Toy Analysis

Busy Popping Pals Toy

This toy was one I found in my son's toybox. It was a favorite of his when he was an infant, but still enjoys playing with it now, well launching cheerios off the top lids of the animals! I have also worked in Learning Centres where this toy is and have used it with students for different reasons.



Disability Category:
Physical: 3 stars
Sensory: 3 stars
Communicative: 4 stars
Cognitive: 3 stars


Toy Company: Playskool
Price: $15.97
Box Age Range: 9 months and up
# Pieces: 1
Washability: Surface wipe
Storability: handle makes toy easy to carry and fits in a small area
Directions: None
Play Locations: Indoors
Adjustability: None
Levels of Play: 1
Batteries: None needed

Description: Pop up activity toy introduces child to different animals, shapes and cause and effect play rewarding discovery with colorful critters.

Features and Benefits:

• Durable
• High Contrasting Colors
• Visually Stimulating
• Easy to Grasp/Hold
• One-piece unit
• Upright position for play

Developmental Processes Promoted:

• Visual attention
• Memory and Recall
• Cause and effect
• Action concepts - push/pull, click, twist
• Fine motor
• Eye-hand coordination
• Problem solving
• Finger and hand control
• Deliberate finger movements
• Precision
• Wrist rotation
• Hand and finger grasp
• Object permanence
• Number concepts

Applications for Children with Disabilities

Physical

Description: This one piece toy is very sturdy and is great for young infants as it contains no small parts. Children can play this toy in an upright position. This toy promotes fine motor, hand-eye coordination and muscle coordination.

Skills: Fine motor skills are strengthened as children engage in the toy by twisting, turning or flipping the switches. Each time the child manipulatives the switches they are developing muscle strength. Eye-hand coordination is practiced every time the child uses the switch, the eyes and hands work together.

Play Ideas: This toy can be used for counting the animals. The child could also trace the number on each lid with their finger.

Adaptation: This toy is played on a flat surface therefore allowing students to use at their desk or wheelchair. Placing velcro on the bottom would make the toy remain stationary as it can move very easily.


Sensory

Description: This brightly colorful pop-up toy is visually appealing to a child's eye. Children stay focused as they wait for the popping sound as each animal 'pops' up when their switch is released. The switches operate by the child touching each one by a turn, flip, push or twist.

Skills: Cause and effect actions are promoted through play. Children learn that their finger movements on the switch has an effect on the toy causing the animals to pop up. Action concepts such as push, twist, click or turn are encouraged through play by using the switches.

Play Ideas: This toy can be played alone however its portable handle allows the child to move it to the floor or table if needed. Another child or adult can join in by interacting with the user and asking questions about the animals or switch movements.

Adaptation: Have the switches covered with different textures if possible. Such as sandpaper, fuzzy material and silk cloth to add another sensory dynamic.


Communicative


Description: This toy is made for only user as the target age group is 9 months and up. However, an adult or another child could join in by asking questions and discussing what is happening. Counting is encouraged as the child counts the animals as they pop up. Action words can be used to describe the way the switches work.

Skills: Language development is promoted as a child plays with this toy. Problem solving skills are required in order to operate the switches. The child must figure out whether to push, flip or twist to make the animals appear. Color, counting and animal identification will be reinforced as well when playing with Busy Poppin Pals. Receptive language will be encouraged as an adult tells the child what switch to use next or to use the switch that pops the giraffe.

Play Ideas: As an adult observes the child playing they could promote language skills by discussing the different animals names, noises they make and where they live, helping with word association. Labelling the animals and colors can also promote language development. Playing an animal guessing game where you make the animal noise but need to figure out the name.

Adaptation: If the toy is too over stimulating for a child at first, taping down some of the other lids so the child only works with two of the switches, before introducing all of them.


Cognitive

Description: There is no right or wrong way to play with this toy. Play is not restricted to a specific duration allowing the child to play at their own pace. Children with cognitive delays will enjoy the reward of the animal popping up after the switch is released.

Skills: This toy reinforces color recognition, number identification, cause-effect actions, memory, problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination.

Play Ideas: Engaging in interaction while the child is playing to teach concepts about push, pull, flip and twist. Modelling how to use the switches and then have the child imitate, like a game of follow the leader.

Adaptation: This portable toy could be affixed to a flat surface so as to prevent injury if the child was to grab and/or drop or throw the toy.