Teachers, parents and professionals working with children are constantly presented with a huge range of impressive resources from all types of outlets. There are catalogues, websites, flyers, pamphlets, sales presentations, displays and expos full of products desperately competing for their share of our budgets. This level of choice is even more pronounced when deciding between tools you can use with children with special needs.
There are also the things we see on outings and shopping trips during our personal time – visit a discount variety store and you’re likely to find a teacher contemplating whether they should grab something for the prize box, if their arms or basket aren’t already full.
These kind of resources can be expensive and most school, clinic or household budgets are carefully managed. Teachers and other professionals often find themselves spending their own money on resources they believe will be valuable for their classroom or clinic environment. If you aren’t careful, you can spend a fortune on things you don’t actually need, or won’t actually use, based on the premise that you’ll 'get it all back at tax time'. Parents too can struggle with knowing which resource to invest in.
So how do you decide which purchases are worth making? Here’s a quick list of questions to support your decision-making.
- Will you use the resource right away? Is it something you can use tomorrow or will it be stashed away in storage for a rainy day?
- Will you use it regularly? Is it a one-off or can you use it again and again? How much use will you get out of it?
- Where will you keep it? Do you have room for it?
- Will the child or children appreciate it? If they will be the primary users, will they value its presence and availability?
- How long will it last? Will it survive heavy-duty use by kids? Can you use it for years to come?
- Can its use be adapted to suit various purposes? What level of flexibility do you have in its use?
- Will using it help you support the child/children and their needs?
- Do you know how to use it? Will you use it how you are told or will you invent your own methods?
- Is it fun? Is it engaging?
- Are there any ways to measure its success? The child/children are very likely to let you know!