Toy Presentation
Development of Play
Sensory motor / exploratory Play - 1st stage, allows for exploring of child’s body and environment Cause and Effect Play - Beginning of purposeful behaviour, understanding how things work and that one can make an impact on the environment Constructive Play and Cognitive play - Combining objects for specific purposes, turn taking, sequencing, visual motor skills Imaginative play - representational or symbolic play. - At first, child does action on self (e.g. pretend to drink from cup) - Child does single action with toy (e.g. feed cow) - Substitute unlike object (e.g. block for telephone) - Adds more actions - Develops more of a story (go to the store, choose food, pay for it and come home).
Thoughts about Toys - The stage of play your child is in, as well as their interests, are the best guides for what toys they’ll find interesting and that will stimulate their development. - Having a range of toys, some they can play with on their own, and some that you play with them helps them learn and stay occupied! - Many of the toys listed below can fit into multiple categories listed above. For example you could use little cars and a bit truck for in and out play, pretend play and working on learning colours and shapes. Look for toys you can use in multiple ways Family members playing with the children with or without toys is invaluable. Use a combination of teaching your children how to use the toys and how to expand their play as well as letting them figure things out on their own. Use toys to build imitation and language skills Electronics and screen time should be minimized and used more when motivation is a factor. Giving children toys that they can interact with and learn through use will teach them more, can be used more to interact with others and will learn how to better occupy themselves. Children should play with toys, the toys shouldn’t be doing the playing!
Mommy and Daddy’s toys: Have a group of toys that are your toys! These can include the annoying items, and items that can motivate your child to work for or more therapy toys that you would like to work on with your child (e.g. beads). These can also be things like car garages or doll house.
Rotate toys so that some are put away for a couple weeks or months then brought out again: just like getting brand new toys! Have some different toys available at grandparents’ or other friends and families’ homes for your child to play with while visiting.
Toys from Movies and TV - Some toys that are licenced are okay, however limit the number. Look for toys that can be used in more ways.
Please see end of chart for a list of toy stores in Calgary. Ups and Downs also has a Toy Library that you can use! Please Note: The following toys are not recommended for children of all ages, as the developmental age of the child should be considered when selecting any toy for use. The toys pictured within this handout are for example purposes only as they may not be the best or only option available of that type of toy; therefore, there is no recommendation to purchase any one brand of toy over another. When selecting a toy for specific therapy goals, it is recommended to check with a child’s therapy team to help make the best selection for that child. As always, parents are responsible for using toys in a safe manner and as directed.
Stage Options and What to look for
Bubbles Balls Books: Simple (You blow) For littlest kids: Blowers find books with one picture per page to be able to label. Look for books with
simple words. Wiffle balls (Team Skyline, Golf stores, Books with flaps sometimes in sports kits)
such as Where’s O-balls Music CDs Spot books. Nerf balls Familiar nursery Take advantage of your Knobby or koosh balls rhymes local library!
EVERYONE Sophie Giraffe Links Mirrors Rattles -easy to grasp
Bright Starts Keys Rattle and Shake Barbell
Nesting cups Fisher-Price Ocean
Wonders Deep Blue Sea
Musical Oball rattle
Stacking Rings
-foot and hand rattles
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Themes for lots of ages!
Basics: Bath Crayons Squirters (great for hand Whistles (Alex) Cups strengthening) Plastic boats and animals/people Sponges to wring out Animal bath mitt Blowing bubbles in the Baby dolls water can be very fun and
motivating!
Lots of foam options (Some nice ones are available at Scholar’s Choice in baby section at Superstore)
Bathand water toys Shovels, pails, Large trucks Sandboxes and sand sieves, rakes Your Preference (many
options available!)
Sandbox (Magna doodles are Magnet Sets great too!)
Books
Color Wonder Melissa & Doug Deluxe Crayola Products Melissa & Doug Abby & Wooden Magnetic Pattern Magnetic Playboards or Emma Deluxe Magnetic Blocks Set Dress-Up board games (often available at Dollar
Traveltoys Stores) Leap frog toys, DVDs and other electronics. - Save these for long trips only. - Try putting in some CDs to listen to that LeapFrog Fridge Wash have favourite songs Wikki stix and & Go Magnetic Vehicle Melissa & Doug Magnetic or stories. whiteboard or other Set Number Maze playboard. Where to buy toys Most places have websites to check out what is available. Many fantastic toys are available online that are hard to find in stores. - Toys R Us - Walmart, Zellers, Superstore, Sears - Drugstores (can particularly have good infant toys) - Indigo and Chapters - Winners - Scholar’s Choice (www.scholarschoice.ca) Scholar's Choice CALGARY SOUTH The Boulevard Shopping Centre 16061 MacLeod Trail SE (Beside Studio Ten) T2Y 3S5 Scholar's Choice CALGARY NORTH 8060 Silver Springs Boulevard NW Unit 178 (Off Nose Hill Drive, south of Crowchild Trail) T3B 5K1 - Once Upon a Child - IKEA, Costco - Kidsource 6019 - 1A Street SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0G5 1-877-259-4567 // 403-253-4567 - Castle Toys 5718 1A Street Southwest Calgary, AB T2H 0E8 - Discovery Hut (Chinook Centre) Chinook Centre (We have moved to Second Level North) 6455 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2H 0K9 - Discovery Toys: www.discoverytoysinc.com - Gracie and Gruff - 9309 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2J 0P6 Telephone : 403 692-6644 - Unit 201, 315 8th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 4K1 Telephone : 403 264-6678 - Garage Sales / Hand-me-downs - Dollar stores - Fitter International Inc (Fitterfirst) 2600 Portland Street Southeast #3050 Calgary, AB T2G 4M6 (403) 243-6830 - Team Skyline Sports Ltd 11-6120 2 Street Se Calgary, AB T2H 2L8 (403) 253-4911