TRC – Imaginative Play Ideas for Switch Users

TRC – Imaginative Play Ideas for
Switch Users
Novita Toy & Resource Centre
171 Days Road, Regency Park 5010 Phone: 8243 8316
Parents can request toys in person or through the Novita Website at:
www.novita.org.au
"Presence without participation can be more isolating than no presence at all"
Quass & Fraser "Beyond the Ramp" report 1994 p 44.
Play is how children work and how they learn. Imaginative play is important for developing
social skills, language and conceptual skills. Assistive technology provides opportunities for
children living with disabilities to access play through switch toys, software and other
interfaces. However consideration needs to be given to the need for spontaneity, imagination
and self-initiation.
“Use of toys with switches has limitations; many of the toys that can be activated with
switches are repetitious and become boring after a while unless combined with other
materials.
The complexity of play with switch toys can be expanded by using them with other
materials. For example, a switch –operated car can be used to knock down a block tower or
bowling pins or to deliver an item to another person”.
Play in Occupational Therapy for Children 2008 edition “Accessing Play through Assistive
Technology” by Jean Crosetto Deitz and Yyvonne Swinth pages 395-412
Novita Toy and Resource Centre drew inspiration from “Accessing Play through Assistive
Technology” as well as Molly Shannon’s website:
50 Ideas for Simple Switch or Low Tech Activities
•
Set the scene with an interesting prop: farm house, road play mat, colourful
parachute or activity mirror ramp
PROPS
Farm House with Animals
Imaginative Play Kit
(Includes vegetables)
Call Number: 62
Barcode: 920912
1
Road Scene Play Mat -Small
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 920725
Road Scene Play Mat- Large
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 920730
Parachute
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 819805
2
Activity Mirror Ramp
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 817574
•
The TRC can supply switch adapted farm animals, pigs, ducks, cows, dogs,
sheep, horses, and laughing cows. *Tip may need to put sticky tape on the
bottom of the animals feet so they don’t get stuck on the carpet
CHARACTERS
Piggy- Switch Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 813230
3
Davey Duck –Green - Switch
Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 815442
Cow Laugh A Lots- Switch
Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 818752
Roly-Poly The Friendly CalfSwitch Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 802059
Scooter The German Shepherd
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 810344
4
Vibrating Horse-Switch Adapted
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 819326
Funky Frank
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 921145
Cooky Chris
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 921164
•
Novita TRC can supply switch adapted vehicles: cars, fire truck or truck (can
be driven along the roads and through the farm, carry supplies, put out a fire).
Drive the ‘Tonka Chuck’ up and over the activity mirror ramp.
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Vehicles
Tonka Chuck and Friends –
Switch Adapted Race Truck
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 921011
Transformer Tank Switch
Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 921020
Thomas the Tank Engine –
Switch Adapted
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 921155
6
Red Vibrating Car Switch
Adapted
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 920561
Super Remote Control Car –
Switch Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 921167
In Conjunction With Other
Toys
•
Light wooden blocks can be used to make a tower which can be pushed over
by a switch adapted animal or a truck.
•
Duplo can be used to create houses, bridges, and sign posts, for animals or
cars to move around.
•
Switch adapted fans can be used to blow streamers and wind chimes.
•
‘Scary toys’ - borrow a crocodile or a dinosaur (potential farm predators). Put a
fox or a tiger puppet on the back of a switch toy.
•
Borrow a movement sensor toy that will light up and or make sounds when
passed by a switch adapted toy (the TRC can supply hip hop pets- dog, pig,
owl or movement sensor cows).
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•
A switch adapted animal or vehicle can be used to carry farm produce.
Jumbling Tower (wooden
blocks)
Call Number: 83
Barcode: 920305
Megabloks In Bag
Call Number: 83
Barcode: 810513
Puppet- Tiger
Call Number: 62
Barcode: 820310
8
Crocodile Allie – Switch
Adapted
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 811993
Blue Vibrating DinosaurSwitch Adapted
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 920555
Hip Hop Pet - Doggy
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 817720
Hip Hop Pet - Piggy
Call Number:
Barcode: 818725
9
Daisy Cow with Motion
Detector
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 809107
Farm House With Animals Imaginative Play Kit
(vegetables included in the kit)
Call Number: 62
Barcode: 920912
Dump Truck Radio ControlledSwitch Adapted
Call Number:
Barcode: 810602
More Elaborate Games
•
A parachute can be used as a circus tent, stacking chairs can be used for
circus tricks
– Elephant can push over the chairs or push along a ping pong ball.
– The elephant or bear might carry another toy on its back.
– Sensor operated ‘Chuckle Buddy –Lion’ will roll around and laugh when
passed by a switch operated toy.
•
Animals or remote controlled cars can be used to ‘walk the plank’ into the bead
chain, setting off a recorded message or animals sounds.
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•
Switch animals can be used to push over dominos.
•
Animal soccer - place a hoop on a smooth surface (maybe the kitchen table)
the hoop will stop the animal from walking over the edge and create the
playing field (stick down with sticky tape). Goal posts can be made from Duplo
(use ping pong balls or balls with shiny surfaces) the balls will roll easily when
kicked by a switch animal but will not escape the circle.
•
Duplo can be used to make bridges and shelters for animals to pass through.
•
Hoops can be used to stop an animal falling off the table.
•
Switch adapted animals can be used to pull along other objects with wheels.
Tables and Chairs
Call Number: 83
Barcode: 813146
Chuckle Buddy Lion
Call Number: 80
Barcode: 920600
11
Pull Along Kangaroo
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 820318
Talking Bead Chain With
Lights
Call Number: 81
Barcode: 813082
Rainbow Fish Dominoes
Call Number: 82
Barcode: 812538
12
Megabloks In Bag
Call Number: 83
Barcode: 810513
Duplo
Call Number: 83
Barcode: 819483
Hoop
Call Number: 84
Barcode: 811327
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References
‘Play in Occupational Therapy for Children’ by L. Diane Parham and Linda S. Fazio, Chapter 16
‘Accessing Play through Assistive Technology’ page 395 Jean Crosetto Deitz and Yvonne
Swinth
‘Play in Occupational Therapy for Children’ by L. Diane Parham and Linda S. Fazio, Chapter 15
Play in Children with Cerebral Palsy: ‘Doing With – Not Doing To’ [page 375 Erna Imperatore
Blanche
Molly Shannon’s Website: 50 Ideas for Simple Switch or Low Tech Activities
http://freedownload.is/doc/fifty-fun-ideas-for-simple-switch-or-low-tech-activities
‘Playing with switches’ Let’s Play Project University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY:
http://letsplay.buffalo.edu/products/Switches.pdf
‘Pretend Play of Children with Cerebral Palsy’ Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
article: 31 (4): 390-402, 2011
Learn to Play: a Practical Program to Develop a Child’s Imaginative Play Skills (1998)
By Stagnitti, Karen
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