Learning Resources for Toddlers with Developmental Delays

The current trend in education is inclusion; thus, parents with children who have developmental delays can breathe easier given more support in different sectors of society. There are different ways to encourage learning in children, especially those with developmental delays. Check out some of the different learning resources available to parents today.

Books

Here are several guidelines for choosing books for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

1. Consider the material of which the book is made. Books made out of board (board books) vinyl and cloth are sometimes more expensive but books that can be easily cleaned is a priority when creating a library for your child. Aside from this, the thickness of the pages of board books allows children to successfully flip through on their own, encouraging independent ‘reading’ at this age.

2. Most books for infants and toddlers will focus on three topics: animals, transportation and relationships. It was found that these are high-interest subjects for this age range.

3. Colorful illustration with clean basic lines/shapes.

4. The use of simple words and/or rhythmic phrases.

For older kids who need to understand their particular exceptionality, Teacher Vision has a list of books with characters who have special needs: www.teachervision.fen.com.

Parent’s Sources of Online Information  

1. Baby’s brain development. There is a site that I so love because it explains how a baby’s brain develops and what parents can do for him/her at that time. Click on the link to check out what you know about your baby’s brain: www.zerotothree.org.  

2. Dyslexia. This link of Inclusive Technology has a list of different programs that can be used to help those with dyslexia in mind mapping, study, thinking, reading and writing skills. A certain amount of educators and parents find that some of these programs are also helpful to those without learning difficulties, enriching the learning experience.

Click here to learn more about games and assistive technology for kids with developmental delay.