The BiG Story
Learning To Play,
And Playing
To Learn
Lekotek helps families with special-needs children
develop skills the fun way — with toys.
drome, ADD, ADHD and develop-
I ents to care for their own children, at
mental delays.
home.
What does it mean to get help
The first Lekotek was created by
iven a choice between a
from
Lekotek?
Iwo parents from Stockholm, who
trendy, color-coordinated
In a well-stocked, colorful play
had children with special needs.
outfit and a bright, noisy
room,
families learn how to play with
Convinced that experiences during
I toy, most any child would choose the I the first years of childhood play a sig- 1 their special-needs children. Sessions
toy.
nificant role in shaping a life, the par- I are private and include a Lekotek
leader and one family, though neigh-
I Yet children with disabilities usually ; ents looked for a way to help inte-
borhood
children, friends and rela-
I receive gifts of clothing because the
r grate children with disabilities into
1 fives also are welcome. The leader
giver is unsure which toys would be
society. Their'goal was working
I works to promote interaction between
I appropriate or even manageable.
toward eliminating feelings of isola-
all family members, as well as to
I With this need in mind, and in
tion and loneliness such children often
model new or creative uses for play
response to a demand for more indi-
experience.
the
toys,
vidualized information about
and play materials.
In the past 35 years, Lekoteks have
Parents are taught how to
Lekotek Toy Resource Help Line was
become part of communities
adapt popular toys to
I formed. This toll-free service (800-
I worldwide, with more
their child's capa-
; 366-PLAY) offers assistance in select-
than 45 centers
bilities, such as
' ing appropriate toys and play materi-
housing family-
applying spe-
als for children with disabilities. •
play facilities.
cial switches
is
a
Swedish
word
which
I Lekotek
The Toy
and motors to
I roughly translates into "play library."
Resource Help
accommodate
In 1960, political leaders in Sweden
Line is one arm
those with phys-
I made a decision to de-institutionalize
of the American-
ical disabilities.
I large residential settings for those with ' based Lekotek,
Lekotek is
developmental disabilities. Public poll-
which also trains
well
known for
I cy required that services be provided
leaders in the
At Lekotek, Joseph enjoys creating
its toy-lending
for children with developmental
Lekotek methods
-
Play-Doh shapes.
program, which
idelays within their local communities,
and philosophies.
is open to all registered families.
with a larger goal of enabling par-
The Oakland County Child Care
With
more than 1,000 toys between
Council offers Lekotek services to any-
the two local sites, in Waterford and
one with special needs, regardless of
Diane Baldwin is a freelance
Ferndale, there is something to amuse
age or geographics, and works with
-1 writer who lives in Clarkston with
every child. Boys and girls may take
I her 19-month-old son, Nicholas and a variety of disabilities including
three to five toys each visit. CI
autism, cerebral palsy, Down syn-
her husband, Matthew.
Diane Baldwin
AppleTree Staff Writer
1
• •
•
I
•
• •
9/25
1998
Ring Around
the Bells, a popular
toy that makes music
and can be operated
by a switch.
Resources:
Toys 'R Us Toy Guide,
800 732 3298 or
www.tru.com A free mag-
azine describing various toys
to help develop specific skills.
-
-
The Kenny Foundation
in,_Southfield (248) 557-
5070 The Equipment Connec-
tion features a list of adaptive
equipment to sell or donate.
The Oakland County
Child Care Council
(Lekotek program), (248) 681-
9104, (248) - 858-5140 --
Also ask about Early On, an
intervention program (newborn
and up) offered by Oakland
schools and available to all
Oakland County residents.
The Arc Lekotek: Toy
Lending Library in Red-
ford (representing Wayne
County) (313) 532-8524.
The National Lekotek
Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.,
Evanston, IL 60201, 1-800-
366 KAY.