Our family is in the midst of moving out of our city apartment and heading to the suburbs, all while trying to orchestrate a cast of contractors as we get ready to do some renovations. All of this has me thinking of not just moving and the whole transition, but also about construction. So, why not talk cool construction toys?
Besides the obvious favorites, I’ve come across some equally awesome building sets. One that comes to mind is Wedgits. I’m not talking the blog kind of widgits, but instead, the building toy variety.
Wedgits are colorful multi-dimensional building sets that can be nested, stacked, linked and wedged. They come in various sizes and sets, including Wee Wedgits for 1-3 years; Wedgits for 2-10 years and mini-Wedgits for 5 and up.
What’s unique about Wedgits is that they’re squishy but still firm, sort of in a stress ball sort of way. Building toys are such a great toy for both boys and girls, and keep cater to all age ranges. They’d be perfect for daycare, schools and of course, the playroom. Wedgits, which have won a long list of awards, are non-toxic, phthalate free poly-vinyl material.
Wedgits have been around for several years now, but at Toy Fair, I was able to get a glimpse of a few new additions to their great product line, including the Mini FunHundred. This set, which comes in its own handy carry case, is comprised of 100 different mini Wedgit blocks and can be used with other mini Wedgit products.
When trying to decide what to write about for today, Wedgits came to mind and I was immediately reminded about the interesting texture, combined with the different dimensions of the blocks. That’s when I thought that these toys would be a great choice for autistic children. Ohdeedoh featured a great post about choosing toys for autistic children, which included these suggestions:
via Ohdeedoh via Wikihow
• Look for toys that stimulate their senses. Many children with autism have sensory challenges, particularly tactile defensiveness. Toys can be an excellent way to introduce tactile sensations in a low-key, non-threatening way.
• Choose toys that help social interaction development. Teaching all children cooperation through toys is an important rite of growing up. For autistic children, socially interactive toys are even more important for helping them to develop coping mechanisms when interacting with the wider world.
• Find toys that help to develop motor skills. It’s really no different from what all children need but you will probably have to face tactile defensiveness, inability to balance, fears, etc.
• Always be considerate of the level of autism. Less complicated toys are better for children who are low-functioning autistic; simple push-button, open and use toys are best.
Wedgits, which vary in price according to sets and sizes (very reasonably priced btw), can be found in toy boutiques and select teacher/school supply stores.
