Toy Evaluation

Rollercoaster Bead Toy

Store: Toys “R” Us

Disability Category:              Rating:  **** or * stars

Physical                                   ****

Sensory                                   ****

Communicative                      ***

Cognitive                                ****

Toy Company:                      Anatex

Price:                                       $ 50.00

Box Age Range:                     pre-school age 2 - 5

Pieces:                                     ****

Washability:                           ****

Storability:                             ****

Directions:                              ****

Play Locations:                      ***

Adjustability:                         *

Levels of Play:                        **

Batteries:                                 N/A

Description general:

Wooden Bead Roller Coaster: A bead maze toy, this toy is made of wood and metal components. This is a manipulative toy that allows a bead to be moved on a twisting metal wire. The toy is constructed with a wooden base and the multi-coloured beads move along the many ‘ups and downs’ of the metal wire which are anchored on either end. There is no chance that the beads will fall off and thus the object of this toy is to move the beads along the wire to another area while following the twisting wire. This toy can be put on the floor or placed on a table top for usage.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS 

√	Durable
√	High Contrasting Colours
√	Tactilely Stimulating
√	Visually Stimulating
√	Wide Age Range – could be, depending on disability
√	Inviting Due to Uniqueness
	Open-ended
	Innovative
√	High quality
√	Detailed
√	Hands on Approach to learning
√	Easy to grasp/hold
√	One-piece unit
√	Upright position for play
√	Other: Portable

 

 

 

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESSES PROMOTED

√	Visual attention
√	Visual tracking
√	Visual processing
√	Memory and recall
√	Cause and effect
√	Action concepts: in/out, push/pull, on/off, go/stop
√	Fine motor
√	Eye-hand coordination
√	Problem solving
√	Finger and hand control and dexterity
√	Physical range of motion
√	Deliberate finger movements
	Precision
√	Directionality
√	Wrist rotation
√	Hand and finger grasp
√	Pointing, one isolated finger
√	Motor planning
√	Self esteem
√	Manual dexterity
√	Sequential thought
√	Reaching
√	Strategic thinking
√	Turn taking
√	Patience
√	Spatial relationships – over, under, on, off
√	Reaching/arm extension
√	Functional finger movement and exploration
√	Coordinated movement
√	Sorting and classification
	Early Literacy
√	Texture Discrimination - wood and metal differences in materials
√	Object Permanence
√	Tactile Discrimination – wood and metal differences in materials
√	Problem Solving
√	Directionality
√	Cooperative Hand Movement
	Letter Recognition
	Life Skills
	Pre-Literacy
√	Social Interaction
	Foot Placement
√	Weight Shifting
√	Core Strengthening – Trunk Strengthening
√	Colour Recognition and Identification
	Word Recognition
√	Number concepts
√	Visual Acuity

APPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Cognitive

Description ****	This toy addresses higher level cognitive thinking as the child needs to think about how to move the bead from one side of the wire to the other while maneuvering the ups and downs and side to side positions of the wire. Each wire has a different ‘path’ so there are several opportunities to remap the path the bead needs to take in order to reach its destination.  As the beads are multi-colored and of various shapes, a child can learn about color and shape recognition. Additionally, numeracy is addressed as a child can count the beads as they move them – similar to an abacus. Children would also learn about movement: cause and effect, their ability to manipulate an object through their own self-determination. Memory and problem solving is also addressed as children would learn through repetition that beads will follow a similar path to reach the other end. Visual tracking also is hightighted as a child can follow a bead along its path. Decision making skills, such choosing a particular bead to finish a path, are also involved.
Skills ****	This toy enhances and addresses color recognition, numeracy, memory, cause-effect relationships, problem solving, decision making, anticipation and prediction as well as visual tracking. As children speak about the parts of the toy and movement, conceptual language is addressed such as directions, forward/backward and up and down for example. See above description for more detail.
Play Ideas ***	This toy can be used by the child alone (solitary play) or with a group of other children (active play) or (co-operative play). It can be placed on a table top or on the floor. Interaction with adults is possible since they can cue the child as to moving a certain colour bead for example. As well, children can ask each other to move beads along selected wires as in co-operative play where taking turns would be highlighted.
Adaptation Ideas ***	This toy is portable; however, it can be affixed to a surface to prevent the possibility of falling when being used. For children with a limited range of movement, it can easily be placed at eye level. This toy could be used by a visually impaired child as the path of a bead along a wire can be ‘felt’ since the wire is affixed to the wooden base. It could also be used as a fidget toy for an ADHD child or a soothing toy for an ASD child.

Physical

Description ****	This toy addresses fine motor skills as the child needs to move the bead from one side of the wire to the other while maneuvering the ups and downs and side to side positions of the wire. Each wire has a different ‘path’ so there are several opportunities to remap the path the bead needs to take in order to reach its destination. Whether placed on the floor or on the table, the child needs to move core muscles in the body for balance and use the body as a whole to position themselves to reach for the beads that are distributed in various locations throughout the toy. Visual tracking also is addressed as a child can follow a bead along its path.
Skills ****	Fine motor skills are highlighted with this toy that promotes movement and physical activity. Although the beads are small due to the nature of the toy, they are not too small to be manipulated by small hands. Control of muscle strength for finger and hands as well as core muscles is addressed .Visual tracking which could help children with focus on an object and also with developing muscles involved with vision.
Play Ideas ****	This toy could be used by an OT to focus on specific targeted movements to improve and develop any of the physical skills mentioned above. This toy can be used by the child alone (solitary play) or with a group of other children (active play) or (co-operative play). It can be placed on a table top or on the floor. Interaction with adults is possible since they can cue the child as to moving a certain color bead for example. As well, children can ask each other to move beads along selected wires as in co-operative play where taking turns would be highlighted.
Adaptation Ideas ***	This toy could be a focus for an OT to work with a child to develop specific competencies. This toy is portable; however, it can be affixed to a surface to prevent the possibility of falling when being used. For children with a limited range of movement, it can easily be placed at eye level. It could also be used as a fidget toy for an ADHD child or a soothing toy for an ASD child.

Sensory

Description ****	A bead maze toy, this toy is made of wood and metal components. This is a manipulative toy that allows a bead to be moved on a twisting metal wire and thus there is high impact for the senses based on the construction materials and the movement the toy highlights. The feel of the wood vs metal creates a contrast as well as the shapes and colours of the beads offer different sensory and tactile feedback. The multi-coloured beads have high visual impact and movement along the many ‘ups and downs’ of the metal wire create the opportunity to physically and visually interact with the toy. Since the movement of the beads creates sound, a child can hear their bead moving through the wire and dropping to the final place against the base. Senses addressed: physical (touch), visual (sight) and auditory (hearing).
Skills ****	Tactile hands-on play is at the heart of this toy. Fine motor skills such as pincer-grip development as well as object discrimination through touch/feel are addressed, as well as cause and effect relationships, color perception and visual tracking skills.
Play Ideas ***	This toy can be used by the child alone (solitary play) or with a group of other children (active play) or (co-operative play). It can be placed on a table top or on the floor. Interaction with adults while exploring the toy’s movements is facilitated by its portability.
Adaptation Ideas ***	A child with a cognitive developmental delay would benefit from this toy’s colors and shapes. For example, specific beads such as round beads or yellow beads could become a focus, as directed by an OT to improve knowledge in that area. This toy could also be used by a child with CP, for example, for developing muscle control.

Communicative

Description ****	This toy which involves physical manipulation of bead components on a wire can be used by a child alone (solitary play) or with a group of other children (co-operative play) and (active play). With co-operative play, social interaction takes place between the children as they take turns guiding the beads along the wires.
Skills ****	Social and language skills can be developed as children experience others in relation to themselves. There are many opportunities to discuss the interaction of the beads on the toy, colors, shapes and direction on pathways while engaging in game play on this toy. As children speak about the parts of the toy and movement, conceptual language is addressed such as directions, forward/backward and up and down. Also can address social skills such as taking turns/ learning patience in waiting for turns.
Play Ideas ****	In addition to the direct physical interaction this toy offers, whether played alone or with others, this toy can assist with impulsivity urges in children when it is used to highlight the principles of sharing and taking turns. Many children, including those who are ADHD for example, could benefit from co-operative play with this toy.
Adaptation Ideas ***	This toy could be incorporated in classroom usage as a reward for successful completion of an outcome. To encourage the principles of sharing and turn taking, two students could be selected at a time to receive this ‘reward’. Students would benefit from the opportunity to interact without specifically highlighting these aspects to the students themselves. This toy is portable; however, it can be affixed to a surface to prevent the possibility of falling when being used. For children with a limited range of movement, it can easily be placed at eye level. It could also be used as a fidget toy for an ADHD child or a soothing toy for an ASD child.