As the holiday shopping season is in full effect, we share these online toy stores to help parents, friends or family members shop with a little more ease for a child this year. Shopping for toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities was once a very difficult task. Not to mention the costs of purchasing a toy that was specific to "special needs" was often a steep price to pay. However, each year more and more companies are looking to create toys that help kids flourish in all areas. 

With the ease of online shopping anyone can purchase toys that are suitable for a child’s particular abilities. Whether looking for toys specific to two handed development, speech, sensory integration, fine or gross motor skills- there are many online stores that specialize in or have special sections geared for educational and developmental growth. 

​Amazon.com With the wide reach of Amazon, they can show you many options very quickly and usually fairly reasonable prices. Amazon even has a “Special Needs Toys Section” that offers everything from Action Figures to Tricycles.

​Beyond Play  offers the most extensive selection of products for young children of all abilities - from infants and toddlers to children in the early elementary grades. They carry a wide selection of fun and educational products in all areas of child development, as well as specialized products for early intervention and special needs.

ChildTherapyToys.com ChildTherapyToys.com was founded by child psychologists to provide therapy products to mental health professionals who work with children. These toys and activities have been specially selected and tested. They are great for developing skills which makes them perfect for special needs children who often need just a little extra help.

Different Roads to Learning Different Roads to Learning specializes in supporting, educating and inspiring all people affected by Autism or Sensory Spectrum Disorder. Different Roads offers more than 600 tools and resources to help individuals succeed both academically and socially.

Discovery Channel Store The Discovery Channel store focuses on offering the most informative, engaging, and entertaining products available. As an extension to the television network, the store provides educational and fun (mostly science related) activities, games, and toys.

eSpecial Needs From oversized building blocks and bungee jumpers to snapwall playsets and sand and water activity tables, eSpecial Needs offers a variety of engaging active play toys for children.
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​Fat Brain Toys Fat Brain Toys is a retailer and developer of unique specialty toys, games, and gifts they’ve carefully chosen from around the world. They stock over 6,000 high-quality products, most shipped the same day, including: Erector Sets, Science Projects, Games, Puzzles, Educational and more.

FunAndFunction.com The FunAndFunction.com husband and wife duo decided to design and develop their own line of sensory disorder products to build skills and self-esteem in every child. Their products are fun for all children, but especially helpful for children with SPD.

Growing Tree Toys is a specialty toy store committed to providing educational toys that challenge, stimulate, and encourage children to express their creativity.​

Lakeshore Learning is dedicated to creating innovative educational materials that spark young imaginations, instill a sense of wonder and foster a lifelong love of learning. Although not specifically targeted towards children with special needs, a number of their products can be very useful for children with special needs.​

Marbles, The Brain Store Marbles started with the simple idea of finding the best brain games out there and putting them all in one place. Products for anyone who want to improve focus and attention, enhance creativity, become better multi-taskers and get the most out of the smartest supercomputer out there: the brain.

MelissaAndDoug.com For over 25 years the Melissa and Doug brand has created award winning toys, games, and more with an emphasis on value, quality, and design. The simplicity of their designs make many of their products very helpful in developing motor skills, cognitive skills and spatial skills.

Vtechkids.com VTech Electronics is a world leader of age-appropriate learning products. Since 1980, VTech has been developing high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children’s development through fun and smart play. VTech offers many digital products that Special Needs children are able to understand and use

Want to know more about a product before you buy?
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​AblePlayTM is a toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys and play products for children of all abilities. AblePlay was created so parents, friends, family members, educators, therapists and others can make the best decisions when purchasing products for children in their lives, especially children with special needs.

​Check out their AblePlay Toy guide for top rated and suggested ideas in play.

​Do you know of another resource not listed that has been helpful for you and your child? We want to hear it, please reach out to us and share or post in the comments!

There is an every day challenge that many parents have faced in the love/hate relationship when their child begins wearing an orthotic. As parents we absolutely love that this device is giving our child the support they may need - but, the challenge in finding the right shoe for both comfort and style can bring out the worst hair pulling shopping experience for even the strongest of parents. 

A question that we receive often is that my child just got their first orthotic, "what now?" Families have all shared both the struggles and the success in supporting a child in wearing a daily orthotic and finding the appropriate footwear. We want to make it easier for the next parent by sharing best suggestions in the world of AFO support.

INTRODUCTION TO BRACING & ORTHOTICS ​

It’s natural for parents to question the need for bracing and the benefits it will serve. As you learn more about orthotics and their potential role in the life of your child, you will come to know that orthotics can be a valuable resource for improving overall physical health and emotional well-being.

​The Benefits of an Orthotic

Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO’S) are commonly prescribed in children with neurological disorders such as stroke and Cerebral Palsy. Simply put, an AFO (sometimes called a brace or splint) provides support to help a child maintain a foot/ankle position, encourage mobility and overall improve stability and success.

Helping your child adjust emotionally 

Even when an orthotic is properly fitted, in a fun design or your child's choice - your child may still experience frustration in wearing one. Most often the orthotic is to be worn continually, day and/or night, so it's not surprising that there is an adjustment period both physically and emotionally for both child and parent. 

To help a child adjust:
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• Be positive and explain how much the orthotic helps. Encourage your child to think of it as a something that makes them stronger, faster and safer. 
• Talk with and prepare your child with answers for when others may ask about their orthotic.
• Be understanding that they may be somewhat apprehensive. Children don’t want to stand out from their peers, so it can be difficult to wear an orthotic because it is noticeable to others.
• Share pictures and stories of other children or adults, that also wear orthotics.

The struggle is most often real in finding the perfect shoe for your child to wear over their orthotic. Shoes that fit orthotics are always challenging to figure out and find. Often times children may need 2 different sized shoes or a wider shoe.  Some may only need to wear an orthotic on one foot, thus making a difference in shoe sizes and an increased challenge in purchasing shoes. 

We encourage you to work closely with your child’s orthotist, physical or occupational therapist, to always ensure proper fit of orthotic and shoe.
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With so many factors to consider we have shared the following recommended brands by parents:

• Nordstrom (retail locations will sell separate sizes in same shoe)

Specialty Footwear:

• Keeping Pace
• EasyUp Shoes
• Hatchbacks Footwear
• Plae – with XL Tabs
• Nike Flyease
• BILLY Footwear 

Shoes that provide a wider toe box when removing shoe insert:

• New Balance 
• Converse
• Stride Rite – Wide

Winter Footwear:

• Butler Brand
• ​Mya Mayu (Wanderer Boot)

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Socks play an important role in keeping the skin protected from an AFO. Purchasing breathable, seamless, cotton socks are best. Knee high socks work better for higher orthotics and can be purchased at most stores.
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Your child's orthotist may often include AFO-specific socks that can be purchased at specialty stores like those listed below:

Questions will always come up, and finding that supportive community to ask those questions outside of your child's medical team - is important. Some of the very best "hacks" have come from other parents. The following are supportive social media pages specifically for families to connect and learn more.

KISS Pediatric Stroke Support (private facebook page specific to impacted families)
CHASA Shoe Exchange program 
Parents of Kids with AFO, SMO & KAFO 
AFOwear
Ability Hacker
PLAE with Orthotics - (page is hosted by PLAE company)
​Inspired by Pediatrics Community