Recommend Toys

DS turns 2 tomorrow and I have no idea what to get him. We have slowly taken away toys that he don't play with correctly. He either spins everything or throws it. Are there any learning toys age appropriate that will make him work?
He don't have a diagnosis yet but I think maybe he has a sensory processing disorder. (Actually I have not a clue I am so confused!) We'll see hopefully soon when he gets the psych evaluation.

Re: Recommend Toys

have you tried redirecting him to play with the toys appropriately?
I know my son did that with many toys, such as trucks and airplanes. He would just spin the wheels. We taught him to how to play with them correctly, and now he makes the truck noises and car noises as he plays with them.

Message edited 3/8/2011 9:54:13 AM.

Re: Recommend Toys

Yes, we tried and still do. Sometimes he gets it, and sometimes he don't. But he almost always goes back to the spinning.

Re: Recommend Toys

I got DS a garage with ramps. It furfills his needs to see stuff move.

I got him that too for cause and effect. Makes sounds as shapes go down

Re: Recommend Toys

Cause and effect toys that do not involve a lot of gripping or pressure. So if he could drop a ball into a ball popper, or hit a lever to make cars move etc...those are fairly easy to manuever.

For my daughter, she started spinning items to toys when she couldn't grip them properly. She lifted the pieces by the side instead of on top (pincher grasp was limited). By approaching the toy from the side she was able to get feedback (spinning movement). It was better than nothing...so for her that's how she started to play. Now with a lot of hand over hand in therapy, she actually will approach a toy properly.

The truck that moves automatically and talks is another good toy (chuck, playskool). The gears that spin. Also toys where the pieces stay on a track help because they can have more control over them. (bead maze)

Message edited 3/9/2011 2:56:12 AM.

Re: Recommend Toys

at 2 years old, AJ LOVED puzzles. the wooden ones by Melissa and Doug.

Chunky Puzzles

Peg Puzzles

sound puzzles

jigsaw puzzles

box puzzles

by 2.5 he mastered puzzles so we started getting him 100 piece puzzles and he does great with them.

also he loved lacing toys, bead mazes.

we avoided all toys that made noises because he would stim off the noises, but he was also a big reader. so we would spend hours reading. his therapists used a lot of toys that made noises and taught him how to use them appropriately.

Re: Recommend Toys

Another vote for puzzles. My DS has always loved them.

He has a speech delay, so we have lots of flash cards - animals, numbers, letters, bugs. There is a great set of Baby Einstein ones that have photographs of animals that he loves.

He also loved the ball popper and a couple of different shape sorters we had.

He was never all that into blocks, but likes a set he got from Lakeshore - they are foam with fabric on them and have letters and pictures.

I'm going to see if I can find some photos for you....

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Message edited 3/9/2011 11:17:36 AM.

Re: Recommend Toys

I always tell my parents if a b-day or xmas is coming up if there child has SPD to use it as an opportunity to invest in some sensory based toys/equipment....this is the most engaging and fun.
You can go to southpaw.com and take a look...