Children with developmental disabilities each have their own unique personalities.
For example, some may have difficulty staying focused, or be sensitive to sensory input.
Here, we introduce ideas for materials and toys that are actually used in therapeutic settings.
Many are cute in appearance and pique children’s interest.
Please enjoy the process of making them while using these handmade support items to spend fun time with the children.
Give making fun, homemade toys a try to support your child’s growth!
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Handmade Support Item Ideas (1–10) That Help Calm Children with Developmental Disabilities
Maze lacing (threading)
Known as a toy that helps develop fine motor skills in the hands and fingertips, “string threading” is highly recommended for children’s finger training.
It’s perfect for kids who are still gaining control of their hand movements, as it also helps build concentration.
Since threading requires a great deal of focus, it’s effective for strengthening attention as well.
It’s also a fun and beneficial activity for infants and toddlers, and is useful in therapeutic and developmental settings.
It fosters a sense of accomplishment in children, too.
Because kids can learn while playing, try making your own original handmade version and enjoy it together!
Hiragana board made from 100-yen shop materials
The “Hiragana Board” is helpful for children learning hiragana.
It’s also recommended for kids who struggle with hiragana.
While practicing reading and writing, they also improve visual perception and hand coordination.
Practicing with fingertips is important for developing fine motor skills.
Another big benefit is boosting concentration.
Quietly writing characters nurtures the ability to focus.
Children can also enjoy it with friends, so it fosters various skills beyond just learning characters.
By all means, try making a DIY “Hiragana Board” that suits your child’s developmental stage and have fun with it!
Pool cue stick holder
A fun activity called “stick insertion,” where children use their hands and fingers to insert sticks into holes.
It also helps develop finger strength and supports overall development.
As their concentration and stamina improve, children carefully look for the hole and think, which nurtures spatial understanding and thinking skills.
The sense of accomplishment and confidence gained from doing it themselves, along with enjoying it with friends, also fosters communication skills.
Another plus is that it can be made with familiar materials.
Try customizing the colors and shapes to suit your child’s developmental stage and interests.
Geoboard
A “geoboard” helps children develop the ability to think about shapes and space.
By creating various shapes, children improve their skills in recognizing geometric figures and imagining the surrounding space, and by using their fingertips, they also become better at fine motor movements.
It also trains their ability to accurately perceive what they see.
Why not help children build a range of skills through enjoyable learning with a geoboard? Making and thinking about shapes are valuable experiences that support children’s growth.
Try enjoying a handmade geoboard tailored to your child’s developmental stage!
Drop-in game with a straw
“Straw drop” is a type of therapeutic play that supports children’s development.
Through this activity, kids can build fine motor skills and concentration.
By grasping straws and dropping them into holes, they also enhance hand–eye development and observation skills.
Recognizing colors and shapes and developing an interest in numbers stimulate their senses and cognitive abilities, making this a recommended support tool.
It also gives children a sense of achievement.
Since they can learn while having fun, try making your own version and enjoy it together with the kids!
picture card
Picture cards support children’s communication through words.
They are especially helpful for children who are slightly delayed in development or who have autistic traits.
By using picture cards to present information visually, children can more easily understand situations.
For example, showing instructions for actions or everyday events with pictures helps children think about what they should do.
This can make daily life and social behavior proceed more smoothly.
Try making picture cards by hand and enjoy using them together so children can feel secure in their daily lives.
Yo-yo made with caps
The well-known “yo-yo” is actually great for developing children’s finger dexterity.
You can even make one with everyday materials.
Using their hands helps children improve their concentration, and watching how the yo-yo moves stimulates their senses and nurtures their sense of rhythm.
Here, we’ll show you how to make a yo-yo using a plastic bottle cap.
You can use other materials too, so feel free to craft variations that suit your child’s stage of development and enjoy making them together!