If you’re a parent with a child with cerebral palsy, you might be struggling to find ways to engage your child in play. Engaging in play is important for any child to help build crucial skills for development and growth. As an occupational therapist, I choose each therapy toy with a purpose, and even greater for children with cerebral palsy to enhance motor skills, improve communication, and promote overall independence.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my recommendations for toys and equipment for children with cerebral palsy. Each toy or piece of equipment listed serves as a facilitator of play, social interaction, and motor development, or enhances quality of life through positioning and adaptability. Let’s dive in and discover how these items can enable play with purpose.
Universal Cuff
The EazyHold Universal Cuff is an excellent option for children with limited fine motor skills, such as difficulty opening or closing their hands and fingers due to spasticity. The versatility of its silicone design makes it easier to hold objects in place. A universal cuff allows a child to explore toys firsthand by holding and maneuvering them with assistance. The EazyHold Universal Cuff can help your child hold toys and objects like rattles, pencils/markers, toothbrushes, utensils, and much more. Now, children can explore toys and engage in activities that were once challenging, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem. To view this item, click here.
Peanut Ball
The peanut ball is a fun and therapeutic tool that helps children with cerebral palsy improve balance, coordination, and core strength. Its unique shape provides stability while allowing for dynamic movements. Whether bouncing, rolling, or sitting, the peanut ball encourages active play and enhances gross motor skills, all while providing a safe and enjoyable experience. To view this item, click here.
In my practice, I use the peanut ball to help my patients stretch their back muscles by laying them perpendicular to the peanut ball on their back and gently rolling them back and forth. However, you should always consult with a medical professional such as a physical or occupational therapist to ensure the safest exercises and therapeutic options.
Vibration Pillow
A vibration pillow offers tactile stimulation and sensory feedback, making it an excellent addition to playtime for children with cerebral palsy. The gentle vibrations provided by the pillow can help increase body awareness, promote relaxation, and enhance sensory integration. It’s a soothing tool that encourages calmness and engagement during play. To view this item, click here.
Adaptive Utensils
Mealtime can become more manageable and enjoyable with adaptive utensils designed specifically for children with cerebral palsy. These utensils feature modified handles that provide a comfortable grip and promote independent feeding. By adapting the design to suit their unique needs, children can enhance their self-feeding skills and develop greater independence during mealtime. To view this item, click here.
Therapy Wedge
A therapy wedge. also known as a Tumble Form, is an inclined cushion and is often used as a supportive tool to assist children with cerebral palsy in various activities such as promoting alignment, and posture, and offering a stable surface for supported sitting or laying prone (on their tummy). Whether used for sitting, stretching, or as a play surface, the therapy wedge enhances comfort, balance, and overall engagement. Traditional wedges called Tumble Forms are used in therapy and can cost up to $400, but you can use the alternative bed wedge pillow at home for a more affordable option. To view this item, click here.
I personally like using the therapy wedge during my therapy sessions to promote a healthy and stable position during play. For example, if a patient struggles to maintain a position on their stomach while on a flat surface, this limits their ability to engage in social play by maintaining eye contact and they’re probably not able to see the toys or objects presented to them. In this case, I position the child prone on the therapy wedge to facilitate a much healthier and more comfortable play position.
*Remember to always consult with a medical professional such as a physical or occupational therapist for the safest positioning for your child.
Velcro Ball and Catch Game
The Velcro toss and catch game is a fantastic interactive activity that encourages hand-eye coordination, motor planning, social interaction, and cooperative play. With a soft, Velcro-covered ball and catch mitts, children can practice tossing and catching, promoting gross motor skills and bilateral coordination. This game fosters social interaction and promotes physical activity, making it a favorite among children with cerebral palsy. To view this item, click here.
If a child has limited upper extremity engagement, don’t worry, this toy is still a great tool to use! You can position the mitt onto the hand of the child, and you can gently toss the ball onto the Velcro mitt on the child’s hand and help them catch the ball using a hand-over-hand technique. It’s important to always engage the child no matter what their physical limitations are. This helps them build a sense of accomplishment and improves self-esteem.
Communication Buttons
Communication buttons are probably my favorite tools to use during my therapy sessions. Communication buttons or boards with pre-recorded messages are invaluable tools for promoting communication skills in children with cerebral palsy. By pressing these buttons, children can express their wants, needs, and thoughts. These buttons encourage language development, empower self-expression, and provide a means of communication when verbal abilities may be limited. To view this item, click here.
Communication buttons can also be used to practice upper extremity coordination and control by teaching a child to actively use their arm or hand to push choose a button and push down to communicate a want or need.
I usually use this tool in conjunction with the child’s communication device provided by a speech therapist. I work closely with a child’s speech therapist to practice important words and phrases and to ensure we are both working together in order to build the child’s language development.
Toys and equipment tailored for children with cerebral palsy can transform playtime into a purposeful and empowering experience. By incorporating any of the listed toys or objects above, you can help support your child’s physical, cognitive, and social development.
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