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Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs. We must become more self-conscious and more explicit in our praise and reinforcement as children use unstructured play materials: “That’s good. You use your own ideas....” “That’s good. You did it your way....” “That’s good. You thought it all out yourself.”
--James L. Hymes, Jr., child development specialist, author
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Creative Development
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There aren’t many children who don’t enjoy the opportunity to creatively express themselves in whatever way they find possible.
Creative toys and art supplies go hand in hand with other aspects of the development of the whole child. Art supplies can be especially fun while working on fine-motor coordination by using knob ended paint brushes; strengthening the hands by using dough or clay (available with different levels of stiffness depending on the strength of the child – also with different scents for added stimuli); and collages, again for fine-motor, using self-stick papers, glitter-glue sticks and whatever else works for that child.
There are items available like washable dot markers that have a felt like tip on a chunky but hand-sized bottle or barrel that are very easy to use while not being messy because pigment is self-contained. There is not dripping during the transfer from container to surface.
Sand and water play while not always practical is also great fun.
Other possibilities include peg boards, blocks, bristle blocks, legos, lacing boards, and parquetry blocks.
Toys like the Etch-a-sketch, magic slates and drawing pads (computer or paper) are obviously also great outlets for creative expression.
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Begginer Paint Brushes
The unique handle on these brushes makes them the perfect size for little hands to hold. Also great for artists with special needs. By Alex |
Poster Paints
8 bottles (2.4oz/70ml) of brilliant colors. No-mess, soft sponge tips for painting. The sponge tip makes for easy application without the necessity of the coordination of taking the brush from the paint pot to the painting surface. By Alex |
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4 Sponge Painters
This set includes a medium and wide sized sponge brush as well as a wide sponge roller. Washable and reusable with water-based paints. The interesting textures made possible by the rollers add to the creative options. By Alex
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, Oppenheim Special Needs Award
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Super Soft Modeling Dough
6 bright colors of super soft modeling dough for little sculptors. Each 5 oz. container has an air tight foil seal and cap to prevent the dough from drying out between uses. Packaged in a brightly colored carry along tote box.
Alex also makes a wide variety of dough tools as well as clay for those who can handle a material with more resistance. |
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Collage Party
Create dimensional works of art with a bucket full of colorful craft materials! Contains buttons, pom poms, sequins, wiggly eyes, feathers, colored gravel, pipe cleaners, construction paper, scisors, stickers, glue and more. Not all of the pieces may be of a size suitable for a child with disabilities, but it's a good place to start. By Alex |
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Without this playing with fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we to the play of imagination is incalculable
-Carl Gustav Jung, psychologist, psychiatrist
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