Our day school students recently had the opportunity to take a field trip to Toys'R'Us for a behind the scenes look at how the store operates. The idea was spawned by one of our students who indicated that he wanted to work as a cashier at Toys'R'Us during a vocation assessment interview with his teacher. We wanted to give him and his classmates the opportunity to find out what was required to work there, the various job options available, and a peek at what it would be like to be part of the Toys'R'Us team. In addition, we wanted to give our students a chance to understand how to find items in one of their favorite stores, who to talk to if they need assistance, and how to make purchases. This was the first time these students had this type of experience and they loved every minute of it!
Our students were given the opportunity to wear the Toys'R'Us vest, meet and greet the Toys'R'Us team and were given a tour of each section of the store. The students were then asked to select a toy in the store that represented them the most. Some of our students selected popular movies, action figures and electronic toys to represent themselves. The students were then provided a shopping cart filled with toys and were instructed to restock them. This was a great exercise in recall and the kids had a blast competing with each other! If assistance was needed, our students were able to ask some of the employees on the floor for assistance. They were also given an opportunity for a question and answer session with the Assistant Store Manager. The students prepared some great questions such as "What happens when a toy breaks?", "How are top toys selected?" and "What is it like working for Toys'R'Us?" Finally, the class was able to make a purchase for a game for their classroom. It was an exciting day for all of them and was the topic of conversation throughout the week!
The Toys'R'Us staff exceeded our expectations. Our students were greeted with professionalism, patience, and grace. The activities provided throughout the tour kept our students motivated, engaged and on task - not always an easy feat for children with autism.
We'd like to once again express our thanks to Toys'R'Us. We hope to have similar opportunities in the future!
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