Toys R Us

On my trip to Toys R Us, I found the newest version of Alphie by Playskool. 

Disability Category:              Rating:  **** or * stars

Physical                                   ***

Sensory                                   ****

Communicative                        ***

Cognitive                                 ****

Toy Company:

Price:                                       $39.99

Box Age Range:                      3 and up

# Pieces:                                  Alphie + 30 double sided cards 

Washability:                             Can wipe clean

Storability:                               Can carry around by handle and is small. Cards fit in back of Alphie

Directions:                               Alphie tells you what to do

Play Locations:                        Can take him anywhere

Adjustability:                           Can use specific cards depending on level of user

Levels of Play:                         Can purchase booster packs for increased difficulty

Batteries:                                 3 AA batteries - included

Description general:

Alphie_introduces_fun_activities_based_on_letters,_numbers,_shapes,_colours,_music_and_more!_He_is_interactive,_electronic,_and_very_easy_to_take_along_where_ever_you.go._He_also_offers_a_variety_of_encouraging_phrases_for_incorrect_answers,_as_well_as_positive_reinforcements_for_correct_answers.

APPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Physical          Rating: ***

Description	Has one main piece and is sturdy. Cards fit right into Alphie's backpack. Can use sitting up and laying down. If using sitting up, strengthens core as you lean forward to press the buttons.
Skills	Promotes fine motor as children need to press the correct buttons to play. However, buttons are not too small that students who have difficulty with fine motor could not play as well. Eye-hand coordination is strengthened through play.
Play Ideas	Child can play by themselves with Alphie, or with a friend. Can focus on one topic (ex: shapes), or add a variety. Can purchase booster cards when child has 'mastered' the cards included with Alphie to continue learning.
Adaptation Ideas	Can take cards out of Alhie's backpack that are not at level for student so there are not so many to pick from. Can affix tabs to the cards to make it easier to grab them and place in Alphie. Can place Alphie on a non-slip surface for students who have motor control issues.

Sensory           Rating: ****

Description	Alphie is very colourful and attention grabbing. He talks, gives encouragement, lights up, and smiles. Child operates Alphie by pressing buttons.
Skills	Cause and effect play. Focuses on teaching colours, numbers, letters, and shapes. Alphie gives a lot of sensory output to encourage play.
Play Ideas	Alphie asks questions and child responds by pressing the buttons. Learn about shapes, colours, numbers, and letters through playing, listening, and pressing buttons.
Adaptation Ideas	Can focus on particular aspects at a time (shapes and colours first, then numbers and letters, etc.). Can block out lights if it is too much sensory output for a particular student.

Communicative         Rating: ***

Description	Alphie gives instructions and asks questions, while user responds by pressing buttons. Another student could easily join in on the play.
Skills	Child strengthens listening skills, problem solving skills, and receptive language. Social skills are also strengthened if playing with another child.
Play Ideas	Could have children problem solve together to figure out the answers to Alphie's questions. Could also play in teams of two, depending on the students.
Adaptation Ideas	You could cover over some of the lights if some students (like those on the spectrum) find them too stimulating or distracting.

Cognitive        Rating: ****

Description	The child needs to think about the question, look at the pictures, locate the correct answer, and press the corresponding button. This process strengthens executive functioning skills.
Skills	Strengthens skills in numeracy, letters, shapes, and colours. Alphie also works on listening skills, fine motor skills, executive functioning, and cause and effect.
Play Ideas	Can start out using cards that child finds easier to boost self-esteem. Then you can gradually increase the difficulty of play.
Adaptation Ideas	Can buy the booster cards for more difficulty when needed or can use just one type of cards (ex: colours) if a student needs to start slow.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS       CHECK IF APPROPRIATE

	Durable
	High Contrasting Colours
	Tactilely Stimulating
	Visually Stimulating
	Wide Age Range
	Inviting Due to Uniqueness
	Open-ended
	Innovative
	High quality
	Detailed
	Hands on Approach to learning
	Easy to grasp/hold
	One-piece unit
	Upright position for play
	Other:

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESSES PROMOTED

	Visual attention
	Visual tracking
	Visual processing
	Memory and recall
	Cause and effect
	Action concepts: in/out, push/pull, on/off, go/stop
	Fine motor
	Eye-hand coordination
	Problem solving
	Finger and hand control and dexterity
	Physical range of motion
	Deliberate finger movements
	Precision
	Directionality
	Wrist rotation
	Hand and finger grasp
	Pointing, one isolated finger
	Motor planning
	Self esteem
	Manual dexterity
	Sequential thought
	Reaching
	Strategic thinking
	Turn taking
	Patience
	Spatial relationships – over, under, on, off
	Reaching/arm extension
	Functional finger movement and exploration
	Coordinated movement
	Sorting and classification
	Early Literacy
	Texture Discrimination
	Object Permanence
	Tactile Discrimination
	Problem Solving
	Directionality
	Cooperative Hand Movement
	Letter Recognition
	Life Skills
	Pre-Literacy
	Social Interaction
	Foot Placement
	Weight Shifting
	Core Strengthening – Trunk Strengthening
	Colour Recognition and Identification
	Word Recognition
	Number concepts
	Visual Acuity

Here is a quick YouTube video of Alphie