Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children offer a variety of support services to young children with disabilities and their families, including providing essential equipment either as a grant or a loan. They help fund important research to help understand, prevent and treat birth defects that affect children and babies.

The charity loans free specialist toys and equipment to families with children from birth to 18 years old. Fun specialist toys can really make a difference to the life of a child with special needs. Tahe therapeutic effect of play can make a huge difference by bringing enjoyment and discovery into their lives whilst contributing to child development.

SOS has donated £500 to Newlife Charity to fund a Play Therapy Pod. The money has been used to fund toys and equipment for a new 0 to 18 months play therapy pod. The pod contains a variety of specialist toys covering visual, tactile, auditory and interactive play. The Play Therapy Pod is currently on loan to a family in the Bedford area.

Carrick Brown, Development Loans Service Manager for Newlife Charity wrote to us to say thank you for supporting the scheme:

“There are a variety of ways that children with Disabilities can benefit from a Play Therapy Pod, for example improving concentration and enthusiasm, distracting a child from a painful condition as well as stimulating their senses and encouraging use of language. Playing with toys is also extremely important for very young babies with disabilities as it can help to develop emotions and relationships and encourage them to become mobile.

“Thanks to your (SOS) support we are able to help children with disabilities grow in confidence and become more independent.

“The Play therapy pod service helps to bridge the gap for families who cannot get their statutory provision of sensory items for their child and are reluctant to purchase items that they haven’t tried beforehand.”

‘In our house the pod is known as the magic box as it has helped create magic memories we will treasure forever. Thank you so much we are eternally grateful to Newlife for the pod and everything it has made possible.’

Mrs M-J (Mum to Mathew, aged 4), Lancashire.

The Newlife Play Therapy Pod Service

Play Therapy Pods are divided up by age group and types of therapy and are available by completing the application form on the Newlife website or contacting the centre direct during office hours. https://www.newlifecharity.co.uk/docs11/about/nurse_services.shtml

 

Play Therapy Pods for 0 to 3-year-olds

• Birth and up to 18 months old
• 18 months and up to 3 years

Play Therapy Pods for children 3 years and over

• 3 years and up to 5 years old
• 5 years and up to 18 years

The Pods available are divided into groups for different kinds of stimulating play:

Visual Play Therapy Pod – Toys that encourage visual focus, co-ordination and stimulation.

Auditory Play Therapy Pod – Toys that make noise and encourage auditory stimulation

Interactive Play Therapy Pod – Toys that demonstrate ‘cause and effect’ for interactive play

Tactile Play Therapy Pod – Toys that stimulate tough and encourage associated motor functions

If you would like any advice on which toys and pod would be best for your child. Please speak with your occupational therapist or contact Newlife for advice from one of their Nurses.

For more information about the scheme, download the information booklet from the Nelife website:

https://www.newlifecharity.co.uk/docs11/about/nurse_services.shtml