The Vision Research ROPARD Foundation The Vision Research ROPARD Foundation

Toys

Our suggestions for toys can be found at the following links:  

• HEADS-UP (Learning to look, listen and feel; unable to sit)
• CREEPER CRAWLER (Able to sit but not stand; gets into 4 point; reaches and grasps)
• CAREFUL EXPLORER (Cruising, walking; using two hands at mid line)
• INDEPENDENT EXPLORER (Runs, jumps, draws, feeds self.)
• ADAPTING GAMES (Ideas for adapting existing games for the visually impaired)

Most of the toys listed in the sections above have direct links to online suppliers.  You can either click on the hyperlink (underlined in blue) or click on the picture of the toy to get to the website from which you can order the toy.  For those linked to Amazon or Genius Baby, if you click through ROPARD's site, we will receive a small percentage of the selling price from those retailers.  There is no additional charge to you, but the proceeds will help fund ROPARD's work.

 This symbol indicates that the toy was recommended by a parent.

NOTE: It is not necessary to buy toys that are specifically for children with visual impairments, but it is helpful to buy good toys, with a variety of materials and textures. Sound making toys can be helpful.

NOTE: Children who are blind or visually impaired often use their mouths for exploration. This should only be discouraged if the item is too small, or potentially dangerous for other reasons.

This choke test tube allows an adult to determine if any object can be swallowed. It can be acquired by clicking on the picture.  Of course children who mouth toys need to be constantly supervised.

Not all toys need to be purchased.  In fact, many household objects will provide hours of appropriate stimulation for young children who are visually impaired, blind, or children with multiple impairments.  The diversity of household items in terms of their tactile qualities often make them more suitable, since most toys today are made of plastic and have the same "feel" regardless of shape or purpose. 

EXAMPLES OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO BE USED:

• Alarm clock
• Aluminum plates
• Bags made of cloth, strong canvas, leather
• Balloons - Mylar
• Balls of all sizes and materials
• Battery operated toothbrush
• Bells
• Belt with buckle
• Blocks (wooden, metal, plastic, foam)
• Boxes of all sizes and shapes
• Brushes, all sizes and shapes (vegetable, nail, tooth, hair, shoe, scrubbing, clothes)
• Buttons
• Bicycle pump
• Cardboard and wooden boxes with round hole in the top
• Carpet scraps
• Castanets
• Christmas lights
• Cloth bag 8x4 inches, containing dried peas, rice, small pebbles
• Cloth with one button and button hole
• Cloth with zipper
• Clothes pins (wooden and plastic)
• Combs
• Curtain rings
• Door hinge
• Doorlock with key
• Drinking straws
• Ear syringe
• Egg beater
• Fabric scraps
• Facial Massager
• Feather Duster
• Flashlights
• Foot Massager
• Furniture casters
• Glass cases with plastic sunglasses
• Harmonica
• Hot water bottle
• Kitchen spoons (wood, plastic)
• Kitchen timer
• Large bolts with wing nuts
• Magnets
• Marbles
• Measuring spoons bound together
• Mugs (plastic, metal)
• Non-breakable bottles and jar
• Old clothes for dress-up and just learning dressing skills
• Old shoes for dress-u
• Paper – variety of types
• Pencil cases (leather, wood with sliding lid)
• Pepper mill
• Plastic and metal containers with a round hole in the lid
• Plastic container (with buttons or poker chips with a slit in top like a piggy bank)
• Plastic cups and saucers
• Plastic plates (dinner, soup)
• Pots and pans
• Plastic pot scrubbers
• Purses with different kinds of fasteners
• Rattles
• Rolling pin
• Round toothbrush container (with a marble inside)
• Rubber bands (small, large, thin, thick)
• Safety Scissors
• Set of playing cards (well used)
• Sliding door lock
• Soap boxes, with soap
• Soap savers
• Sponges
• Spoons
• Spray bottles
• Squirt bottles
• Steel Springs, screws, hooks
• String with beads to be drawn up and down
• Tea leaf holder with marble inside
• Tiddleywinks
• Tinkertoys
• Tins (screw top, press-on) of various sizes
• Triangles
• Vacuum cleaner hose
• Velcro
• Whistle
• Wire whisk
• Wrapping paper
• Yarn
• Zippers

LINKS TO ONLINE SOURCES FOR TOYS

http://www.braillebookstore.com/view.php?C=Toys+and+Games

http://exceptionalteaching.net/edgaandto.html

http://shop.aph.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_GAMES%20for%20People%20With%20Sensory%20Impairments%20%20%20%20Strategies%20for%20Including%20Individuals%20of%20All%20Ages_22659465P_10001_11051

http://www.maxiaids.com/store/ProdList.asp?idCategory=171&idstore=1&category=Recreational/Fun

https://secure2.convio.net/psb/site/Ecommerce?FOLDER=1133&store_id=1101

http://www.independentliving.com/departments.asp?dept=45&deptname=Games

http://www.braillegame.com/siteplan.html

http://www.rnib.org.uk/shop/Pages/Category.aspx?Category=sensory_toys

http://www.sightconnection.com/games.html

http://www.braille-house.com/index.php?!=products#

LIST OF CATALOGS FOR TOYS AND LOW VISION DEVICES: