avoid puzzle-type games that involve fine motor skills. You may want to look for stuffed animals that encourage reaching.

Tactile Pyrimid

• Interests and Personality: Two things to always keep in mind when shopping for that toy that will engage your child!
• Also, keep in mind that in some cases physical differences may prevent your child from using certain toys properly. If they’re not able to correctly hold a pencil, or hear, or turn a page of a book, make sure you try any toy out with your child before buying it to ensure it will work for them—and provide valuable learning opportunities—before bringing it home.

Prop It 10 in 1 Portable Literary and Speech Easel

In Addition to Making Playtime Fun, Toys and Games Offer Children Ways to Gain Confidence and Develop New Skills

Knowing how to share, take turns, follow directions, get along with others and more are essential components of growing up. If possible, buy several different types of educational toys so your child has plenty of variety and sharing time during playtime!

GoTalk 4-Plus- Alternative Communication Aid

Whether you’re in need of a back to school gift, birthday gift or a new educational toy for your child, MaxiAids’ Interactive Talking Map of the United States is ideal for any young girl or boy who’s eager to learn.

This Family Choice, Mom's Choice Gold Metal and Tillywig Brain Child Award Winner 2018 is a touch-activated talking i-Poster that provides 500 amazing facts about all the states of the USA. Your child will love the friendly voices, music and flashing lights that guide them through this playful learning experience. The map includes a parents’ manual so you can help get your child set up to learn all about our great country in a few easy steps!

The Talking USA Map makes learning easy and fun. Its engaging interactive feature teaches basic information, climate and general knowledge, all with the touch of your finger. Your child will gain learning skills like logical thinking, music, concentration, earth science, memory, problem-solving, geography and environment. It includes a quality speaker, on/off power with unique light, interactive buttons, basic and advanced quiz mode, volume control, repeat, National Anthem song and more.

MaxiAids’ Interactive Talking Map is the perfect addition to your little one’s bedroom or playroom area at 30 1/2 X 21 inches. It’s intended for preschool age kids, ages 5 and up. The map is a versatile addition to your home in that it can be hung up, used as a playmat or played with on the floor.

With so many toys on the market to choose from, why not choose something that’s both fun and educational? Kids love the interactive features of this map, and our guess is the adults might have some fun with it too.

For more educational toys and back to school items, check out MaxiAids’ Recreational and Fun store for the largest selection of adaptive toys and accessible games at the lowest prices.