Dream-Toys are a new series of toys aimed at younger children (3 to 7 years) with special needs. We plan to offer toys that are suitable for blind and partially sighted, deaf and hard-of-hearing and young children other special needs.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) has published a list of criteria to assist parents and carers in selecting toys for special children. As we move ahead we will base our selection of toys around the RNIB recommendations.

This is the list published by the RNIB:

- Good colour and tonal contrast.
- Interesting texture offering some tactile variety.
- Encourages good co-ordination of hands.
- Encourages development of fine finger control.
- Encourages visual tracking.
- Encourages development of hand-eye co-ordination.
- Encourages physical play e.g. running, jumping etc.
- Makes a sound or other cue to an action having occurred.
- Reflects light or is fluorescent.
- Encourages understanding of cause and effect.
- Encourages development of a sense of smell.
- Lettering is bold and clear.
- Discrete pieces can be discriminated by touch.
- Switches are recognisable by touch as on or off, and click when operated.

(source: Royal National Institute for the Blind and British Toy & Hobby Association)

We have started work on adapting a series of talking, singing and dancing toys (take a look at the "Switch adapted toys" blog post, Shrek video and pictures of our first Dream-Toys ) selected to meet many of the criteria outlined above. CE testing will begin soon and we hope to have our first series of Dream-Toys available by March 2008.

Click here to jump to the Dream-Toys in the product catalogue.