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A Special Toy Chest
Camille Anding
It’s almost here—the big season for
toys. And Time 4 Toys business owner,
Bethany Mathis, is stocked and ready.
The store has toys and games for infants
to older children – but there’s a bonus.
There are special toys for children with
special needs.
Bethany and husband, Craig, didn’t
just “dream up” this idea. They understood
the need that their own son had.
They adopted Paxton when he was
three years old from an orphanage in
China and soon realized he had been
confined to a crib for most of those
three years.
That environment had deprived
him of learning basic skills, so his new
parents began exploring ways to help
him advance. Toys offered many
solutions – special toys like the ones
Bethany wanted to see other children
with special needs enjoy.
The store at 4804 Lakeland Drive in
Flowood, next to The Winning Smile,
specializes in a variety of toy selections
for children with autism and forms of
sensory processing disorder. Vibrating
cushions, bouncy bands, and fidget toys
are among the selections.
Children with Attention-Deficit/
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) deal with
a treatable, neurodevelopmental
disorder characterized by inattentive,
hyperactive and impulsive behavior.
Time 4 Toys carries a great line of toys
and accessories for ADHD children
that one might call “treatable fun.”
Even clothing such as compression
shirts, worn under a child’s shirt to help
reduce anxiety, are available.
Mathis validates her belief in her
specialty products by offering customers
an opportunity to experiment with
them in the store. She also offers
demonstrations for the games.
“I want my customers to be completely
satisfied with these toys,” she says.
During the past two summers and
spring break, Bethany has offered
storytime, craft days, and art contests in
her store. There’s a birthday registry for a
child’s wish list, and gift wrapping is free.
Bethany has seen wonderful results
with their own son and is steadily
gaining repeat customers who see the
benefits of the specialty items. She recalls
one parent coming into the store with a
child that was constantly running laps
in the store. Bethany showed him the
vibrating cushion, and he “immediately
relaxed.”
“It’s a toy store for all children,”
Bethany emphasizes. There are unique
games and toys for all ages, and it’s a
real bonus to realize some toys can add
more than just joy to a child’s life.
STORE HOURS
Monday 12-6
Tuesday-Friday 10-6
Saturday 10-5
Hometown Rankin • 123