On many occasions, when we have children with special needs, we forget that despite everything, they are still children. The life of children with disabilities is not easy, they have to undergo therapies and treatments that other children do not have to do. But despite everything they are still children and need above all to play and doing fun activities that help them maintain their innocence.
For parents of children with disabilities this can become a big problem, once they accept their child's peculiarity, they have to take on a lot of tasks that they did not have. And in that process in which you try to improve the child's life at all costs, the need for the game may be forgotten. In some cases it may be a matter of time, but in most cases, it is a simple matter of not knowing how to do it.
International Spina Bifida Day
Today the International Day of Spina bifida, a disability caused by a congenital malformation. It is a neural tube abnormality, which can affect the brain, spine, or spinal cord. This problem is congenital, that is, it is a malformation that occurs when the fetus is forming during the first weeks of gestation.
Spina bifida can cause different damages in the child, both in the spinal cord and in the nerves. Although it is not possible to determine what the causes will be if this occurs, since each patient with this disability has complications completely different. No two people with spina bifida share every one of its symptoms.
In most cases, people with spina bifida have a normal level of intelligence. So that the most general symptoms of this malformation affect mobility. Some children will need a wheelchair from a young age, others will be able to move around with the help of crutches and even orthopedic devices that facilitate mobility. Although spina bifida can cause other symptoms or problems in the child, as we said, no two patients are the same.
Playing with a child with spina bifida
Play is an essential part of a child's lifeIt is one of their fundamental rights and therefore it is important to look for alternatives so that each and every child can enjoy a fun-filled childhood. Each child is different and each one with their peculiarities has capacities in different areas, you just have to look for them and enhance them.
Depending on your child's disability, you should find a way to play with him involving all members of the family. Today you can find many toys adapted for children with disabilities, ideal for promoting their autonomous play and independence. But family play is also important.
Table tennis
Board games are perfect for children with mobility problems. Table tennis is perfect since the child can play alone or in company. You can get a tennis table if you have enough space, but if this is not the case, you can use a simple folding table and add a net to it. You just need a little creativity and you can create great things.
Magnetic toys
Building games like blocks or puzzles are perfect for all children. One way to facilitate play for children with disabilities is adding some small magnets at the base of each piece. In this way you can join the pieces more easily, it would also be convenient to look for a magnetized base.
Adapt toys with little tricks
For children who also have mobility problems in the upper extremities, in the hands or fingers, it is important adapt toys to make them more accessible. In books, you can add a small cardboard tab to each page, so you can turn the page more easily. In pencils, paints, brushes etc, you can also include a clamping system.
You will only need one piece of rubber similar to those on bicycle handles, the center hole has to be the general size of the pencils.
Textured toys
At stimulate the senses you can use toys like magnetic sand or modeling paste. You can also create simple toys at home that help stimulate the sense of touch in children with disabilities.