I thought that this was a clever project- designing developmentally appropriate toys for pets!
The project required the students to analyze the animal’s social-emotional and physical needs and abilities and design toys to provide stimulation. The pet’s needs involved movement, play, and puzzle type accomplishments such as retrieving food buried inside the toy. The engineering students donated the finished projects to the animal shelters – where animals were particularly in need of brain enrichment activities that used up their nervous energy until placed in a home.
Of course, as an occupational therapist reading this article, I thought of children in orphanages or other environments lacking in social and sensory stimulation and the importance of developmentally appropriate toys being provided. When I worked in early intervention, many of the parents needed such guidance because there was often an overabundance of stuffed animals and lack of manipulation toys. Stuffed animals are cute and great for hugging and pretend play- but, they are limited in terms of teaching cause and effect relationships, refining manipulation skills or problem-solving…..
