dividual intervention, or for a tool kit that can be gathered and used to adapt many commercially found toys to make them more accessible to all children. Many of those items can be gathered from Dollar Stores, home improvement stores as well as garage sales, kitchens, and junk drawers. The We Are Teachers
website has a huge list of Dollar Store hacks that might serve as inspiration. Simple items such as Dollar Store carpet mats can be used for stabilizing toys. They have a flat knap which is Vel- cro sensitive and they are thin enough to cut into customizable sizes. It is easy to create a mash-up of several different toys to go along with a theme. For example, a musical toy, puzzle pieces, and visuals Velcroed to a carpet square can illustrate a song such as Farmer in the Dell or a story about life on the farm (Image 1). Dollar Store cookie sheets can be used for all kinds of displays and to stabilize toys secured with magnets (Image 2). Because of their raised edges they can be used to contain parts and pieces of various toys, puzzles, magnetic letters and so on, as well as act as boundaries for painting and messy play (think shaving cream). Dollar Store plastic shoeboxes with lids can be converted into small DIY lightboxes, or “shoebox play tasks”. Shoebox play tasks can be created from repurposed items such as bottle caps, shoe- laces, small toys, and so on based on the child’s interest. The lid of the box can serve as the play surface with Velcro applied to secure toys or parts of activity. Holes can be cut in the lid for “put in” activities. Best of all, when playtime is over, the shoebox can also function as a storage container for all the parts (Image 3).
Image 1: A variety items including farmer and animal puzzle pieces, matching picture symbols, and a musical toy depicting a farm scene are stabilized and displayed by Velcroing them to a carpet square.
Image 2: A commercial magnetic dress up doll and clothing is attached to a cookie sheet and fastened to an adjustable angled PVC frame. Note visuals related to play activity in foreground.
Image 3: Dollar Store plastic shoebox, pom poms, snack containers, and tongs become a color sort by Velcroing snack containers on the lid of the box. Store items inside box.
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