Adapted Puzzles
Contributed by Lori Markland, Director of Communications, MDTAP
Puzzles are a staple of childhood past times. In our house, they can be a mellow reprieve or a family activity. And almost always, they’re a quiet break from the seemingly constant noise and bustle. Whether they’re 12, 24, or 100 pieces, my kids always enjoy the challenge of fitting shapes and pictures to make something larger and more magnificent than the parts. Regardless of a child’s abilities, puzzles are integral to helping with hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, understanding patterns, and logic and spatial skills. For kids with disabilities, puzzles can sometimes be harder to access, more difficult to manipulate or lack feedback for a child who is engaged by sound or motion. For the kids who can’t or don’t interact with conventional puzzles, here are a few options to make them easier to access and more engaging.
AbleData provides a comprehensive database of D.I.Y projects, including this one for adapting a puzzle for a child with fine motor and grip challenges – Adapting Puzzles
Adapted puzzles can also be purchased directly from a variety of toy and AT speciality companies, including switch-adapted puzzles like this Farm Animal Shape Puzzle for $59.99 or simple knob puzzles for easier gripping like these found at Beyond Play, ranging from $11.95 to $19.95.
And for the child who loves to have an auditory response to putting a puzzle piece in the correct spot, sound puzzles can provide just that needed feedback. Sound puzzles can be found in almost any toy store or online, like this variety on Amazon’s website. From fire truck to vowel sounds, these sound puzzles can provide tons of engagement for a small price, typically $10 and up.
Happy shopping and happy puzzle time with all the little ones in your life!
