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All children enjoy playtime. It is through play that children grow and develop basic motor skills, creativity, self-esteem, cognitive skills, communication and social skills. At times, play may be difficult for a child due to the design of the toy or impairment the child experiences.
All children deserve the opportunity to experience the joy of play. Through simple adaptations, toys can be made accessible and open a world of exploration for all children.
Toys can be easily modified by simple adaptations allowing all children to be successful at play. For example, a child that has difficulty grasping objects may be unable to remove puzzle pieces. By replacing the small knobs on puzzles with larger knobs or spools, the child can be successful in removing the puzzle pieces. If the child is still unable to grasp the object, a piece of Velcro can be placed on the toy surface. Then a Velcro wristband can be placed on the child's wrist. Now, the child can pick-up and move the pieces without having to grasp the pieces.
 
Each child is unique and they will have different needs. It is important to remember the child's abilities and disabilities and how one would want to adapt a toy to foster growth through play. Below are some basic ideas for simple toy adaptations.
Enlarge:
- Make parts of toys bigger so grasping is easier for the child. Also, using bigger items makes it easier for the child to see the pieces. Some ideas to enlarge the object are to trace the toy piece on cardboard extending the cardboard around the toy piece. The cardboard can be glued to the back of the toy piece. If the child is playing a game with cards, the cards can be enlarged on a photocopier machine and then mounted on a firmer surface such as cardboard. This allows the card to be easily seen and easier for the child to hold.
- To enlarge handles on toys that are difficult to grasp, screw dowel rods or empty thread spools onto the toy handle. Foam from curlers and other objects can be easily attached to the existing puzzle knobs enlarging the handle size while providing an interesting texture.
- Another way to enlarge handles for a child having difficulty with grasping is to wrap masking tape or soft foam on the handles of pencils, markers, utensils, etc.
- Toys can also be used to support children with coloring or painting. Adapting a small toy truck with a Velcro loop to hold the marker allows a child to move the truck to color on the paper along with their peers during art activities.
Stabilize:
- To prevent sliding of the toy while the child is playing with the toy, place suction cups onto the bottom of the toy, use a gripping material such as Velcro, Dycem, shelf liner or a rubber pad under the toy. This will help keep the toy from sliding and keep it within the child's reach during play.
- A C-clamp can also be used to secure the toy to a table while the child is playing.
Simplify:
- Since some children are easily distracted, it is best to remove distractions and set-up toys in a manner that will keep the child interested and focused. In order to make a toy stand out from the rest of the environment during play, place dark colored toys on a light surface, such as a towel. Place light colored toys on a dark surface.
- When playing with toys with multiple pieces and colors, lay all the pieces on a solid colored surface in front of the child in order to decrease distraction.
- When playing with toys that have multiple pieces that are similar, changing the appearance of these objects may make play easier and more interesting for the child. The appearance of a toy can be changed by simply painting the pieces different colors using lead-free paints. The texture of the pieces can be altered by placing fabric, cotton, a sponge, shelf liner, carpet pieces etc. around the toy pieces.
- Remove distractions from the play area before play begins. Simply turn off the TV, remove clutter and provide good lighting to decrease distractions from play.
Appeal to the senses:
- Toys can be simply enhanced to appeal to the child's sense of sight, hearing and feel. To enhance the visibility of the toy, use colors that are contrasting and attractive to the child. Avoid using excessive bright colors or multiple patterns that may over-stimulate the child.
- Adding sounds like music, bells, horns and buzzers help keep the child interested in the toy. Toys that have loud buzzers or bursts of noise should be avoided since they can frighten or startle the child.
- Create a music board by attaching a bike horn, bell, drum made from a can with an attached plastic lid, xylophone from a dollar store, etc. to a wooden board or Styrofoam block.
- Toys that appeal to a child's sense of touch can be simply created at home. A tactile book can be made out of scraps of fabric, ribbon, carpet, cotton, sponges etc. This book will spark a child's interest and promote tactile stimulation. These textures can be glued to different pieces of felt. By attaching these textures to various color pieces of felt, color identification can also be addressed through play.
- A tactile blanket can be created by sewing various textured materials onto an old blanket. The child can explore the various textures by crawling on the blanket, walking on it or running his or her hands over the blanket.
- Tactile tubes can easily be created on cardboard tubes and assorted textured fabrics and materials. These can then be placed or mounted in the child's play area.
These are but a few ideas that you can use to adapt your child's favorite toys to enhance their play. If you use your imagination you'll be surprised by the play opportunities you can create for your child out of everyday toys and materials. Creating adaptive toys can be simple and inexpensive and provide your child with a wealth of play experiences they will truly enjoy.
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