The Playskool Magic Screen Portable Learning Companion is an educational toy designed for young children. This interactive device aims to provide a fun and engaging learning experience for kids while promoting their cognitive development. The main idea of this toy is to offer a portable and convenient way for children to learn and play. The Magic Screen features a colorful and easy-to-use touchscreen interface that allows children to interact with various educational games and activities. These activities cover a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, language skills, problem-solving, and creativity. The main idea of the Magic Screen is to provide an interactive and hands-on learning experience for children.
Children with cerebral palsy are no different from other children in this regard. Although a child’s abilities may be limited, stimulus and encouragement through play can help children with CP learn and grow, become more confident, and overcome individual difficulties.
Adaptive toys and equipment can also help children with cerebral palsy develop their motor skills and coordination and improve their independence and self-esteem by allowing them to enjoy the same types of play and activities as their peers. These corresponding keys and locks give children hands-on practice with number recognition, matching and counting from 1 to 20 while building motor skills.
The main idea of the Magic Screen is to provide an interactive and hands-on learning experience for children. One of the key features of the Magic Screen is its portability. It is designed to be lightweight and compact, making it easy for kids to carry around and use wherever they go.
Kid-tested, Parent-approved Toys for Kids of All Abilities
When you have a child with special needs, it’s not always easy to find toys and activities that are engaging, accessible and age-appropriate. We’re excited to share these toys and activities that were reviewed by experts in San Diego’s special needs community—local parents (with children of varying ages) and therapists (physical, ABA, occupational and speech therapists). We brought these people together to do the work for you and share their recommendations.
Whether you’re shopping for your own family or have a friend or relative with special needs, you’ll find products that encourage problem-solving, fine motor skills, stress relief, sensory engagement, creativity and more.
Playskool Little Wonders Pop-A-Tune
$39.99; Target.com
This colorful piano entertains with its exciting popping action. Press a key and watch a ball pop up like magic. Experience the joy of making music while learning color recognition and cause and effect. The more you press the keys, the more the colorful balls pop up and bounce. “Our favorite toy! Everyone loved this!”
Create & Play Magnetic Monsters
$29.99; LakeshoreLearning.com
Children will love creating one-of-a-kind monsters as they mix & match magnetic heads, arms, torsos and more—in endless combinations. Plus, since all 20 parts turn a full 360 degrees, the monsters are a cinch to pose. “Super easy to connect the pieces, kids can create their own monsters.”
Pull ‘N Pops
$5.99; BlueOrangeGames.com
Series of sensory keychain toys for fidgeters of all ages. “Great for fine motor skills.”
Magformers Spin Plus Set
$19.99; Magformers.com
Fidget spinners increase concentration, focus and active listening and provide a calming technique that helps release stress and anxiety. Build your own fidget spinner, engaging motor skills and encouraging problem-solving abilities. Fidget spinner toys allow children with special needs to direct and channel energy, build working memory and improve tactile awareness. “Create your own fidget toy, great for imaginary play.”
Glo Friends Wigglebug
$39.99; PlayMonster.com
Kids can work to understand their emotions and energy levels with this huggable friend. With Wigglebug’s motion-sensing technology, it will respond to how kids play with it.
Snuggleluvs
$50; WildRepublic.com
Snuggleluvs are specifically designed to provide comfort and ease anxiety. With their added weight, extra softness and optimal cuddling size, Snuggleluvs are a stress-relieving companion for all ages. “Super soft plush that can sit up and a great weight and size for kids to hold and cuddle.”
VTech Turn & Learn Ferris Wheel
$15.99; VTechKids.com
Explore animals, numbers and objects while listening to playful sounds and four sing-along songs. When kids press the friendly yellow lion, black and white zebra and blue elephant buttons they’ll hear the animals introduce themselves, numbers and objects using their own unique voices. “Engaging sounds, great for eye tracking.”
Pop Fidget Ball Popper
$7.99; Amazon.com
The fidget poppers pack can enhance your kid’s perception, expand their perception range and provide a solid foundation for intellectual development. Figit toys can meet the curiosity of children while developing children’s intelligence, exercise children’s logical thinking and hands-on ability. “Soft, squishy, lights up.”
How Are You Feeling? Shaped Ring Flash Cards
$13; Mudpuppy.com
Introduce emotions to children in an engaging and interactive way. These flash cards are a great tool to teach emotional literacy, self-awareness and empathy. “Well made, double-sided flash cards with 10 emotions.”
DoodleJamz JellyBoards
$9.99; Amazon.com
Filled with two separate layers of colored, non-toxic gel that is vacuum-sealed so drawings stay in place. Draw with fingers or with the stylus to blend the colors together and create one-of-a-kind artistic creations. The squishy nature of JellyBoards create an amazing sensory touch experience, similar to finger-painting but without the mess. Now you can fidget and create art at the same time. “Portable, easy to draw on, great for creativity.”
Candy Bouncy Balls
$5; Kess.co
Each 4-inch ball comes with two bright colors and delicious candy flavored scents. “Nice size, texture and we love the scent.”
LeapFrog 100 Things That Go
$19.99; LeapFrog.com
Hear 100+ words about modes of transportation from dog sleds and dump trucks to skates and school buses. Six double-sided, touch-sensitive pages feature vocabulary in English and Spanish. Simply flip the language switch to hear words, phrases and descriptions in either language.
NeeDoh Dohnuts
$7; Amazon.com
An assortment of three neon-colored donuts with nine different frosting styles, all with that classic NeeDoh squish. Easily pop and swap these delectable donut decorations and make your own groovy masterpiece. “We love that each donut has multiple textures.”
NeeDoh Gummy Bear
$11.90; Amazon.com
Just pull, squeeze or smush this tactile treat and the sweet squish will soothe your soul. Wacky style eyes and a cute bowtie make these giant gummies come to life. A fidget toy that satisfies and soothes; NeeDoh is appropriate for anxious tendencies and helps promote focus, attention and centering. “Fun products for stress relief.”
LeapFrog Tappin’ Colors 2-in-1 Xylophone
$24.99; LeapFrog.com
Bring learning to musical exploration with four interactive ways to play. Help kids build confidence as they follow the lights to learn how to play eight well-known tunes. Hear first words about numbers and colors, or play notes to hear xylophone, glockenspiel and strings sounds. “Lights up, great for fine motor skills.”
Playfoam Naturals Shape & Learn Letters & Numbers
$16.99; EducationalInsights.com
This all-natural, non-toxic creativity set offers fun you can feel, rooted in nature for a totally tactile experience that’s both stimulating and sustainable. Simply squeeze and squish the Playfoam Naturals to match the letters, numbers and shapes shown on the reusable nature-themed practice cards or squash Playfoam Naturals into your own custom creations, building fine motor skills and creativity as you play. Never dries out, reducing waste and ensuring that the play and learning never ends. “Tactile, keeps its shape once formed, doesn’t dries out.”
Bababoo and Friends Whale Wilma Stacking Toy
$32.99; BababooAndFriends.com
The plug and stack game offers a multitude of educational advantages. Stacking involves solving a puzzle and assigning colors and shapes. Initial knowledge about the ocean is also imparted. The darker the blue of the water, the deeper the sea. “Grooves and bendable pole make it easier to stack.”
Magnatab Free Draw
$19.99; Amazon.com
Using the magnetic stylus, children pull the beads up to the surface to draw pictures, letters, numbers and shapes. The beads are magically “erased” when pushed down by the tip of a finger or the swipe of the side of the stylus. The tablet features easy storage for the magnetic stylus, which clicks securely into place. Great for use at home or in the classroom. “Great for on the go, fun to create art and write.”
Magformers Jungle Play Set
$25.99; Magformers.com
Click! Connect! Create! Prepare for your jungle adventure by building vehicles. “Everything easily clicks together and the wheels are an added bonus.”
VTech Smart Chart Medical Kit
$27.99; VTechKids.com
Kids can care for their family, friends, dolls and stuffed animals with this portable kit. Dress up like a doctor and grab your interactive healthcare tablet. Explore medical instruments, the human body and common ailments using the touch points on the tablet. Walk through multiple patient scenarios and find the right tools to check your patient’s symptoms, then see how to help them feel better. “Nice way to prepare kids for appointments and become familiar with items used at the doctor.”
MathLink Cubes Kindergarten Math Activity Set: Dino Time!
$21.99; LearningResources.com
Helps kids build counting, sorting and other essential kindergarten math skills through fun dino-themed games and activities. Kids can also explore their imaginations through hands-on, open-ended play. “Good for learning, easy to manipulate.”
Express My Feelings Journal
$12.99; Hand2Mind.com
Encourages children to engage with their feelings and make a personal connection with how they feel. This child-friendly journal introduces 20 common feelings that range from comfortable to uncomfortable and cover everything in-between. Children use this journal to learn to identify their feelings, select from three actions they might take when feeling this way and reflect on what makes them feel the way they do. “Great for an older child to express their emotions and thoughts.”
Unlock It! Number Match
$39.99; LakeshoreLearning.com
These corresponding keys and locks give children hands-on practice with number recognition, matching and counting from 1 to 20—while building motor skills. Children simply match the number on a key to the number word or stars on a lock. If the numbers match, the key will turn—and the lock will open for instant reinforcement. “Fine motor skills and sorting.”
Zoo Fishin’ Fox
$9; Skiphop.com
Complete with three different size floating fish and a weighted hook for easier fishing, this cute fox fishing pole even makes a “reel” cranking sound for an extra splash of bathtime fun.
Little Big Playroom Ball Pit
$250; LittleBigPlayroom.com
Create hours of fun and entertainment providing a safe and highly effective space for children to develop motor and sensory skills based on science. Fits up to 3 kids. “Sturdy sensory toy, great size.”
To see parent and therapist-approved everyday products for individuals with special needs, visit specialneedsresourcefoundationofsandiego.com/useful-products
WHERE WE SHOP
Known for their teacher and related services discounts, we guarantee you that many of the toys in your OT, PT, or SLP’s stash come from Lakeshore. They carry a fantastic collection of music toys and often have discounted packs of 5 or 12 for classroom settings. Before the rest of the world caught on to the importance of diverse colors of dolls and STEAM teaching products, Lakeshore had a wide variety of culturally significant toys and science projects. Large print books, toys that help teach about money handling, social skills toys, book-related teaching aids and large-quantity, high-quality craft supplies are in abundance. Our favorite section is near the register, where they typically have a variety of fidgets, stocking stuffers and THE best selection of pencil grips for supporting handwriting skills. Located in Hazard Center Shopping Center in Mission Valley or online.
Hand2Mind
www.Hand2Mind.com
This online resource features really great alternatives for teaching hard-to grasp ideas like fractions and storyline intent. They also carry a variety of sensory products and social emotional skills builders. Perhaps our favorite section is the one devoted to a multi-sensory approach to literacy. Parent resources teach parents how to use their toys to teach tough subjects like math in a fun, effective and often tactile way. The company is available online to tackle an individualized approach to learning and is therefore well suited to supporting home learners.
LakiKid
www.LakiKid.com
This online store is one-stop-shop for sensory needs. If your child struggles to stay seated and maintain attention, if they have trouble regulating their emotions, or if they crave sensory stimuli, there is a product on this website for them. More than a toy store, they specialize in seating, sleeping and calming solutions to some of our biggest home challenges as well as fun and empowering awareness gear to support diversity and inclusion.
Lottie
www.Lottie.com
At first glance, the Lottie dolls seem like your average make believe play dolls, and this is why they are important. The diversity displayed by the dolls is subtle and just what we need right now. All the dolls are inspired by real kids. The full Finn doll playset is our favorite, as Finn loves astronauts and has Autism. He communicates with a PECS-style system of cards, has glasses that help him with glare, has noise canceling headphones that help with loud sounds and is the proud owner of a therapy dog. His friend Rosie Boo has Down Syndrome which is hinted at by her odd socks (a movement within the Down Syndrome community) and ankle supports for walking. Mia is a Black photographer for the school newspaper with a cochlear implant. Lottie dolls are made to the exact proportions of the children they represent, so you won’t find body image issues here.
Nee Doh
www.Schylling.com
If you really want to understand the popularity of this sensory toy brand, we suggest you head to TikTok and watch the thousands of videos posted by neurodiverse fidget enthusiasts. Most will talk about the benefits of their beautiful, fun, hand-sized, sensory squeezie balls and noodles, but we also love their volleyball-sized, neon fabric balls which are perfect for hugging and can be used on a long flight as an airline pillow. We discovered, quite by accident, that they glow under black light in our school sensory room, which only added to our enjoyment. Nobody gets kneading like Nee Doh.
Crazy Aaron’s
www.CrazyAarons.com
We love this king of the sensory putty industry for its variety and beauty, but the website also offers a unique array of science experiments and crafts based on their product. Our fascination began with the space putties and then blossomed with the magnetic putties, with which we could easily lose an hour hypnotized by the putty reacting to magnets and moving on its own. The addition of scents opened up a whole new world, and if you ever owned scented markers as a kid, you will truly understand the draw of this product. Made in the USA and created by a certified science geek, this is one of THE best stocking stuffers on the market.
Miniland
www.MinilandGroup.com
Inspired by Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, this toy group takes a multi-sensory approach to play and learning. We love the organization of this website, as parents can search by age and child’s play needs. Our favorite toys include a realistic baby doll with Down Syndrome, providing feelings of positive identity and creating a diverse playroom, a mirror with tabs to name feelings, the translucent Conexion toy that teaches spatial awareness, dimension and surface area in a visual and tangible way, and their wide array of sensory and emotional intelligence tools and toys.
PAST FAVORITES AND CLASSIC TOYS
(Photo: Radio Shack)
This portability makes it a great companion for long car rides, trips, or even just for use at home. The main idea of this portability is to ensure that children can have access to educational content anytime and anywhere. The Magic Screen also offers different levels of difficulty, allowing it to adapt to the child's age and learning abilities. This feature ensures that children can progress at their own pace and be challenged as they develop their skills. The main idea is to provide customized learning experiences that cater to the individual needs of each child. Furthermore, the Magic Screen is designed to be durable and resistant to rough handling, ensuring that it can withstand the rigorous play of young children. It is also designed with child-friendly features, such as large buttons and intuitive controls, to make it easy for children to navigate and use the device on their own. The main idea of this design is to ensure that children can independently explore and engage with the educational content. In conclusion, the Playskool Magic Screen Portable Learning Companion is an interactive and portable educational toy that aims to provide a fun and engaging learning experience for children. Its main idea is to offer a convenient and customizable learning companion that promotes cognitive development and independent play..
Reviews for "Boosting Cognitive Skills with the Playskool Magic Screen Portable Learning Companion"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Playskool magic screen portable learning companion. The screen was so small and unclear, making it difficult for my child to see anything clearly. Additionally, the sound quality was very poor, making it hard to understand the words and instructions. Overall, I don't think it provides a good learning experience for children.
2. John - 1 star - I regret purchasing the Playskool magic screen portable learning companion. The screen was not responsive to touch, which frustrated my child and made it difficult for them to interact with the games and activities. The battery life was also disappointing; it seemed to run out of power quickly, requiring frequent recharging. I would not recommend this product.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Playskool magic screen portable learning companion, but it fell short of my expectations. The games and activities were not engaging enough to hold my child's interest for more than a few minutes. The device also froze frequently, requiring a restart, which was frustrating for both me and my child. I was hoping for a more reliable and stimulating learning tool.
4. Mark - 1 star - The Playskool magic screen portable learning companion was a waste of money. The device was not durable at all; it broke within a few weeks of use. The educational content was also lacking, with limited options and repetitive activities. I expected more from Playskool, and I would not recommend this product to other parents.
5. Jessica - 2 stars - I found the Playskool magic screen portable learning companion to be quite outdated. The graphics and interface felt old-fashioned compared to other educational toys on the market. Additionally, the device did not have many options for customization or personalization, making it less engaging for my child. I think there are better learning companions available.