Company Celebrated For Its Outstanding Therapeutic Play Products
Brooklyn, NY, July 9, 2019 – PunkinFutz, an innovative company that designs and produces original therapeutic play products for children with adaptive needs, has received the 2019 Creative Child Magazine Toy of the Year and Creative Play Awards. The company partners with occupational therapists, parents, designers and others to develop, test and market its products. All are manufactured in the United States by adults with disabilities in supportive workplaces.
“We are honored to be the recipient of these prestigious awards,” says company CEO and founder, Lisa Radcliffe. “It reinforces our commitment to create products that don’t exist yet, to help untap imagination, individuality and self-expression – what we know to be the superpower of each child.”
The company was recognized for its PunkinPlaySpace, a multi-purpose, therapeutic product that features a brightly colored target to encourage hand eye coordination, motor/muscle planning, turn-taking and counting skills on one side. The other is an open play field. Both sides can be used hanging on a wall or flat on the floor and offer endless activity options.
Nearly 20 percent of U.S. children have physical, developmental, sensory and/or emotional disabilities – affecting approximately one out of five or 8.2 million American children between the ages of 4 and 12.1 PunkinFutz is creating products specifically for this underserved population, because research shows creative play is a powerful development tool for children with disabilities.
“As the mother of two children with adaptive needs, I am inspired every day to make a positive difference for them and others,” says Radcliffe. “We employ a fully adaptive workforce and produce high quality products that fulfill multiple therapeutic goals. Each has universal design and can be used by children of all abilities – encouraging broader social interactions with friends or family.”
This is the 17th year of the Creative Child Magazine’s Awards program. It is unique in that all products submitted are reviewed by moms, educators and early education professionals. PunkinFutz is the recipient of seven prior Creative Child Magazine and two Tillywig Parent’s Favorite Product Awards.
The company has a partnership with School Specialty, the country’s largest special education distributor, to represent and sell its products in the education and special needs environment.
About PunkinFutz:
Launched in 2016, PunkinFutz uses universal design to create therapeutic play products for children with a broad range of physical, sensory, developmental and emotional needs. PunkinFutz products promote individual expression, creativity and imagination. All PunkinFutz original products are manufactured in the USA in supportive and adaptive workplaces using the highest quality materials and responsible sourcing. PunkinFutz has won eleven awards for its innovative products and is a member of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). Founder Lisa Radcliffe is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Council for Exceptional Children. All PunkinFutz products meet ASTM F963 standards.
1 National Profile of Children with Special Health Care Needs and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Key Findings from the 2009/10 NS‐CSHCN & 2011/12 NSCH, https://www.childhealthdata.org/
