Modifying materials enable children to participate in activities and routines as independently as possible. Materials include early childhood education and play supplies/goods such as books, paper, crayons, toys, construction toys, dress-up supplies, paints and easels, snack food, and eating utensils etc. Adaptations of materials include propping up a book on a slant board or wooden wedge, and putting crayons on a nonskid backing, using visual aids to sequence activities. cues such as picture sequences.
Resources for adapted toys/materials:
- Vignette of a two year old using adapted feeding strategies.
- Guidelines to Promote Play Opportunities for Children with Disabilities
- Special needs toy guide of the Fisher Price website was created to provide support for family play, with recommendations from the Let's Play! Project
Applying developmentally appropriate practice and Universal Design: The three year olds who attend the nursery program at the Every Family Place of Workshop often like to dress up and pretend to be various workers, animals or characters. Mrs. Hassan, a child care assistant, encourages the children to engage in creative play by making a sign for the door, "The doctor is in!" She also collects dolls and stuffed animals to serve as willing patients. Mrs. Hassan keeps the dress-up supplies e.g., clothes, hats and accessories, in clear plastic bins and “labels” the contents with pictures of what is inside.
Adaptations for a specific child to develop fine motor skills: Mrs. Hassan meets with her lead teacher and an occupational therapist from the local school system to consider how to make it easier for Josina to put on dress up clothes in the drama center. Josina has Down syndrome and is working on fine motor goals. Mrs. Hassan adapts the dress-up clothing and accessories by adding a Velcro closure to a cape, finds stretchy hats that expand and selects props that are easy to pick up and carry e.g., a doctors bag with a firm, stand up handle and a plastic stethoscope that fits around Josina’s neck easily.
Adaptations for Austin to participate in block play:
In consultation with Austin’s preschool teacher, his occupational therapist creates a picture template to guide building a block structure. She tries it out with Austin in the block center first to see how it will work to help him independently place the blocks on the visual aid and build a garage for his car. (video from Project CONNECT, The Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge)
