Parents E

Toys
That
Teach

A look at some
of the best toys
for special-
needs families

ELLEN SCOLNIC
SPECIAL TO THE APPLETREE

THE APPLETREE

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T

oys are the tools of
preschoolers, guid-
ing them on a jour-
ney of discovery
about themselves and the
world in which they live.
Until recently, children's
toys taught them that the
world was populated by
white-skinned people with
1 nearly identical physical fea-
tures.
But following the lead of
children's books, toys have be-
gun to reflect the diversity in
society. Children can now
play with dark-skinned baby
dolls, with Barbies from
around the world, and with
toys that teach about disabili-
ties. There aren't enough of
these yet to fill up an aisle at
your favorite toy store, but it's
a start.

Wheelchair Friend. Since
1987, Little Tikes has includ-
ed disabled children in its ad-
vertising and catalogs.
Creating the "wheelchair
friend," a plastic doll sitting in
a wheelchair, was a natural
extension of company philoso-
phy, says Little Tikes spokes-
woman Leslie Mapes.
"We've had a good re-
sponse, not just from parents
and siblings of disabled chil-
dren, but also from teachers
who tell us that the figure is a
great addition to their class-
room lessons about diversity,"
Ms. Mapes said.
The wheelchair friend ac-
cessory set includes a ramp to
make the Little Tikes doll-
house wheelchair accessible.
Available at toys that carry Lit-
tle Tikes products, or call Little

Ellen Scolnic is a freelance
writer in New Jersey

Tikes, 1-800-321-0183.

Dolly Downs. From her
blond pigtails to her blue-
checked dress, Dolly Downs
looks like any other rag doll
— until you notice her flat,
broad face and slanting eyes,
the classic physical character-
istics of a child born with
Down Syndrome.
Dolly began as a modest
workshop project for develop-
mentally disabled adults in
Camp Venture, N.Y. She has
matured into quite a market-
ing success. Thousands of Dol-
ly Downs have been sold
since she was introduced —
much to the surprise of the
staff.
"It's really catching on,"
said supervisor Aaron Low.

tween many children who
own a Dolly Downs and the
disabled adults who make the
dolls.
"People who have bought
the doll have written back.
We've had several sets of pen-
pals," ME Low said. "Many of
our workers get birthday cards
and letters from children who
love their Dolly Downs."
Dolly Downs cost $34.95,
including shipping and han-
dling. Boy and girl dolls of var-
ious heritage and skin color
are available. For information,
call Camp Venture 1-800-682-
3714.

We All Come in Different
Packages. This workbook, by
Dee Konczal, focuses on pro-
jects and activities covering a

Model Children

Every parent is convinced her daughter or son is
the most adorable, most beautiful, most attrac-
tive child in the entire world.
Parents of children with disabilities are no different —
and now there's a modeling agency that agrees.
The Beautiful Kids modeling agency in New Jersey
works solely with children who have a physical disability.
Clients are as young as 6 months, continuing up to the
teens.
For information, contact Beautiful Kids, (201) 927-
7759.

"People are finding out about
Dolly Downs and spreading
the word."
The doll is most kDular as
a toy for Down Syndrome
children. Her creators hope
that the very existence of such
a doll bolsters the self-esteem
of a Down child.
Each doll is packed with
the name of the worker who
assembled her, and a touching
interaction has developed be-

range of disabilities such as
blindness, dyslexia, epilepsy
and deafness. The book de-
mystifies many of the physical
differences and limitations of
disabled persons by using
child-centered activities and
simple explanations: "Cere-
bral palsy makes it hard for a
kid's muscles to work. They
sometimes can't walk or run."
Geared toward elementary

TEACHING TOYS page 15