Most everyone understands how important play is to a toddler's development. It is their joy, their calling and their first job on this earth. Toys facilitate that play, whether they are the high-tech toys of today or the classic, beloved toys of yesteryear. When you have a special needs child, those toys become even more important, as they are the tools that promote development of skills needed to function in today's world.

Amanda Stevens, whose 5-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, understands how important toys are for her child's development. Asperger Syndrome is a high functioning form of Autism that does not affect her daughter's cognitive skills, but does affect her social skills. Steven's daughter is unable to socialize at the level of a non-Asperger child and does not understand interactive play, emotions or expressions.

"I think that toys are highly important for Emily in learning different developmental skills," says Stevens. "Emily has difficulty focusing during instruction and needs visual cues in a traditional classroom. She is typically a loner and would prefer to play on her own than play with someone else. The toys allow Emily to learn and develop without the pressure of instruction or without the need to involve others in the process."

Stevens believes that toys have helped Emily in many ways – from learning about emotions to understanding how to behave in social situations. She has become very selective about what toys she buys for her daughter.

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