NEW PAPER ARTICLE 2 NOVEMBER 2007

Article that appeared in the New Paper on 2 November 2007:

"I WANT TOYS I CAN PLAY WITH"

HE won a bag of building sets, board games and soft toys at the Children's Day fair at his school. But Jonathan Ho can only stare at them.

The 10-year-old was born with cerebral palsy, a condition in which the brain has little control over the body's movements. His hands and legs move involuntarily. He can't hold on to things long enough to play with them.

Caregivers of special needs children say that toys designed specially for them are not easily available in Singapore. As a result, the caregivers often have to customise the toys themselves, or buy them overseas, at high prices.

Jonathan's mother, Mrs Serene Ho, 41, a housewife, said it's a struggle to find suitable toys for her son. She has to exclude those that have sharp edges or small parts. Toys that are easily breakable or too heavy are also out.

'Toys (available) in Singapore are for normal children... nobody thinks, 'What if a child can't use his hands?' Mrs Ho said.

But is the market here too small for such toys?

At least one toy shop thinks so.

Ms Joyce Tem, 35, a sales executive at Nikko Toys, which sells toy cars, said two to three walk-in customers a month ask for toys for special needs children. So the shop recommends model construction sets.

Mr Simon Goh, 30, sales manager of Nikko Toys, said toys for special needs children are more easily available in the US, for example, because even 1 per cent of its market 'means a considerable number of customers'.

Ms Zunaidah Shahul Hamid, 43, principal of the Spastic Children's Association School, said that it often buys toys from shops such as Toys R Us and other educational toy suppliers.

SUITABLE TOYS

They choose toys that help in the development of the children's cognitive and language skills. Teachers help children who need supervision during play.
This group makes up about 40 per cent of the children in the school. The others need only minimal or no supervision, she added.

Mrs Ho said she is often too tied up with domestic chores to supervise Jonathan when he is playing at home.

Once, while playing with a toy computer, he knocked against it and bruised his head.

'Jonathan likes cause-and-effect toys,' Mrs Ho said, 'the kind where you press a button and the toy blinks and makes some sound. When he can't press the buttons, he bangs on them instead. This breaks the toy and he gets irritated.'

It's a situation Mrs Sarah Tan, 44, also encounters with her 10-year-old daughter, Faith.

While Faith's condition isn't as severe as Jonathan's, she still finds it hard to play with her toys.
Mrs Tan said: 'Even if we surround her with many toys, she will sit there not knowing what to do. We always need to guide her.

'She likes musical toys, but we usually need to press the button for her. She just listens to the music. It is hard for her to interact with the toy.'

Mrs Ho said she had gone online to search for suitable toys, such as bicycles, tricycles, therapy rolls and exercise balls.

However, she said: 'The price is in US dollars and with the shipping cost, it's too costly for us to even think about them. Just the insert for Jonathan's push-chair costs $700.'
For now, Mrs Ho simply 'customises' toys for Jonathan.

'I used soft foam and fabric to cover the toys, especially the edges, before letting Jonathan play with them,' she said.

Megha Gupta, newsroom intern

JUST A QUOTE

"I CHOOSE TO BE CHEERFUL"

MELEKA

Luxury Tours is promoting this tour. Checked out D-Paradise on the web and find it to be a very nice place to go. Back to the aboriginals....maybe next time when Jonathan is older and able to handle longer road trips.

EYES

He was put on the swing during OT. Therapist wanted him to lift his head more often and to try hold things with his hands. After a while he rested his head on the wedge pillow and I just couldn't resist taking this picture.

Took this using my handphone....Look at his eyes....so adorable.

STANDING

Jon has found the joy of standing again. Back from school 2 days ago, I decided that he should walk to the mat in the smaller hall.

Brought him down from the buggy, made him stand and he took small steps.

He totally enjoyed it and was smiling. Then he stopped. Looked up and I realised he was looking for daddy.

Called H and I could feel Jon's joy when daddy praised him for doing a good job. Happily took a few more steps and buckled his knees.

Asked him if he enjoyed walking, he said yes. So I promised him a standing session later in the afternoon.

We did it. I strapped his right leg cos I wanted it to be straightened and we stood (me holding him from the back) for about 10 minutes.

Best picture I could take with one hand while holding on to him

When asked what was his wish...he told his classmate I want to walk and speak words....I'd like that... :)

SUPER KICK

Our supermarkets have really narrow aisles. Sometimes, they stack so many items along the aisles that it's really hard to walk. Well...this incident confirms that.

I don't know if I mentioned this before...it happened 2 months back...

We were leaving the supermarket. So we had to pass through the vege section. A middle-aged lady was squatting looking at some vegies. We walked towards her direction where the exit door was.

Sometimes Jon gives an involuntary kick and I was trying to avoid some crates on the right so that Jon wouldn't hurt his legs. So I veered towards the left, not noticing the lady.

The next thing I knew, Jon gave one of his super kicks and she shouted "Wa Peh Oi!!" In teochew it means "Oh My Father! haha! Well...I mean "Oh My God!"

She turned around real angry, rubbing her back shoulder. I apologised profusely, telling her Jon didn't mean it. At the same time we were slowly easing our way out to avoid being scolded at...haha.

I was laughing by the time we were out the door. Laughing not because Jon kicked her but at her expression.

That "wah peh oi" used to be my dad's phrase whenever he wants to give an exclamation. It brought back funny memories of my dad.

The best part? Jon was totally ignorant that he ever kicked that lady. He was happily listening to his tape near his ear. That's my boy! Praise the Lord!

MOM

I've been busy. Haven't blogged for a while.

Mom came over for lunch with K. She looked good. Although sometimes she can't recall names and locations but our conversation was simple and short. She did something that reminded me about a woman in the bible.

From her small purse she took out some money. Said to me "it was last minute that we decide to come here. I didn't prepare any money but I have some money for Jonathan". I refused to take it....She's already given us so much not necessary monetary.

Then i took her purse and open it.....it was empty.

She was giving all she had for Jonathan that day. Just like the woman in bible who gave her last coins (Luke 21: 1-4). I was touched. After they left that afternoon, my heart was glowing with renewed affections for her.

Mum has always been the generous one in the family. During Chinese New Year, whenever she receives an ang pao for $100 from one of us, she will top up another $20 and give $120 in return. She never hesitates to help whenever help is needed. My sibblings and I have been blessed by her actions.

So it is with Mum. She doesn't think twice about giving. We have all witnessed her relentless efforts in taking care of Dad when he was ill. My dad could not go on without her. If she went out, he would be calling her on the mobile phone asking her when she will be back! so much so that Mum decided that mobile phones are not for her...haha!

I suppose her generous nature has rubbed off on all of us....heh heh. We have kind of adopted her style, although I must say I'm still working on it. lol !!

Mum is more than 70 years old now. I thank God for giving her good health, excellent memory and abudance of blessings as she has been a blessing to many.