Hello and happy December! Since the holiday season has begun, I wanted to share with you some ideas for gifts for kids with special needs. I have included toy and app resources along with some educational websites to keep your kiddos entertained through the winter break.  

Toy Resources

Hasbro Releases Online Toy Tutorials for Children with Disabilities

Toymaker Hasbro is piloting online videos and tools to help children with developmental disabilities play with their toys. The initial series will highlight several toys to demonstrate how to play with them independently or with someone else, and suggest alternative ways to play with the toy.

Toys "R" Us 2014 Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids

Toys "R" Us, Inc. has a long history of supporting the special needs community. For 20 years, they have published the Toys "R" Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy to use resource featuring specially selected toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. During the past several years, Toys "R" Us has worked with many celebrities who have served as the "face" of the Guide. This year's cover features Albert Pujols, father of five, philanthropist and baseball World Champion. This complementary, one of a kind resource speaks to a child's individual needs and offers qualified toy recommendations based on research from the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization that evaluates all of the toys featured in the Guide.

Fat Brain Toys

This amazing resource offers toys, games and tools for children and adults with special needs. Visit their Special Needs Resource Center, where toys and games are categorized by Special Needs Challenges and Development Goals.

Melissa and Doug

This very special collection of toys was handpicked by Dr. Melissa Liguori for parents, therapists and educators of children with exceptionalities. These are the top toys and trusted skill-builders that help boost developmental skills in children of all abilities, organized by therapeutic and skill criteria to create a practical resource for families with special needs. They also have a special needs toy guide that you can download.

Fun and Function

The Fun and Function website has educational toys and games, sensory items, fidgets, weighted items, chewable jewelry, books, music and much more. Lots of "outside the box" gift ideas.

Tangle Toys

What is a Tangle, you ask? The Tangle Toy is not your traditional toy for children. Tangles are based on the concept of infinity and continuous motion. This "magic in the motion" that you feel when you play with a Tangle is truly therapeutic and calming to the soul! Once you put a Tangle in your hand, you just can't put it down!

Discovery Toys Special Needs Guide

Discovery Toys is committed to bringing fun, safe and developmentally appropriate toys and products to children and adults of all abilities and special needs. Children with developmental disabilities, like all children, develop at a unique rate and pattern of development. These products have useful applications for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Kaplan Toys

With over 50 years of experience in early childhood education, Kaplan Toys provides exciting and fun educational toys that focus on helping your child develop. They encourage creative thinking and independence as well as mastery in core educational subjects. From LEGO sets to language games, from pretend play to building and construction, Kaplan Toys strives to make playing fun so a child's learning doesn't stop. Their products encompass multiple learning styles, so whether your child wants to be a daring explorer, a sports star or a music sensation, Kaplan Toys has them covered!  

Enabling Devices

Enabling Devices is a company dedicated to developing affordable learning and assistive devices to help people of all ages with disabling conditions. Founded by Steven E. Kanor, Ph.D., and originally known as Toys for Special Children, the company has been creating innovative communications, toys and switches for the physically challenged for more than 35 years.

DIYAbility

Want to try your hand at making your own capability switches or adapting your own toy? If so, visit DIYAbility's Projects page!

Need Ideas for Toys?

Family Education has an online toy finder that searches by age and interest.

Informational Articles

Top 14 Free Educational Websites for Kids

The Smart Apps for Kids website has a great list of free educational websites!  

Toys for Children with Special Needs: What to Look for and Where to Find Them

While most of the U.S. is looking for the latest gadget or the newest toy, families of children with special needs may be looking for something very different. Many of the common toys available hold no interest or are not suitable for children with autism and other special needs. This resource has 19 articles discussing toys for children with special needs.

Apps for Children with Special Needs

This website lets you explore the 100 most popular apps on iTunes in every categoryexplore the 100 most popular apps on iTunes. 

Android Resources

Do you have an Android tablet? If so, pop on over to AppyMall's Android page and Smart Apps for Android, two great resources for suggestions and reviews.