Special Needs & Inclusion

2 years & up. Enable play to take flight with this stunning collection of Sensory Play Stones: Birds. The tactile, realistic detailing will inspire curiosity and conversation while providing lots of wonderful sensory feedback. Sturdy bases make the birds versatile for imaginary play and create solid foundations for children's vocabulary and storytelling skills to grow. To top it all off, the birds are easy to clean and able to withstand water, soil, mud, and clay. Set features 8 different types of birds.

2 years & up. Enable play to take flight with this charming collection of Sensory Play Stones: Butterflies. The tactile, realistic detailing will inspire curiosity and conversation while providing lots of wonderful sensory feedback. Sturdy bases permit lots of imaginative play possibilities and create solid foundations for children's vocabulary and storytelling skills to grow. To top it all off, the butterflies are easy to clean and able to withstand water, soil, mud, and clay. Set features 8 different types of butterflies.

2 years and up. This set of realistic flower heads will help grow children's curiosity about the natural world around them. Created from a unique stone mix, they are durable enough to be used outdoors and are perfect for mud kitchen play, sand tables, and nature walks. These tactile stones encourage open-ended play and imagination. Set contains eight garden flowers: carnation, daffodil, dahlia, gerbera daisy, pansy, rose, sunflower, and tulip. Each flower stone measures approximately 2".

2 years & up. This lovely set of 12 leaves in natural tones will encourage children's imagination and curiosity about the world around them. Created from a unique stone mix ideal for outdoor learning and explorative play, these durable leaves can be used in water, soil, mud, and clay. Perfect for sensory play, details can be felt and seen. Your little learner will explore further making rubbings using crayons. Set of 12 stones consisting of six pairs of leaves with seasonal tones. Set includes leaves from the following trees: apple, beech, cherry, maple, oak and silver birch. Each stone measures between 2" - 3".

3 years & up. This exciting set of textured metallic Tangles delivers a one-of-a-kind sensory experience. Featuring shiny, eye-catching finishes and a variety of tactile surfaces, each piece invites hands-on exploration. Ideal for building fine motor skills and encouraging wrist movement, they also support tactile and visual discrimination through texture and color. Perfect as classroom fidgets or calming tools for therapeutic settings. Consists of eighteen 1" curved sections. Includes six assorted textures and metallic colors.

3 years & up. Bring hands-on fun to classroom activities and playtime with our vibrant, dust-free colored sand! Available in a variety of bright hues, this safe, USA-made sand is perfect for sand and water tables, arts and crafts, and sensory exploration. Encourage creativity and imaginative learning with every colorful scoop!

Young children with special needs often face physical, emotional, or social barriers to deep engagement with the natural world. These challenges need not prevent them from enjoying the many benefits nature has to offer. Nature is a necessity. Research tells us that we are happier, healthier, more socially engaged, and more creative when it is part of our daily lives. These benefits apply to people of all ages and abilities. In this inspiring book, Dr. Ruth Wilson explores the great potential of connecting young children with special needs to the natural world. Drawing on her knowledge of research and her decades of work with children in nature, she weaves together advice, real-life examples, and testimonies from educators and families on the healing, nurturing power of nature in the lives of young children with diverse abilities. Paperback. 192 pages.

Every child belongs. Every child is unique. Every child has strengths. Every child has the potential to fly. Inclusion benefits all children! Inclusion--perhaps you believe it is complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Not true! Jani Kozlowski, experienced trainer and technical-assistance provider on inclusion and disability services, dispels the myths and shows that implementing high-quality inclusive practices in your program is easier than you think! Throughout "Every Child Can Fly," Kozlowski explores the defining features of high-quality inclusion and shows readers how to provide access and support for children with disabilities. Learn how to help them feel included through strong family involvement, peer relationships, individualized teaching practices, collaborative teaming, ongoing evaluation, and staff professional development. Learn why inclusion is important. Unravel the jargon and acronyms. Understand screening, assessment, and referrals. Paperback. 272 pages.

These guides offer families simple strategies to support young children's healthy social and emotional development. Filled with suggestions of everyday activities that families can enjoy together and promote three key protective factors: initiative, self-regulation, and attachment/relationships. Booklets (40 pages) are available in English or Spanish in sets of 20. Copyright 2013.

12 months & up. This ball set is perfect for alternative sensory play. Bright vivid colors will aid in the development of visual tracking and three alternating textures will provide necessary mental stimulation to reduce stress and anxiety. All six balls included squeak when squeezed, giving multiple sensory alleviation options for children and adults of all ages.

This strategy guide for early childhood professionals includes hundreds of research-based strategies and tips to strengthen young children's initiative, self-regulation, and attachment/relationships. The strategies incorporate developmentally appropriate teaching practices in five areas related to social and emotional health: Daily Routines; Environment; Caring Connections; Activities and Experiences; Partnerships between Teachers and Families. It takes readers through a simple five-step approach that uses assessment results from the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers, Second Edition (DECA-P2) to inform teaching practices that will strengthen children's resilience. Whether used as part of the comprehensive DECA Preschool Program or as a stand-alone guide, this strategy guide is an excellent resource for early educators. Copyright 2012.

Describes practical ways to adjust centers and classroom routines for children with special needs. Suggestions enable all children to learn by keeping them involved in developmentally appropriate routines and center based activities. Each chapter focuses on either a learning center, such as art or science, or a time of the day, such as snack time or dismissal, with particular attention to the needs of children who are developmentally delayed, orthopedically impaired, have autism/Pervasive Development Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral issues, motor planning problems, or visual impairments. Age focus: 3 - 6 years. Paperback. 208 pages.

18 months & up. Children will delight in all the fun and engaging learning opportunities available with the Sound and Sort Stackers. Multiple senses are engaged while children listen, look, sort, and stack these 18 captivating pieces. Encourage color recognition and fine motor development. A set of activity card(s) is included listing all of the benefits and many hands-on activities.

3 years & up. Take tactile stimulation to the next level with the cleanest sand in the world! This Therapy Play Sand allows kids to do all of the crazy fun sand activities they love without getting dust and other particles in their eyes, mouth, or anywhere else. Great for indoor sand tray therapy professionals, play therapy trays, sensory activity tables, in-home and office locations. Create with sand and play therapy while developing fine motor skills, intellect, visualization and social conduct. Sand has a natural sparkle to captivate the eye and molds easily when wet. Great for indoor discovery table play. Made from Feldspar rock.

This guide provides early childhood professionals with the directions they need to use and interpret results of the DECA-P2. The manual also provides research information related to the development and standardization of the DECA-P2, including information about the instrument's reliability and validity. © 2012

Because their vocabularies haven't yet caught up with their thoughts and emotions, young children often struggle to communicate. Sign language can help them express themselves effectively to adults and peers--without the emotional outbursts caused by frustration! This book features the latest research to equip educators and caregivers with the tools and resources to teach young learners how to effectively communicate. Paperback. 208 pages.

6 months & up. This bright red ball has five smaller balls that fit snugly into the holes around its surface. Each ball has a different texture to provide a unique tactile experience. Play with them together or separate them for multi-child play. Large ball measures 6.5" D. Small balls each measure 2.5" D.

This guide provides research-based, simple, easy-to-use social and emotional strategies for the home and childcare setting. With hundreds of strategies, organized into five chapters, this guide is a wonderful reference for any caregiver who is interested in promoting the social and emotional health of infants and toddlers.

3 years & up. Make patterning even more engaging with these Colorful Multi-Shape Links with Jar for Learning Shapes and Patterns. Children will love building chains using three different shapes and six colors with this giant 500 piece set. These shape links are great for counting and sorting activities too! This set promotes color recognition, shape recognition, dexterity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. The pieces store in a convenient jar with screw-on lid and handle.

3 years & up. Develop skills in sequencing, memory, observation, and logic with 12 sets of four-step sequence stories. Includes 48 thick and durable real-image picture cards, activity card, and a carton to hold all the pieces. Pocket chart sold separately.

The DECA-P2 Record Forms are strength-based, nationally standardized, reliable, valid, and easy-to-use! These sets includes 40 assessment forms and a pad of 40 individual child profile forms. Sets available in English or Spanish.

User's Guide for the DECA-IT kit. © 2007

An innovation in watercolors. Use directly from the bottle for intense color, or dilute for wash effect. This WaterColor Magic Assortment contains 6 eight oz. bottles (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, purple).

5 years & up. This Portable 5lb Weighted Sensory Lap Pad is a super soft sensory tool that offers gentle deep pressure calming. Help increase the ability to focus and relieve anxiety and stress with this weighted lap pad. Features a dual textured cover; soft and bumpy on one side and a smooth silky - like material on the other. The 21" x 19" pad is usually laid across the lap horizontally while sitting. Can also be rested across the shoulders, back or stomach while reading, relaxing or watching TV. The benefits are optimal when the pad is used for approximately 20 minutes and results can last up to 2 hours. Constructed with polyester fleece and durable odor free glass beads. To clean, wipe the surface with a damp cloth or sponge using soapy water or mild detergent and air dry. When in need of a more thorough cleaning the weighted pad can be washed in a cold water, delicate cycle. Do not use fabric softener as it may affect the way the material feels.