Play

Discover fun and creative ideas to encourage play time with toys, light play, music, multi-sensory activities and tactile art. Also find seasonal holiday crafts!

Filter by: Cooking and Kitchen Play, Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Light Play, Music Play, Sensory Activities, Tactile Arts and Crafts, Toys

Whimsical illustration of a gentle bridge made of flowing lines, musical notes, and Braille dots, connecting two sides. The image suggests music and Braille coming together as a pathway for learning and inclusion.

Braille and Literacy, Music Play, Special Needs, Visual Impairment

Braille needs allies. Music can be one of them.

An inspiring look at how music can support Braille literacy, creativity, and inclusion for blind children.

A softly textured illustration of a child with closed eyes and a peaceful smile, as colorful swirling shapes represent imagination flowing around them. Floating in the swirls are simple images—a butterfly, star, tree, heart, music note, seashell, and flower—symbolizing creativity, emotion, and sensory experiences. The overall palette is warm and gentle, with pastels and soft gradients creating a dreamy, uplifting mood.

Tactile Arts and Crafts, Visual Impairment

What Does Art Feel Like? A Guide to Tactile Creativity for Blind Children

Discover how blind children explore art through touch. Learn practical ways to support tactile creativity, build early Braille literacy, and nurture imagination with hands-on projects, textures, and accessible art experiences.

A partially decorated pumpkin wrapped with yellow yarn and a few colorful buttons sits on a wooden table beside a divided container filled with yarn, buttons, and fabric squares, in warm natural light.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas

Sensory Pumpkin Decorating for Kids Who Are Blind

Create a sensory pumpkin with yarn, buttons, and fabric! A fun, non-carving fall craft for blind kids that builds tactile and fine motor skills.

Five Thanksgiving crafts displayed together — a gourd turkey, scented wreath, playdough, textured collage, and gratitude jar.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas

5 Accessible Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Celebrate Thanksgiving with five accessible, sensory-rich crafts for kids who are blind or visually impaired.

An abstract, softly glowing stage under warm lights, with musical notes, stars, and colorful ribbons swirling in the air.

Education, Music Play, Special Needs

Creating Inclusive School Festivals: When Every Child Shines

Learn how to create inclusive school performances that celebrate every child’s abilities through music, movement, and imagination.

Abstract illustration of a heartbeat line flowing into a large red heart, which transforms into a musical staff with colorful notes, symbolizing healing and the power of music.

Music Play

Finding Refuge in Music: A Caregiver’s Guide to Healing Through Sound

Discover how music can support healing and resilience for caregivers and children with special needs.

braille blocks, puzzles and buttons

Braille and Literacy, Toys, Visual Impairment

24 Braille Toys for Kids Who are Blind

Everything from alphabet blocks to raised line coloring pages and activity books to puzzles to card and board games... and so much more! And it's all in braille ready for...

Girl writing a letter to Santa on christmas eve.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas

Should Parents Lie to Their Kids About Santa Claus?

Should parents lie about Santa? Find out how to balance trust, magic, and holiday traditions right here!

Two kids at the table eating a Thanksgiving meal with family.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Special Needs

5 Tips for a Peaceful Thanksgiving with Your Child with Disabilities

Thanksgiving can be a joyful yet overwhelming holiday, especially for families with children who have sensory, motor, or dietary needs.

Colorful paper shapes on a white background.

Tactile Arts and Crafts, Visual Impairment

Using Origami to Teach Blind and Low-Vision Students Basic Shapes

It's critical that children who are blind should be exposed to 2D as well as 3D shapes and concepts on a practical level and at a young age.

Two children playing in a sandpit with various sand toys

Sensory Activities

5 Sand Play Activities to Encourage Fine Motor Development

Sensory bin, at the beach, or in a sandpit? Try these sand play activities to help toddlers and preschoolers develop their fine motor skills.

DIY Cat Pencil Holder Craft

Tactile Arts and Crafts

Cat Pencil Holder Craft

Get organized for back-to-school with this adorable Cat Pencil Holder Craft. All you need is an empty can and some basic craft supplies.

Bouncy pencil topper craft

Tactile Arts and Crafts

Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft

Pencil toppers make writing more fun. This Bouncy Pencil Topper Craft is perfect for students needing extra tactile input.

Barbie® Introduces the First Blind Barbie Fashionista Doll

Toys, Visual Impairment

Barbie® Introduces the First Blind Barbie Fashionista Doll

Mattel, in partnership with AFB, announced the addition of a blind Barbie doll with white cane and sunglasses.

Mother Making Cookies with her Toddler

Sensory Activities

5 Edible Sensory Play Ideas

Check out our favorite edible sensory play activities to engage children's senses, boost their development, and provide hours of fun.