Top Ten Toys for Kids with Special Needs

Wedgits: 2 years +. This building toy promotes tactile exploration, encourages use of motor skills and stimulates vision.

* Wee Wedgits: 12 months +. Another popular building toy that is good for tactile exploration, motor skills and vision.

* Mega Bloks: 12 months +. For the same benefits noted in the above building toys, these toy blocks also come highly recommended.

* Playmobil: 4 years +. These pretend play toys come in different themes such as Egyptian, school, hospital, zoo, and more and encourage use of motor skills, stimulates imagination and encourages exploration of the environment.

* Bruder Roadmax Road Loader with Backhoe: 2 years +. This toy vehicle stimulates the imagination, introduces cause and effect, and promotes the use of motor skills.

* Enchanted Forest: 6 years +. This game builds concentration, vocabulary, memory, imagination, cooperation and self-esteem.

* Lauri Stack and Sort Boards: ages 2 - 5. These preschool toys teach colors, shapes, numbers and problem solving as well as advances mental development.

* Melissa & Doug Shape Sorters: 6 months - 3 years. This toy promotes fine motor skills and teaches shapes and colors. The sorter must be easy to open to eliminate frustration.

* Learning Resources Smart Snacks Trail Mix & Match: ages 2 - 6. This toy manipulates fine motor skills, introduces counting, patterning and matching through imaginative play.

* Twig by Fat Brain Toy Co.: 3 years +.This toy develops sensory awareness, cooperative and independent play, and artistic expression.