Good Christmas gifts for children with complex needs respond to the smallest action: a press of a switch, a gentle squeeze or a shake. Switch adapted toys, bright and glowing lights, vibration and sound give disabled children, including children with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), sight loss or physical disabilities, a way to make something happen for themselves. This guide explains how switch adapted toys work, how to choose a switch, and which special needs gifts were most popular with us last Christmas.
Where a product page gives the plug size, batteries or an age mark, we include them here. We leave out prices, as they change. If you already know what you want, go straight to our switch adapted toys.
How to choose gifts for disabled children
- Start with what the child responds to. Notice what brings a smile, a turn of the head or a reach: lights, music, a breeze on the face, vibration or a familiar voice.
- Match the toy to a movement they can make. Some children press a switch with a hand, the side of the head or a knee. Others can squeeze, shake or roll.
- Picture where it will be used. A toy that sits within easy reach and sight on the wheelchair tray, floor mat or bed is the one that gets played with.
- Ask the class team. They know which switch a child uses and which toys they ask for again and again.
Choose by what the child enjoys rather than the age on the box. Check each product page for its age mark and any warning, and take extra care with any child who still mouths toys. If a page gives no age mark, keep that item for children over 3.
What are switch adapted toys?
A switch adapted toy has a jack socket for an accessibility switch. You plug the switch’s jack plug into the socket, and each time the child presses the switch, the toy moves, lights up, blows bubbles or makes a sound. The switch can be big, flat and easy to press, so a child who cannot manage small buttons is still the one in charge.
Families and schools choose them for that sense of control, and to practise cause and effect: press, and something happens. Some toys only work while the switch is held down, which the product pages call a momentary programme.
- Plan to buy the switch separately. The pages for toys such as the Bubble Machine, Mega Infinity Tunnel and Train Set say the switch is not included.
- Check the plug size. Switches usually have a large 6.3mm (1/4 inch) or a small 3.5mm (1/8 inch) jack plug, and many of our switch adapted toys accept a 1/4 inch plug. The Jack Adaptor lets a switch with a small plug fit a toy with a large socket.
- Check the batteries. Some toys come with batteries and some do not. Each pick below says what its product page tells us, including when a page gives no battery details.
Choosing a switch
The right switch depends on how the child moves. If they already use one at school, ask which and match it at home.
- Slimline Switch: 10mm high overall, with a large coloured plate that needs very little pressure. Red, yellow, green or blue. One of our best sellers last Christmas.
- Block Switch: an easy-to-press switch in red, yellow, green or blue, and popular last Christmas.
- Vibe Lite Switch: rewards each press or touch with light and vibration, and also acts as a switch for any switch adapted toy or device. It has momentary, latched and timed modes (5 to 120 seconds) and includes its 2 x AA batteries. Size: 115mm across, 30mm high.
- Big Mack Switch: records up to 20 seconds and plays it back when pressed, so a child can say hello or join in with a Christmas song. It can also activate equipment through a switch system; the 9V battery is included.
- Little Mack Switch: a 110mm recordable switch for one-touch playback, which can also connect to a toy or battery-operated appliance. Batteries included.
The Slimline, Block Switch, Big Mack and Little Mack pages do not give a plug size, so if you need to match a switch to a toy you already own, call us on 01535 662812 first. See all our switches and controllers.
Popular switch adapted toys from last Christmas
All of these were popular last Christmas, and the first four were among our best sellers. Plug, battery and switch details come from each product page.
- LED Magic Power Globe, switch adapted: press the switch to bring a globe of spinning, multi-coloured LED patterns to life. It accepts a 1/4 inch jack plug and the 4 x AA batteries are included.
- Switch Adapted Animal Massager Bug: a hand-held vibrating massager that turns on with the child’s switch, as a ladybird, frog or bee. The 2 x AA batteries are included; the switch is not.
- Bubble Machine, switch adapted: fill the reservoir with your chosen bubble liquid, then press the switch to fill the room with bubbles. It accepts a 1/4 inch jack plug; switch not included. Its page gives no battery details.
- Mega Infinity Tunnel, switch adapted: look into the tunnel (210mm across) to see red, blue and green lights that seem to stretch back for ever. It needs 3 x AA batteries; switch not supplied.
- Sebastian the Dancing Crab: hold the switch down and the crab scuttles off with music, movement and light, steering itself around obstacles. It connects with a 1/4 inch jack plug; switch not included. Its page gives no battery details.
- Train Set, switch adapted: set the lever to reverse, stop, forward or fast forward, then press the switch to send the train round a 2.2m track with a bridge and refuelling shed. It takes a 1/4 inch jack plug. The 6 x AAA batteries are included; the switch is not. Good for taking turns with brothers and sisters.
There are more animals, vehicles and lamps in our full range of switch adapted toys.
Gifts for children with sight loss
Every child’s vision is different. A child with some useful vision may notice strong light and colour, things that glow under UV light and bold black and white patterns. For a child who is blind, toys that ring, jingle or vibrate with every movement may suit better: see the gifts with sound, vibration and touch below. Ask the child’s qualified teacher of vision impairment (QTVI) what the child notices most.
- Fluorescent Mirror Chimeabout: six arms of fluorescent strips and chime bells on a wooden stand with mirrors, so every turn brings colour, reflections and a ring of bells. It is 240mm tall, really comes to life under UV light and is marked age 3+. Always play with an adult, as it has small parts. One of our best sellers last Christmas.
- UV Blast Torch: a small, powerful UV torch with nine LEDs for an adult to hold, so UV-reactive toys glow in a darkened room. The 3 x AAA batteries are included. Never shine it towards anyone’s eyes.
- UV Touchable Bubbles: glowing bubbles that can be touched, caught and stacked under UV light. Age 3+.
- Double Feature Mirror: a mirror on one side and high contrast black and white graphics on the other, 355mm wide.
- Mega Flashing Spiky Noisy Ball: a 100mm ball with tactile rubber spikes. Bounce it and the LED lights flash; squeeze or bounce it for a squeak.
- Flashing Tambourine: shake it for a musical sound as it lights up. Colours may vary.
Find more in our UV products and light-up sensory toys.
Tip: introduce UV and light-up toys with the lights dimmed rather than off, and never shine a torch straight into anyone’s eyes.
Gifts with sound, vibration and touch
Toys that vibrate, crinkle, squeak or jingle can be enjoyed without needing to see them, and many respond to a very small movement.
- Vibrating Sensory Cushion: vibrates gently while pressure is on it and stops when the pressure comes off. It takes 2 x D batteries, comes in ten colours and was one of our best sellers last Christmas. There is also a switch adapted version that accepts a 1/4 inch jack plug (switch not included). Its page asks for adult supervision when children use it.
- Vibrating Animal / Bug Massager: three friendly animal characters, each a light, easy-to-hold massager with a gentle vibration. Use it under adult supervision; it is marked age 3+ and takes 2 x AA batteries.
- Hand Clappers: shake one and the bright hands clap cheerfully, for very little effort. 180mm long, age 3+.
- Rainbow Desk Bells: bright desktop bells, each with its own note, played with the beater provided. A good choice for children who find fine finger movements difficult.
- Puffer Ball: an air-filled 180mm ball covered in small tentacles, which make it easier to catch and grasp.
See more in our auditory sensory toys.
Cause and effect toys
Every action brings an instant result, which makes these toys easy to understand for children who can roll, squeeze or shake as well as press.
- Sensory Bumble Ball: its erratic movement and sound are hard to ignore. It takes 3 x AA batteries and is marked age 3+. One of our best sellers last Christmas.
- Bright Sparks Roll & Glow: a wide, robust clear tube with a ball inside. As the ball rolls back and forth, the light tiles inside it light up. It is 320mm tall, and it can take up to 20 working days to arrive, depending on supply and demand.
- Bright Sparks Shake & Shimmer: a clear tube with easy-to-grip handles at both ends. Shake it and the light tiles inside bounce, rattle and light up around a reflective rod. It can also take up to 20 working days.
- Animal Dynamo Torch: squeeze to make your own light, with no batteries needed. Animal characters vary.
- Talk Back Buttons: five coloured buttons that each record up to 10 seconds and play it back at every press. Record a grandparent’s voice, the dog barking or a line of a carol.
See all our cause and effect toys.
Sensory room gifts for home
A bedroom corner with soft lights, fibre optics or a bubble tube can bring some of the school sensory room home. The bigger items make a good joint present from the family. Check each page for power: some run on batteries and some need a mains socket.
- Interactive Bubble Tube with Button Switch, 1 metre: press a coloured button to turn the tube red, yellow, green, blue, orange, cyan or magenta, and the white button to stop and start the bubbles. The rechargeable Button Switch comes with its charger and also accepts any switch. Operates on 240v transformed to 12v.
- Interactive Infinity Tunnel: a tunnel of changing coloured LED lights that up to four children can control, each with their own switch. It comes with 4 Slimline switches and is made in the UK, so allow up to 20 days for it to be made.
- Fibre Optic Harness and Lightsource: a 2m spray of 150 acrylic fibres that change colour along their length, with the lightsource included, to drape over a lap or run through the fingers.
- Mini Fibre Optic LED Mushrooms: three fibre optic lamps in blue, red and green, 220mm high. Batteries included.
- Star Show Projector: hundreds of stars around the room, from a white LED or a colour-changing one. The 3 x AA batteries come in the box.
Browse all our sensory room equipment.
Practical tips before Christmas Day
- Match the plug to the socket. Check whether the child’s switch has a large or small jack plug before you wrap anything. If the switch has a small (3.5mm) plug and the toy a large (1/4 inch) socket, a Jack Adaptor, one of our best sellers last Christmas, tucked in with the present saves a disappointing moment.
- Fit and test the batteries. Not every toy includes them, and D batteries are easy to forget. Test each toy with the child’s own switch before wrapping it.
- Work out where the switch will go. A switch that slides away or sits out of reach will not get pressed. Decide whether it will sit on a table, a wheelchair tray or beside the head, and ask the child’s occupational therapist or physiotherapist about position and mounting.
- Try a switch at school first. If you are not sure which switch to buy, ask the class team to show you what the child uses and how they press it.
- Involve the teacher or therapist. They can suggest gifts that build on what the child enjoys in class, and pass ideas on to grandparents who want to help.
- Allow time for the big things. Made-to-order items take longer to arrive, and the Interactive Bubble Tube’s Button Switch is rechargeable and comes with its charger, so charge it before the day.
Questions parents ask
Do switch adapted toys come with a switch?
Usually not. Many of our switch adapted toy pages say the switch is not included, so plan on buying one unless the child already has a switch. One switch can be moved from toy to toy. A few products do include switches: the Interactive Infinity Tunnel comes with 4 Slimline switches, and the Interactive Bubble Tube comes with its Button Switch.
Will my child’s switch from school work with your toys?
Our product pages say to plug in “your favourite switch”, so the main thing to check is the plug. Many of our switch adapted toys take a 1/4 inch (6.3mm) plug, and the Jack Adaptor converts a small 3.5mm plug to fit. If you are unsure, call 01535 662812 or email info@exploreyoursenses.co.uk with details of the switch.
What can I buy for a child with PMLD?
Choose something that gives a clear response to a small action and reaches more than one sense: a vibrating cushion, a bubble machine on a switch, a lamp that changes colour, or a recordable switch with a familiar voice on it. Then think about where it will sit, so the child can reach it and see or feel it working.
How quickly will my order arrive?
Standard delivery is by Royal Mail and takes about 2 working days, and it is free on orders over £45 ex VAT. Next working day delivery costs £7.50 + VAT, and orders for it placed before 2pm, Monday to Friday, are sent the same day. Made-to-order items, such as the Interactive Infinity Tunnel, take longer, so order those first.
