I wrote a Guest Post for Learning Resources UK this week, read a sample of it here: 

‘How Toys Can Help Children With Special Educational Needs

Play is so important for all children and not just because it’s enjoyable, but it’s how children of all abilities and ages first learn. You may be surprised to know that simple games that generations of children have played are rooted in key developmental learning. For example, hide and seek and peekaboo both teach children an array of skills such as counting and object permanence (the idea that something can exist even if you can’t perceive it anymore). Throwing and catching develops hand eye coordination and gross motor skills. Hopscotch teaches early writing skills, number recognition and gross motor skills. The list goes on!

Whether it be playing independently, alongside other children or with a caregiver- it is essential that children are given the opportunities and time to play. 

For children with special educational needs and/ disabilities – free play may sometimes present a challenge with factors such as accessibility, visual/auditory impairments, social difficulties etc needing to be navigated. However, parents are often experts at trying to find ways to create opportunities for play and provide adaptations that are needed to allow it to take place.

What’s brilliant is most toys are also designed with learning in mind. In my experience for children with special educational needs, chosen well, a toy can help provide fun and engaging ways of mastering skills that they may be finding difficult and frustrating. Here are a few examples of skills that I believe toys can play a part in helping to develop.

….continue reading at https://blog.learningresources.co.uk/toys-for-sen/
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