Ways to Help Kids With Special Needs in the Classroom

Why is play so important in early childhood development? Not only does play encourage creativity and imagination but it also facilitates language development, decision making abilities, social skills, fine and gross motor development and problem solving skills that help develop the physical, social and emotional well-being of children. For a child with disabilities, pretend play is even more crucial.

Subject: Quinn, a boy with autism, and the line of toys he made before falling asleep See more about Quinn at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7kHSOgauhg Date: Circa 2003 Place: Walnut Creek, California Photographer: Andwhatsnext Original digital photograph (cropped and resized) Credit: Copyright (c) 2003 by Nancy J Price (aka Mom) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sensory processing can be difficult for these children and sensory toys are specially designed to help kids with disabilities learn problem-solving skills and gain a measure of control over their environment. More and more teachers and parents of children with disabilities are learning the important role sensory toys play in the life of a child with special needs and are incorporating them into their classrooms and homes.

Sensory toys are not necessarily geared towards a specific age group but rather a developmental level and skill set. A child's age should not determine which toys are appropriate. Older children with autism, for example, can derive great benefit from toys that are designed for a younger child, such as blocks or a ball. Sensory toys for autism education are particularly important.

Many children with autism have difficulty with various textures and toys like sand and water tables, textured balls and other tactile objects can help a child 

overcome their difficulties with texture and touch. They can help a child with autism learn to interact with the world around them. In addition, sensory toys can help a child focus and aid in cognitive processing. Studies have shown that children who play with sensory toys during lessons retain more information then when they do not. Also, using sensory aids like a wiggle seat can help students to focus.

Some other helpful hints for the classroom:

• Provide a fidget toy and/or wiggle seat, cushion or weighted stuffed animal during circle/seated work time. 
• Have a child do something physical in the morning or before any long period of seated time. For example, jump on a trampoline, complete an obstacle course, crash into pillows, push or pull heavy objects or do jumping jacks. 
• Position an easily distracted child away from doors, windows, fans, lights or anything that may be overly stimulating or noisy. 
• Develop consistent routines and picture schedules to help children develop good habits. Children with disabilities often crave routines as it gives them a sense of control. Make sure to try and prepare kids for any changes in routine ahead of time.
• Once routines are established for a significant period of time, begin changing them slowly to help kids develop coping skills and build their tolerance to change. 
• Always provide positive reinforcement.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7114506

By Allen Yesilevich

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Introducing ABC and 123

From the moment baby is born, his brain is starting to work overtime. We are wrong to think that all they do during the first weeks are eat and sleep and fill the diaper. Every interaction we do with the baby stimulates his intelligence. Little by little he recognizes mother’s voice and touch. He knows when it is time to feed him or time for bath. It is important to stimulate the baby’s brain as early as the first weeks to brace them up for more exercises the following months. Introduce those colors and sounds. You’d be surprise how early they will interact and know the ABCs and 123s.

Teaching them alphabets and counting does not require any age. As long as you think they can comprehend already, then you will know it is time. Make your nursery feel like a pre-school room. Attach alphabet posters on the wall. The more colorful it is, the more your child will notice the pictures. Show her books about numbers. Do it with a little story. You can do this in the morning when the baby is all up for a little chat and play with mommy. Recite the alphabet while you point each letter. But do not overdo it for it might stress your little tot. You can increase the time of play every day. Just be sensitive with your baby’s needs. It might tire him a bit. So you will know it is time for bath when he is not paying attention anymore.

Don’t get tired saying the letters or the numbers every day. Just a little attention from them would mean so much in the stimulation for intelligence. Do not frustrate yourself when the baby is not cooperating for that day because there might be other thing that interests him. Always be alert of what caught your baby’s attention. It might be the colorful building blocks on the other side of the room or just the nursery rhyme with a video playing in the television.

Every child learns with a different pace. You cannot expect yours to be the same with the other’s intelligence. Genetic and environment is very important. However, with moms as persistent and supportive as you are, child will learn faster and easier. The use of flashcards and posters are a big help in stimulating baby’s brain. Sing him songs, bring him around. Different people and places will catch his attention and make his brain work. Count things in front of him when you are working around the house. Do not bother yourself if he is not listening. Just recite the numbers and the alphabets. You see in a few more months, you will be surprise at how much he knows.

It is often requires a lot of time and effort on the part of mom and dad in stimulating every child’s social and intellectual development. It is during the toddler years that the child needs all the support he can get. Introducing the basics in education will turn out to be a lovely activity if not pushed too much by parents. Remember that you are not only honing his intelligence, you are also developing his emotional skill. You don’t want to sacrifice his trust on you by being too aggressive.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7013477

By Isabel R

Educational Toys – The First Learning Tools That Are Available to Our Youth

With the introduction of an educational toy to a child, the world of learning is opened up. A child has the natural desire to learn new things and explore possibilities. This is why the introduction of educational toys at a young age is so fundamental to a child’s early developmental years.

These toys that a child can learn from come in many different shapes, sizes and kinds. There are the first ones that are the ABC wooden blocks. This will expose a child to the written language that will also be fun to play with. With this exposure they will begin to recognize the different shapes of the letters. Soon they will be able to sound them out with help from a loving parent.

The next toy should be the 123 wooden block set. This introduces the numbering system. This is an easy concept that children find fun learning.

With a child’s age increasing, so does the complexity of the education. Puzzles are a great way for a child to recognize shapes. The pictures on the puzzle let them visualize what is being made. It helps the little minds develop to figure problems out. The simple early puzzles are basic but important. A 12 to 18 piece is great to begin with. In time, they will be able to piece together 24-piece and 48-piece puzzles.

Educational toys are not limited to just the basics. There are educational toys that are made for children reaching up and into their early teens. But without a solid foundation of the basics, a child cannot advance to their fullest potential.

Choose each educational toy for your child carefully and help them to achieve their fullest potential.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4227953

By Mark Y. Salmon