Toys With a Purpose Again Partners with 4-H Teen Conference

Each year, the University of Kentucky hosts the 4-H Teen Conference, and for the past four years, Dr. Patrick Kitzman and Toys With a Purpose have provided a learning experience on adapting toys. 

On Thursday, June 4, in CTW 403, they were able to once again provide this service. It's a cross-college collaboration, as Kentucky 4-H Youth Development is part of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and Kitzman's group is housed within the UK College of Health Sciences. 

Through the 4-H Teen Conference in Lexington and a pilot program to expand these community-based experiences statewide, Kentucky 4-H youth have been contributing to Toys with a Purpose, an initiative to develop cost-friendly adaptations that make toys, books and games more accessible for children with disabilities.

“Play is essential for child development and toys are a crucial part of play. However, most toys are not usable by many students with different disabilities,” Kitzman, professor in the UK Department of Physical Therapy, said in a previous interview. “There are companies that do sell toys that have been adapted, but the prices are extremely high, which is a significant barrier to many families being able to provide these items for their children.”  

Photos courtesy of 4-H and Teen Conference