Manufacturer Name:
PlayAbility Toys LLC (Formerly Bill and Bud, Inc.)
Product Name:
Customer Quote: Wow! Buddy packs it all in – colors, textures, sounds and vibrations! -- Special Educator, Chicago, IL
Product Images:
Sensory Description
The high color contrast of Buddy Dog captures attention and the tactile and auditory response a child receives from play helps maintain that attention.
The dots on the paws and underside of the ears are raised to increase tactile stimulation.
Because Buddy Dog sits stationary, he will remain within reach and visual field of a child with visual impairments.
The shape of Buddy Dog allows a child with visual impairments to pick up, feel the various components and understand by touch what the item is and looks like.
The crinkle-sound vest is removable enabling caregivers and children to lessen the stimulation.
Skills
The vibration of Buddy Dog can help stimulate the vestibular system, which has receptors that respond to gravity and movement. This can help with balance and movement as well as tactile, proprioceptive, visual and auditory processing. The vestibular system also indirectly relates to auditory and language processing.
The textures, which are significantly different from one another, give children experience with the sense of touch and allow them to conceptualize tactile differentiation. Similarities and differences are an important part of learning life skills. This can be generalized to daily routines and activities – a quarter is different from a penny; a green light is different from a red light.
The different sounds give children more experience in learning how to process what is in their environment.
The vibration feature helps children learn that their action causes and reaction; can help a child learn through repetitive play; and has a sustained action component that enables children to work hard to pull the tail and gives time to refocus on what was just accomplished.
Play Ideas
The vibration of Buddy Dog can help stimulate the vestibular system, which has receptors that respond to gravity and movement. This can help with balance and movement as well as tactile, proprioceptive, visual and auditory processing. The vestibular system also indirectly relates to auditory and language processing.
The textures, which are significantly different from one another, give children experience with the sense of touch and allow them to conceptualize tactile differentiation. Similarities and differences are an important part of learning life skills. This can be generalized to daily routines and activities – a quarter is different from a penny; a green light is different from a red light.
The different sounds give children more experience in learning how to process what is in their environment.
The vibration feature helps children learn that their action causes and reaction; can help a child learn through repetitive play; and has a sustained action component that enables children to work hard to pull the tail and gives time to refocus on what was just accomplished.
Adaptation Ideas
Physical Description
Children with physical disabilities often have heightened startle reflexes. The Buddy Dog is made out of soft fabrics, which will not make a loud, startling sound if dropped. However, will allow a child to discover dropping an item, which is a developmental milestone that helps children learn purposeful and appropriate release of objects.
The appendages and especially the ears of Buddy Dog give children natural handles to grasp and hold. The ears are especially beneficial for children who are tight-fisted. A caregiver can help the children open their hands and the children can then grasp an ear tightly.
The eyes, nose, and mouth are stitched and embroidered on. Children with physical disabilities often explore with their mouths. These are safe alternatives to traditional attached features (e.g. buttons).
Because Buddy Dog sits stationary, he will remain within reach and visual field of a child with limited physical abilities.
Buddy Dog attracts and provides stimulation to children who require simple action and visual/auditory feedback.
The soft body of Buddy Dog gives children comfort and will not distress most if they roll over it or lay on it.
The size of Buddy Dog is large enough that a caregiver can assist a child in play and exploration without obstructing the play.
Children with physical limitations often drool more that children who are developing typically. The proposed “Machine Washable” feature is beneficial in order to keep the toy in good, usable, sanitary form.
Skills
The manipulative sounds encourage voluntary control of arm/hand movements to interact with Buddy Dog.
A slight (voluntary or involuntary) touch or movement of the Buddy Dog produces significant auditory response and provides auditory stimulation for the child. This can also be empowering for a child because his movements create an external response.
As children manipulate the various textures and activities (e.g. squeaking paw, crinkling jacket, vibrating sensor), they will be gaining awareness of their bodies and learning ways to use their hands and fingers to manipulate the objects in their environment.
The vibration feature helps children learn that their action causes a reaction; can help a child learn through repetitive play; and has a sustained action component that enables children to work hard to pull the tail and gives time to refocus on what was just accomplished.
The ring on the Dog’s tail is large, providing for a whole hand grip to pull to activate the vibration. Many activation controls are small and difficult for a child to access.
Buddy Dog, with all of its manipulative features, can help a child work on coordinated movement – the physical movement of the body paired with cognitive thought.
Because the Dog is a large size and made of soft materials, large muscles can be incorporated in play as children play catch using Buddy Dog. Play in this fashion can also help to enhance trunk and head control as well as muscle strength, all weaknesses children with physical disabilities face.
Fine motor skills are heightened as children explore the different dimensions of the Dog.
Bilateral coordination is naturally incorporated into play. It is the ability to have hands working together either doing the same task (such as holding the dog in the middle of its tummy with two hands and having it move up and down in the air) or each hand doing a different task (one hand to hold Buddy Dog stable and the other to manipulate the features of the toy).
The softness of the Dog’s body helps a child be successful in grasping. The material contours to a child’s grasp.
The vibration of Buddy Dog can help stimulate the vestibular system, which has receptors that respond to gravity and movement. This can help with balance and movement as well as tactile, proprioceptive, visual and auditory processing.
Play Ideas
Play catch using Buddy dog. It will not roll out of reach of a child.
Use Buddy to play “basketball” with a laundry basket as the target. Move the basket closer or farther away to accommodate individual ability levels.
Hide Buddy in the room and have the child go find him.
Make Buddy dance and jump. This helps children use the muscles in their arms and upper body.
Have the child throw Buddy up in the air and clap their hands one time before catching him. This works on arm and upper body strength, bringing two hands together at midline and eye-hand coordination.
Adaptation Ideas
Communicative Description
The ring on the end of the tail can be used as an oral stimulator.
Skills
Vibration is often used to stimulate oral muscles used in speech. The dog can be placed next to a child’s face or on his lips while the vibration is occurring.
The size of Buddy Dog is conducive to playing catch with a partner, incorporating simple game etiquette – turn taking, patience, anticipation, and preparedness.
The vibration of Buddy Dog can help stimulate the vestibular system, which indirectly relates to auditory and language processing.
Play Ideas
Play a game of peek-a-boo using Buddy to peek over couches or tables or through windows in a child’s activity house.
Use Buddy as a puppet to act out storylines.
Pretend to give Buddy a bath or snack at the table.
Put Buddy in a toy stroller or wagon and give him a ride.
Hide Buddy in the room and have the child go find him. Take turns hiding and finding Buddy.
Bang Buddy on the table while saying, “bang bang bang,” “mamama,” or “dadada” at the same time you hit the table (ground, couch, lap) and praise for any imitation.
Give your child actions to execute such as, “Place Buddy under the table.” Or “Give Buddy a hug.” This is not only enjoyable for a child, but it also works on receptive language skills, following directions and can be used to incorporate location and directionality.
Adaptation Ideas
Cognitive Description
The high color contrast of Buddy Dog captures attention and the tactile and auditory response a child receives from play helps maintain that attention.
There is no time limit placed on play, allowing a child ample time to process and respond to the received sensory information. Play can happen at a child’s own pace, increasing successful play and reducing frustration and overwhelming a child.
Buddy Dog keeps a child’s hands and mind busy and incorporates basic learning skills.
The vibration feature is a strong motivator. It helps children learn that their action causes a reaction; can help a child learn through repetitive play; and has a sustained action component that enables children to work hard to pull the tail and gives time to refocus on what was just accomplished.
The item is a one piece unit with lots of feedback. Play can be successful without the risk of losing pieces.
One of the first things children recognize is faces. This Dog’s face, with its oversized eyes, will catch a child’s attention and many will want to visually and tactilely explore every feature.
Skills
The crinkle material engages children, encourages purposeful finger movements and assists children in learning the concept of cause and effect.
Children learn about their environment through their senses. Buddy Dog enables them to learn through visual, tactile and auditory means that can assist in learning and retaining information.
Simple cause and effect learning can be established as children pull on the tail to produce the vibration.
Pulling on Buddy Dog’s tail to feel the same vibration sense each time teaches children about predictability, consistency and comfort in their own environment.
Buddy Dog, with all of its manipulative features, can help a child work on coordinated movement – the physical movement of the body paired with cognitive thought.
Play Ideas
Count how many areas make sounds on Buddy.
Play a memory game. Ask the child to play with Buddy and then hand it to you. Ask the child questions such as, “Which hand squeaks – the right or left?” or “Does the inside of Buddy’s ears have polka dots or stripes?”
Count all the red areas on Buddy or all the areas with spots.
Hide Buddy in the room and have the child go find him.
Adaptation Ideas
DESCRIPTION: Approx. Price: $25.99Box Age Range: 0+ yr# of Pieces: 1Washability: Machine WashStorability: Directions: None Play Locations: Indoor Adjustability: Levels of Play: One LevelBatteries: None needed
Features and Benefits
Tactilely Stimulating Visually Stimulating Furniture Friendly Hands-on Approach to Learning Easy to Grasp/Hold Auditorily Stimulating High Contrasting Colors One-Piece Unit Easy to Clean Simple
Developmental processes promoted
Auditory Processing Memory and Recall Cause and Effect Fine Motor Hand and Finger Grasp Eye-Hand Coordination Spatial Relationships e.g. Under, Over, On, Off Reaching/Arm Extension Functional Finger Movement and Exploration Tactile Discrimination Visual Processing Auditory Attention Visual Tracking Visual Attention Two-Handed Play – Midline Focus and Transferring Motor Planning Sequential Thought Bilateral Coordination
