Why reading and play matter for children with developmental delays/disabilities

Developmental delays and disabilities, due to an impairment in physical, learning/cognition, communication, or emotional/behavior areas, impact a child’s day-to-day functioning, and often last throughout a person’s lifetime. Playing with toys and reading books is critical when it comes to learning, growth, and development in infants and toddlers. As such,  developmental skills are practiced and promoted through play and early literacy activities. Engaging with toys and books is a highly effective mode of learning, especially for children with developmental delays or disabilities. Unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges for a family with an infant/toddler, who has a developmental delay or disability, is selecting and safely using toys to foster child development. Additionally, many families do not have access to books, which are necessary for developing early literacy skills in preparation for kindergarten.