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Social TOYS: Try These Tools for Togetherness! Types of toys YOU can use to get children playing together

 
Abstract

Toys and other play materials offer children with disabilities opportunities to interact with peers and learn social skills. This fact sheet provides parents and staff with research-based information about using toys as tools to facilitate social development and ideas for games including "Let's Pretend!" and "Take a Ride."

The following fact sheet is provided courtesy of the Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development.

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Social TOYS: Try These Tools for Togetherness! Types of toys YOU can use to get children playing together

The everyday experiences children have with toys and play materials can provide many opportunities for interactions with other children, provided certain types of toys are available. Certain kinds of toys increase the likelihood that children will interact with one another in group settings. Promoting peer interactions is simply a matter of making these kinds of toys and play materials readily available and giving children the chance to play with them. Just take a look at the toys and play materials you have at hand, and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are there toys available that can be used easily by two or more children?
  • Can some toys be used in active, energetic play?
  • Do certain toys involve turn taking among children?
  • Can any of the toys be used to represent other things in pretend play?
  • Can toys be used in ways that mirror the everyday use of household objects?

More>> [PDF, 220KB]

Social TOYS: Try These Tools for Togetherness! Types of toys YOU can use to get children playing together. Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development. ED/OSERS/OSEP. 2003. English. [PDF, 220KB].

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