It was a gorgeous day, and the kids were bored. School’s out, and our family vacation wouldn’t be for another week. “Can we go to the park, Mom?” they whined.
We found a shady spot with lots of trees, spread out a blanket and ate sandwiches. Then we opened up a package of Kever Flying Discs that I bought several days ago. And that’s when the fun began. These discs are so entertaining, we played with them for hours. All the kids loved them, but especially Kyle, who typically refuses to join in with throwing and catching activities. His lack of upper body strength and coordination makes those kinds of games difficult.
I’m not one who typically plugs products, but these discs are soft, flexible and easy to grasp. With a slight Frisbee-throwing motion, they glide easily through the air and almost seem to hover. That makes them easy to catch as well as throw. It’s nearly impossible to get injured by one. Children with gross motor difficulties could work to increase flexibility and upper body motor control using the discs. Hand-eye coordination could be improved as well, and the discs glow in the dark.
We purchased a package of these flying discs at Costco, and the size differences are also appealing. A slightly unique stance and arm swing is required to throw each size, creating a wide variety of muscle groups being used in the play. Kever also has a “monster disc” (bigger than these pictured) that’s as big as a hoola-hoop, requiring two hands and whole-body action to throw. The sizes and colors of the discs could be used to enhance visual acuity, teach color differences and big, bigger, biggest, etc.
My son Kyle and I spent some time throwing and catching the discs, gradually increasing the distance between us. We started with the largest disc and worked our way to the smallest. A wide grin spread across his face each time the hovering disc approached him. I think these discs and other products by Kever would create excellent outdoor activities for children with special needs.
You can find the Kever Flying Discs at this Sportcraft Website. We found ours at Costco for just over twelve dollars (for the entire set). Most sporting good stores will carry them. You can find them at Fred Meyer, Toys R Us, and Walgreens. Kever also makes “monster magic mits” which are large velcro disks that fit on your hands, and a velcro ball, making it very easy (and fun) to play catch. A child with difficulty grasping and catching might find this product especially enjoyable.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here.