Choosing Toys for Children with Differing Needs and Abilities

Selecting a toy for a child with differing needs and abilities involves more than just looking at the age label on the box. Children develop at their own pace, and a toy that works for one child may not be suitable or safe for another. With thoughtful choices, toys can support skill-building, encourage creativity and provide meaningful play.

Consider the Child’s Abilities and Needs

Before choosing a toy, think about the child’s unique developmental level, physical abilities, safety needs and sensory preferences. Focus less on chronological age and more on how the child interacts with the world.

A good first step is to think about the child’s specific strengths and challenges. For example, a child who has difficulty with fine motor skills might enjoy toys with large knobs or levers that are easier to grasp. If hand control is limited, it may help to secure toys to a table using a non-slip mat (like a drawer liner) or silicone surface, which can help the child interact with the toy without needing to hold it steady.

Important factors to consider include:

• Motor skills: can the child grasp small pieces or operate buttons and levers?
• Sensory sensitivities: is the child easily overwhelmed by noise, lights or textures?
• Safety: does the child tend to put toys or parts in their mouth?

Sensory-friendly Toy Tips

Children with sensory differences often need toys that are calming and not overstimulating. Keep in mind:

• Toys with flashing lights or loud, unpredictable sounds can be overstimulating to children sensitive to visual or auditory input.
• Look for toys with adjustable volumes or soft, consistent sounds.
• Be cautious with sticky, slimy or highly textured materials if a child is sensitive to texture.
• Avoid toys with small or detachable parts to reduce choking risk if the child is known to put objects in their mouth.

Toy Adaptations

For some children, store-bought toys may need to be adapted for accessibility. Adapted toys allow children with limited strength, coordination or mobility to interact with toys that might otherwise be too difficult for them to play with.  An occupational therapist or recreational therapist would be a good resource to assist with this process.

Adaptations can include:

• Adding a switch to make a toy easier to activate.
• Replacing small controls with larger, easier to press buttons.
• Simplifying functions for easier interactions.
• Adapting playing pieces or rules when playing board games.

If you’re unsure what toy might be appropriate, don’t be afraid to ask! Parents, caregivers, therapists or teachers can recommend something based on the child’s preferences, comfort level or one that supports a specific skill or goal.