Toys:
It is sometimes hard to know what presents and toys to buy for a
visually Impaired child, and as parents, we often get
asked by everyone what to buy.
The American Foundation for the Blind produced a toy catalogue in 2006 which has some great recommendations. Click here.
The Rnib also produce a toy catalogue with recommendations, although
most of the toys are suitable for children with some vision rather than
none. Click here. This catalogue is also available free of charge from Toys R Us stores.
Parents can also review a 'Product of the Month' toy and receive it for free for the Rnib Parents place forum. Previous reviews are well worth reading too! More details.
Here are some toys which Common Sense members and friends have bought for their children:
Bunja Maths Toy . This is a new interactive maths toy sold by the Rnib. Ages 6+ £19.99 Interactive Around the World. Bought at Wilkinsons for £14.99.
This toy is a picture of the world map, which needs some bump-ons or
something added in the places of the pressure sensors, but then it
gives lots of facts about each country, including Capital, Population
and climate. It also quizzes you. Great for kids who soak up facts!
Say What? Argos catalogue no: 3872297.
£24.99. This is an interactive toy where you move balls to change
well-known phrases. Says for age 8 and above, but I am buying it for my
son who is 5. Will update when this arrives.
Magnetix Junior 12 Piece Bag. Argos Catalogue no: 0816610. £9.99.
Great for building for pre-schoolers. Building is often hard for
visually impaired children, so using magnets is a great idea. Also,
this is large shapes, with bright colours.
Bopper Looper 2.Argos Catalogue no: 053/5173. £12.99. The cool new music
machine, with great sounds and riffs to mix and play. This looks like
excellent fun!
Leap Frog fridge phonics. Amazon £14.99. These are magnets which you
put in the holder, and it says what letter it is, what phonic sound,
and plays a tune. These can be brailled pretty easily also.
Leap Frog Word Whammer. Amazon £19.99. Like fridge phonics, but with 3 spaces for letters, so you can build simple words.
www.firebox.com have a few interesting looking gadgets this year!
+The Stylophone (for those of us old enough to remember Rolf Harris playing one). £14.95.
+Also MockURappers. 'These surreal animals will miraculously
transform your short recorded messages into crazy mocking r-r-r-raps,
complete with harmonies and beats.' £14.95
+Echo Bot. It's an orange alien-type toy which records a message, and then plays it back when it detects movement. £6.95
For children with some useful vision:
Spa Lights. Battery operated lights for the bath. From £6.95
Mood Beams. Little companions that cycle through a mesmerising kaleidoscope of cool colours - also react to music. £9.95.
Zoundz! Again, from www.firebox.com.
Music making gizmo/alarmclock/speaker for MP3 player. By outting
very different shaped/textured pieces on 'hotspots', you can make new
sounds, beats and music.Also has the ability to record yoru work. The
pieces are easy to tell apart tactually, and a child with no vision
could learn pretty quickly where the hotspots are. Bought this for my
son last year (aged 4), and to be honest, he was pretty freaked out by
it, so I would say it's probably better for children aged 6 and over. I
am sure he will love this in the near future. Costs £29.95 from
Firebox, may be cheaper elsewhere?
Superman Returns fight 'n fly cape. This
has 6 flying sounds and 6 fighting sounds, plus a big cape. Amazon -
cost £4.99, but the same from postage as it was from the market place.
Bop it. This game in any form, be it extreme, junior, one you can connect with USB - simple to play with no vision at all.
Hungry Hippos - doesn't need vision or skill to collect balls, and child can count balls afterwards.
VTech Interactive Classroom. Bought this for my son last year, and
its still a firm favourite. Easy to braille the letter/phonics buttons,
and the clock Teaches simple clock, phonics, letters and more.
VTech Build and discover workbench. Again, have had this for ages,
but my 5 year old son still loves it. You have 'jobs' to complete, and
the pieces all stay fixed in their place. It tells you which screw etc
by colour, but its easy enough to remember as there are only a few
choices. This toy is also a child magnet - wherever we take it, boys
and girls flock.
Lots of the VTech phonics desks have braille already on there, which is a help if you haven't learned it yet.
This looks good: pressmantoy.com a game called "DJ Battle Mix" Using mixing desks and soudn effects, you play against yourself or an opponent to match and top what has been done previously. The website doesn't seem to be working, but I found a few of these on eBay.