“HugMe”: validation of a prototype of an inclusive toy for children

Toys should be firstly approached according to each child’s interest. Regarding children with special needs, it is indispensable to analyse the way they physically reach the toy, their interaction and difficulties/limitations. So, a toy that is specifically designed for children with special needs i...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor principal: Ferreira, Rosária (author)
Outros Autores: Matos, Demétrio Ferreira (author), Soares, Filomena (author), Carvalho, Vítor (author), Gonçalves, Joaquim (author)
Formato: conferencePaper
Idioma:eng
Publicado em: 2017
Texto completo:https://hdl.handle.net/1822/52918
País:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt:1822/52918
Descrição
Resumo:Toys should be firstly approached according to each child’s interest. Regarding children with special needs, it is indispensable to analyse the way they physically reach the toy, their interaction and difficulties/limitations. So, a toy that is specifically designed for children with special needs is a fundamental piece in their development and quality of life, also being an auxiliary tool for therapists to use in therapy sessions. Based on that, this article presents a proposal of an inclusive toy, named “HugMe”, which was especially designed for children with special needs. The results from the first tests are presented which allow to infer its application in game activities with children with special needs and to identify possible improvements of the toy.