Toys for Visual Impaired Children

This section is devoted to providing examples of toys which are appropriate for visually impaired children. 

Most of the toys listed in the sections above have direct links to online suppliers.  You can either click on the hyperlink (underlined in blue) or click on the picture of the toy to get to the website from which you can order the toy.  For those linked to Amazon or Genius Baby, if you click through ROPARD's site, we will receive a small percentage of the selling price from those retailers.  There is no additional charge to you, but the proceeds will help fund ROPARD's work.

Not all toys need to be purchased.  In fact, many household objects will provide hours of appropriate stimulation for young children who are visually impaired, blind, or children with multiple impairments.  The diversity of household items in terms of their tactile qualities often make them more suitable, since most toys today are made of plastic and have the same "feel" regardless of shape or purpose. 

NOTE: Children who are blind or visually impaired often use their mouths for exploration. This should only be discouraged if the item is too small, or potentially dangerous for other reasons. This choke test tube allows an adult to determine if any object can be swallowed. It can be acquired by clicking on the picture.

EXAMPLES OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TO BE USED:

Alarm clock
Aluminum plates
Bags made of cloth, strong canvas, leather
Balloons - Mylar
Balls of all sizes and materials
Battery operated toothbrush
Bells
Belt with buckle
Blocks (wooden, metal, plastic, foam)
Boxes of all sizes and shapes
Brushes, all sizes and shapes (vegetable, nail, tooth, hair, shoe, scrubbing, clothes)
Buttons
Bicycle pump
Cardboard and wooden boxes with round hole in the top
Carpet scraps
Castanets
Christmas lights
Cloth bag 8x4 inches, containing dried peas, rice, small pebbles
Cloth with one button and button hole
Cloth with zipper
Clothes pins (wooden and plastic)
Combs
Curtain rings
Door hinge
Doorlock with key
Drinking straws
Ear syringe
Egg beater
Fabric scraps
Facial Massager
Feather Duster
Flashlights
Foot Massager
Furniture casters
Glass cases with plastic sunglasses
Harmonica
Hot water bottle
Kitchen spoons (wood, plastic)
Kitchen timer
Large bolts with wing nuts
Magnets
Marbles
Measuring spoons bound together
Mugs (plastic, metal)
Non-breakable bottles and jar
Old clothes for dress-up and just learning dressing skills
Old shoes for dress-u
Paper – variety of types
Pencil cases (leather, wood with sliding lid)
Pepper mill
Plastic and metal containers with a round hole in the lid
Plastic container (with buttons or poker chips with a slit in top like a piggy bank)
Plastic cups and saucers
Plastic plates (dinner, soup)
Pots and pans
Plastic pot scrubbers
Purses with different kinds of fasteners
Rattles
Rolling pin
Round toothbrush container (with a marble inside)
Rubber bands (small, large, thin, thick)
Safety Scissors
Set of playing cards (well used)
Sliding door lock
Soap boxes, with soap
Soap savers
Sponges
Spoons
Spray bottles
Squirt bottles
Steel Springs, screws, hooks
String with beads to be drawn up and down
Tea leaf holder with marble inside
Tiddleywinks
Tinkertoys
Tins (screw top, press-on) of various sizes
Triangles
Vacuum cleaner hose
Velcro
Whistle
Wire whisk
Wrapping paper
Yarn
Zippers

LISTED BELOW ARE SOME TOYS WITH LIGHTS
BUT NO SOUND
Children who experience seizures should not be exposed to flashing lights.
 

Flashing disco light programmable to flash in response to sounds or automatically.

Light Up Strobe Ball.  A flashing rubber ball that changes colors when thrown, caught or bounced.

Glow in the dark Frisbee with bright fiber optic light.

This flexible, 2' long wand is made of an electroluminescent material that creates an ultra bright wave of neon color.

Foam football that lights up when kicked, shaken or thrown.

Light up Star Ball bounces and flashes

Not a toy, but an adapted switch so that child can pull and turn on light switches which would be out of reach.  See purchase information in toy section for Careful Explorer

Things to Keep in Mind:

1. BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT TOYS THAT HAVE FLICKERING LIGHTS FOR ANY CHILD WHO MAY HAVE SEIZURES.

2. Have your play area as free from distractions as possible (no TV or radio going while you play).

3. Make certain your child is positioned properly. Check with your child's teacher or therapist if you need assistance.

4. Not every toy is for every child. Try and determine the type of toys that fascinate your child.

5. Try to arrange your play time when your child is most alert and happy.

6. Provide time for your child to explore by himself. While adult-directed play can be necessary at times, self-directed play allows your child the freedom to explore in ways you may not think about!

7. Don't put all your toys out at one time. Play with a few toys, and then put them away for a period of time, and play with some others.

8. Remember, even the safest toy can be used in an unsafe manner.

The following lists are not meant to be exhaustive. Ages have intentionally not been used. It is more important to judge the stage your child is at, rather than his chronological age, in determining appropriate toys. Look for toys that will be challenging, but not frustrating.

Our suggestions for toys can be found at the following links:  

• HEADS-UP (Learning to look, listen and feel; unable to sit)
• CREEPER CRAWLER
  (Able to sit but not stand; gets into 4 point; reaches and grasps)
• CAREFUL EXPLORER
  (Cruising, walking; using two hands at midline)
• INDEPENDENT EXPLORER
  Runs, jumps, draws, feeds self.
  Information on Chocking Hazards and what you can do!
  
  Most of the toys on our lists can be clicked on and you can be taken directly to the source we found for the toy.  
   

Resources for Toys

NOTE: It is not necessary to buy toys that are specifically for children with visual impairments, but it is helpful to buy good toys, with a variety of materials and textures. Sound making toys can be helpful.

LIST OF CATALOGS FOR TOYS AND LOW VISION DEVICES:

National Lekotek Center
(800) 366-PLAY (7529)

Provides toys and instructions on how to use them, chosen for your child specifically. There is an annual charge for this service.