Through trial and error, I have a current list of favorite materials that I use for many of my toy adaptations. Adhesives have been the trickiest since it is hard to stick smooth plastic to smooth plastic. I have been doing a lot with the double-sided Gorilla Mounting Tape, especially when I am just trying out a modification. It's supposed to hold up to 40 pounds so usually the force of a child will not disturb it. It's also better than glue when sticking down a toy that doesn't have much surface, such as the hollow feet of dinosaurs. When I do use glue I have been happiest with DAP rapid fuse. I have tried to take something off 20 minutes after I glued it and had a chunk of the plastic come out instead of breaking the glue bond. To keep toys steady without an adult having to hold them I usually attach them to a piece of masonite (hardboard) somehow. This can be with the mounting tape, glue or Dual Lock. I have also used any other thin, light-weight boards I can find including old flooring samples and white board pieces. These can be attached to a wheelchair tray using the spring clamps. I get 4.5" clamps. I also use 3M Dual Lock adhesive strips a lot. This is like Velcro but just has one type which locks into itself. The 25mm size provides enough resistance. One other valuable tool, particularly for children who pull their hands back but can't keep a grip while they do this, is a reusable gear tie. You can see an example of how I use this with the dinosaur at the top. Children who can't push the tail to make it roar can "lasso" the tail and pull to get the same effect. When the gear tie is bent around their hand it doesn't fall out as easily but they don't feel stuck. There are a variety of sizes but I prefer the 12" or 18" ones.
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I am an occupational therapist with over 30 years of pediatric experience. I currently work predominantly with children who have cerebral palsy and other neuromotor difficulties. I love to help children who have the most challenging bodies participate in their world, especially through play. I scour local thrift stores to find toys that provide a lot of fun without a lot of hand skills or can be easily (and cheaply) modified for that purpose. Archives
February 2024
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