Bobby Parry playing with an educational toy

"Bobby seemed just like any other kid until he was about two," remembers his father, Bob Parry. "Then he started hitting and biting at school, and he stopped talking and listening. I can remember one day he just looked at me kind of strangely, like, ‘Who are you?’

"Soon after that, my mom showed me an article about a child with autism, and I thought, ‘That’s my kid.’ After having him tested at Texas Children’s Hospital, my wife and I confirmed that Bobby is autistic."

Autism is a neurologic disorder characterized by repetitive behavior, difficulty with language and an impaired ability to interact socially. Because children who have autism don’t learn like others, their education must be more enticing.

Lisa Burns, director of the Lekotek Program at UCP of Greater Houston, Inc. explains, "Lekotek is partly a toy-lending library where we lend developmentally appropriate toys to children with special needs to help them develop skills. A Lekotek leader – a trained play facilitator – specializes in providing skill-building play experiences involving everyone in the family. The toys aren’t easy to find, and they’re expensive. Besides, what parent wants to spend $125 on a toy their child may or may not like?"

Bobby’s mother, Rita Parry, says, "We found out about the Lekotek Program through a Houston Independent School District seminar. Now we come once a month to try different toys. When we find one he likes, we take it home for a little while. One toy taught him about colors. When he had all the colors matched up, the center of the toy lit up and made noise."

Mr. Parry adds, "Bobby has a computer game that helped him with numbers and letters. He can’t say them, but now he likes the weather channel because he can point to the L and the H and the numbers."

In addition to learning colors, numbers and letters, the toys also help children develop social skills. Ms. Burns explains, "The toys help the kids learn how to share with their siblings and how to communicate with their parents. You can see parents and children bonding when they play together. For these kids, learning is playing."

"Bobby knows what’s going on," says Mr. Parry. "He’s able to bring pictures to show us what he wants to eat and what he wants to do. The Lekotek Program has really helped."

Ms. Burns agrees and says, "Children of any kind learn through play. If they’re not playing, they’re not growing."

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