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Bringing the Magic of Play to Children with Special Needs

The National Lekotek Center provides family play centers and toy lending libraries that give children with special needs access to play that brings both joy and learning into their lives.  Toys, books, and computer software and hardware are selected or adapted to fit the way their minds and bodies work.  Lekotek programs also help families get the services and resources they need to support the very challenging work they are doing -- to nurture their children to achieve their full potential.  Why does Lekotek help children through play?  Because play is how children learn.  It's the way they explore the world and discover their own capabilities.  And while they are having fun, kids are building the base for literacy, mathmatical reasoning, creativity, and computer use -- all skills they needs to develop into independent, productive adults.  The Lekotek program: ï Brings families together through play  At Lekotek, play includes the entire family. Lekotek staff helps parents understand the importance of playing, talking, and reading with their children, even during the first few weeks of life.  Lekotek is committed to family-centered play because play is an important tool for building healthy and caring family relationships. The relaxed atmosphere during play at Lekotek also provides a comfortable setting for parents to discuss personal and family issues that are affecting their ability to nurture their children.  Families come together for monthly play sessions and before they go home, children pick a selection of toys they can borrow from Lekotek's extensive toy lending libary.  Delivers family support through play Lekotek recognizes that families play a critical role in helping children reach their full potential.  When a family visits a Lekotek play center, staff provides:  Parent education  Disability information  Referrals to additional services  Help in navigating the maze of services their child needs  Help in advocating for their child  Use of the Lekotek parent resource library  Connections to other parents  A sympathetic ear Whatever types of resources a family needs, Lekotek staff members start with the family's existing strengths and help parents work toward the goals they set themselves.  ï  Lays a foundation for literacy through play  Recent research has highlighted the critical importance of early play experiences, access to literacy materials, and supportive parent-child interactions for the emergence of reading and writing skills in young children.  Moreover, when parents and teachers have high expectations for their children with disabilities and provide literacy-building experiences - including play -  the children achieve higher levels of literacy than expected.  All National Lekotek Center direct service programs incorporate toys, books, and play activities which support the child's emergent literacy.  Lekotek staff show parents how to use toys to develop eye tracking skills, shape recognition, and the capacity to imagine, for example-all skills which are central to literacy development.

The National Lekotek Center
lekotek@lekotek.org
Last revised: August 25, 1998