Independent Explorer
(Runs, jumps, draws, feeds self)
This section is devoted to providing examples of toys which are appropriate for visually impaired children.Â
PLAY TIP: Some wonderful early manipulatives can be found in pet stores in the dog toy department. These toys tend to have highly textured vinyl or rubber surfaces, which can be easily cleaned when mouthed. They also tend to have squeakers which give them an added auditory factor.
 This symbol indicates that the toy was recommended by a parent.
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| Jumbo Lacing Beads Variety of shapes and textures make these beads an interesting tactile experience. | |
| | Hot Potato A new version of the old game. Squeeze the potato and the music starts to play. Keep passing it until the music stops. Whoever is holding it then is "out". |
| | Soft Animals from Lakeshore There is no substitute for touching the real thing - but these three dimensional models of wild animals can provide some early understanding of animal differences. TIP:Â If you have a Cabela's near you, ask management if you can take your child behind their display ropes to feel the animals. |
| | Hide 'n Squeak Eggs by Tomy While this toy provides experience with cause and effect, and the eggs each make noises, the layout of the carton provides an early introduction to the Braille cell. Labeling the eggs as egg 1, egg 2, etc., can be first introduction to the Braille cell |
| | A unique book which has removable tools made out of sturdy cardboard. It includes 7 tools an erasable slate, and it's self-storing! |
| Smencils - pencils made out of recycled materials with the added benefit of having a variety of scents. | |
| Bop It Extreme Parents have raved about this toy that tests your child's reflexes.                      Â
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| | Dora the Explorer Crayons Names the color of the crayon in both English and Spanish. Also spells the color. |
| Pretend & Play Teaching Telephone by Learning Resources You can actually program in a real response to dialing one specific telephone number. A prerecorded message exists for learning to dial 911.\ | |
| | Braille Alphabet Blocks by Uncle Goose Toys An easy way to introduce both Braille and print. Braille Math Blocks The companion set the to the alphabet blocks |
| | Fridge Phonics Plus by Leap Frog Teaches all 26 letters and recorder allows child to record and show the words he know. |
| | Raised line coloring books with a variety of themes are available from: http://www.nationalbraillefactory.com They also sell brailled cards and chocolates. |
| Scented Magic Markers A way of making colors "different" for a blind child. PLAY TIP:Â Sanford also makes an excellent black marker called the 20/20 Marker. Â It creates crisp, clear lines with black ink. | |
 | Classic Krazy Kar Helps develop motor skills, physical strength and agility |
Really for older children, but so clever that we just had to add it to our website. This tool is made by Crayola and is called an audio ruler. The child can roll it along a sheet and it measures in inches up to a foot. Â
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| | Triangular shaped crayons that don't roll off the table. TIP:Â Use a screenboard if child has little or no vision to make drawing a worthwhile experience. |
| Lite Brite Brightly colored pegs light up when placed on the black pegboard. This toy allows children to follow patterns or create their own.  | |
| | An interactive electronic talking toy which teaches kids about world geography as well as fun animal facts. Using a tactile map of the world as the basic game directory, each continent on the map is an electronic trigger button. When the button is pushed, you'll hear authentic animal sounds of that continent, greetings in local languages and other information which makes the different countries come to life. Grizzly Gulch Western Extravaganzaâ„¢ Grizzly Gulch Western Extravaganzaâ„¢ is a virtual world set in the Old West created purely from sound imagery. You will have the chance to meet and interact with many crazy characters as you explore the town of Grizzly Gulch. Would you like to settle into the Saloon for a game of chance, or try to make a name for yourself upholding the law against some of the baddest outlaws in the West with your trusty six shooter in blazing arcade style gun battles? It's all up to you. Absolutely no vision is required to play this game. |
  " target="_blank">  | Crunch Art Create colorful three dimensional pictures and build up finger strength for Braille! |
| Wikki Sticks This non-toxic, wax-coated yarn can be molded again and again to outline shapes and provide borders for coloring, cutting, etc. TIP:Â Pull apart licorice can also be used for these activities. |
 | Tack-Tiles 320 tiles represent every possible dot combination in Braille. |
| Light Bright Books Illuminated books which are engineered to operate on the Discovery Light Box. |
| | Â Light Box & Light Tables Various Light Box Materials Kits A light box is an invaluable tool in visual stimulation. Â Lightbox materials from APH |
 | Easy-Grip Pegs and Pegboard |
                       | Band in a Bag Help your child learn to enjoy music by providing a variety of instruments to explore.  |
                | Shapes and Sound Puzzle Realistic sounds are played when puzzle pieces are inserted correctly. |
| Accordion by Schyilling Help build upper body strength while playing an accordion with nice quality music. |
 | Junior Explorer Globe by Leap Frog Globe has four functions so child can learn varied facts about places touched with pen. Braille labels can be placed on globe.  |
  | Realistic Pots and Pans Creative tools to play with that are just like those mom uses - not plastic versions. |
 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â | Lap Desk with Gooseneck Light A great tool for working in confined spaces. Â |
| PLAY TIP: Coloring with crayons can be an artistic/tactile activity for a child with minimal or no vision by using a screen board. You can use either plastic canvas (found at craft stores) or regular household screening material. If you use screening material, make sure all the rough edges are taped over a hard surface.  Then place a sheet of paper over the screening or plastic canvas and create a tactile picture. | |
| Talk and Teach Pig-E-Bank Identifies all coins as they are inserted into vibrating piggy bank. | |
            | Another source for raised line coloring books and greeting cards. |
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 | Latches Puzzle A fun way to learn to manipulate several different types of latches. |
 | Electronic Talking USA puzzle Once a piece placed in the correct location, this map tells the state name, capital, and nickname. It also teaches the Pledge of Allegiance and America the Beautiful. |
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 | Math Window A mathematics teaching tool, is conveniently-sized work surface with magnetic tiles in both print and Nemeth Code. |
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| Safety Goggles Many parents have asked where they can find child-sized safety goggles! Â |
| Swim Goggles Prescription Swim Goggles with UVA and UVB Protection. |
 | Tactile Dice - These dice have raised black dots on a white background. |
| This talking traffic light is motion-activated. A great addition for when your child has mastered the independent use of his tricycle or other self-powered vehicle. |
| Learn to tell time. Clock can operate so that it announces time or can be a quiz for child to display the correct time. |
| Listen to the amplified sounds of bugs in this Big Bad Booming Bugs Electronic Observation Station. | |
| Bug vacuum makes it easy to catch the bugs for the observation station |
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| Hark the Sound - Version 3 | Hark The Sound is a really simple sound game intended for young kids who are visually impaired. It was inspired Diane Brauner and was written by Gary Bishop with help and ideas from many students. It is free for educational and fun use. |
 | You won't believe your eyes! Imagine the endless possibilities for sensory activities with this amazing "snow" that's fun to touch and play with. Insta-Sno is a safe and non-toxic superabsorbent polymer that turns ordinary water into a fluffy substance that looks like real snow. In fact, this faux snow is so realistic that it is now being used in indoor snowboarding parks throughout the world. Insta-Sno will not melt or ice up. Freeze it and it feels like the real thing! From 4 years. |
| Robotic Laser Ball activated by loud clapping and the ball will spin, rotate and move across the floor on its own with lights and music. Music feature can be turned off |
 | Remarkable aromas provide players with an extraordinary opportunity to explore the world using this unique bingo game. Includes 30 distinct aroma samples enclosed in child resistant scent flasks which need to be matched with the corresponding image on five brightly illustrated game boards. For 1-5 players. |
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  | Thirty non-toxic plastic blocks, each designed with six black pegs that can be manually pushed up or down to form dots 1-6. Using a finger, stylus, or pencil, a young child can easily make letters, words, even whole sentences by manipulating the six dots on each block, and joining them in a "caravan." This is the perfect tool, built like a toy, to get young blind children acquainted with braille at the earliest age. |
 | Â A motorized comeback car with lights, sounds, music and voice Â
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