Toys for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Injury to the cerebrum causes cerebral palsy. Premature babies are usually susceptible to this disease. The injury to their cerebrum could be caused by encephalitis, herpes simplex, meningitis or some other kind of harmful illness. These head injuries can also result in health conditions like subdural hematoma and even harm the blood vessels. Cerebral palsy is a health condition which affects the coordination and sense of balance in a child. It also sometimes affects the child's learning abilities and even reduces sensation. For a child affected by cerebral palsy, doing simple things like holding objects, keeping pace with moving objects and playing with toys is itself very difficult. Standing without losing balance is also a task for the child.

Importance of Cerebral Palsy Toys

Cerebral palsy toys are conceptualized and built in such a way that they not only make playing with toys an enjoyable activity but also enhance the child's motor skills. However, it is essential to understand that every child affected by cerebral palsy suffers from a different kind of disability and the severity level might also vary. The toy should be chosen only after considering these factors, because what might be an effective cerebral palsy toy for one child might become cause of frustration for another. Once you are clear about these factors about the child, you can easily find a toy that caters to the child's specific needs.

But how will you know what are the exact problems or its severity that you must cater to?

To know the answer to this question, take your child to an occupational therapist who is proficient in dealing with the children with special needs. The occupational therapist will conduct sessions with you to discuss the child's interests, capabilities and shortcomings and understand the child's preferences and needs. This evaluation will help the therapist to determine which toys are the most beneficial for the child. You can then approach the toy store to buy one for your child.

Special Toys for Children with Cerebral Palsy

A wide range of toys for children with cerebral palsy are available today. These include building blocks, puzzle games, math problems, spelling games, snap toys, balls of various sizes and colors, pull and push games, sound and light games and even specially designed video games. Usually, for games such as building blocks or puzzles, the blocks or puzzle pieces are of a larger size than those designed for normal children. Due to this, the child affected by cerebral palsy finds it relatively easier to grasp them and play with them. Playing with balls of different sizes and colors is good for improving the child's coordination and sensory powers. Games with light and sound have the same benefits.

Depending on the child's requirements, you can even consider tying the cerebral palsy toy to the child's wrist with a thin thread so that even if the child drops the toy, it will never be out of his reach. However, make sure that these toys are not too heavy, otherwise they might make the child topple when he drops them. The toys could also be tied to the child's crib.

Alternative to Cerebral Palsy Toys

What happens if you do not want to or cannot buy this type of toy. Or, it may also happen that the toy your kid has set his mind on is only available for the normal kids. Or the toy he or she received as a gift is for normal kids and the kid has decided it is the only thing in this whole world worth playing with. Unfortunately, such a toy is too fast for the kid's reaction time, and keeps on eluding and frustrating him with each try. What do you do in such a situation. Let him or her cry or get it custom-made, which I am sure most of us cannot afford. Is there an alternative? Yes, there is! Alternative to buying cerebral palsy toys is to adapt those made for the normal kids. Following are some guidelines to make adapted cerebral palsy toys:

• Adapt the toy so that it moves out of kid's reach as little as possible. You may think of using masking tape to localize it.
• Adapt the toy in such a way that the kid find it easy to hold. You may find that using foam, or thermocol or rubber padding with the help of masking tape or velcro straps lends the kid an easy grip.
• If a toy needs, in order to be operational, certain action to repeated consistently such as pressing a switch, then adapt the toy to make it easy for the kid. The kid should be able to use the easiest hand movements to press the switch. If it is a tiny switch then glue something big on its top to increase the surface area and make it easy to press.
• If your kid likes to play with a plastic ball that keeps getting away from him/her, then adapt it. Cut a small part of masking tape and using a needle pierce the ball and let some of the air escape. Plug the hole using masking tape. Now the ball will be less bouncy and slow to move.

Thus, when it comes to toys for children with cerebral palsy, the real deal is to select and buy the right one. Just keep in mind that the toy should not be too complicated for the child. It should promote development of his motor skills, voluntary movements, communication abilities and all other things that he is lacking in. Only then will the toy serve its real purpose and help the child enjoy it to the fullest.