sensory toys Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Top 13 Sensory Toys for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder

Paula — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:46:00 +0000

This sensory toys post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. Purchases made via qualifying links mean a small commission for me. What do you give to kids who are anxious about a lot of things, whose brains seem to amplify sensations and noises? Good sensory toys can help them function and manage sensory input. My daughter has sensory processing disorder. I have written about that here a few times. Years ago I wrote about our journey to get a sensory processing disorder diagnosis for Today’s Parent magazine. These recommendations are based on what we have found that works. Sensory processing disorder is a condition that interferes with how the brain conveys sensory messages, leading to unexpected reactions and motor responses in a person. In other words, exposure to certain conditions we deem as normal might trigger involuntary reactions in those who have sensory challenges. They will start feeling overwhelmed by certain conditions or environment and this can lead to even physical injuries if not monitored. When you are looking to get a gift for a child with SPD, you should get them something that will help them cope with their environment in a better manner. Great Sensory Toys for Kids 1. Noise Blocking Headphones or Noise Cancelling Headphones Some kids get anxious in a noisy environment. Many kids diagnosed with sensory processing disorder cannot handle noise. It is distracting and alarming and causes genuine distress. My daughter uses these often. In fact, both of my kids do. Only one has the sensory processing disorder diagnosis. But, that said, they both have some sensory issues and they both need tools to help them focus and block noise out. At school, in the elementary grades, these noise cancelling headphones were readily available in the learning resource room. 2. Sensory Hairbrush or Tangle Free Hairbrush This is a simple gift that applies soft pressure on the scalp, running through the hair. The pressure produces a relaxing and calming effect for the kids. The soft, plastic bristles ensure that no harm would befall them. 3. Kinetic Sand Kinetic sand allows the child to explore playing in the sand without creating the mess normal sand would create. The sand is cool to touch and will stick back to itself after use, allowing easy cleaning. It is a relaxing activity to enjoy. We have this particular brand here and I love it. Even I will play with this sand because it is a great sensory tool. 4. Tactile balls These are soft, rubbery balls that are enjoyable to squeeze, rub or hold in your hands. They are also good as stress-relieving toys because of their soft, squishy nature. The kids can do whatever they want with these balls as they are indestructible. Use them to run them up and down the kid’s arms and back if they can handle that type of feedback. The massage kind of function used to work brilliantly for my daughter. 5. Crashpad Any kind of safe crash pad can be extremely useful. This could be a sort of air mattress where the kids can bounce and play. It can be karate crash pads that they kick and slam into. Place on the floor, or hang on the walls. Or you might even just buy a BOB, martial arts tool they can hit and kick and smash into. It can make a good replacement for an indoor trampoline. It is softer and with a better feel than an air mattress. 6. Indoor tent This is designed for kids who get anxious often. They can be able to run into their own space when they start feeling overwhelmed. This is a small indoor tent that can fit anywhere inside the house. The actual one that we had in several places is this one – > The school had one too in her class. Also, this is a beautiful indoor tent option. 7. Silly putty This is the kind of putty that can withstand all sorts of abuse. It is great for improving the creativity levels of your child. Mold, knead, stretch it, or do whatever they want with it and still get it together at the end of the day. 8. Legos and Building Blocks Legos are a great gift for kids with SPD and those without this condition. These Melissa and Doug building blocks are great sensory toys for kids of all ages. They are amazing at encouraging all sorts of creative processes in your child. 9. Step-a-log beams or Balance Beams This gift is designed for kids who suffer from anxiety. These beams are good at enhancing balance and building their coordination when walking. Balance Beams are an amazing fun tool for kids. 10. Flex bands There is something stress-relieving about stretch bands and these are aimed for both sensory management and enhancing motor skills. The flex bands can stand any kind of pressure the kids subject them to. They are a good, therapeutic gift for kids with SPD. 11. Puzzles For my daughter, when she was small, we needed tricks to distract her in order to calm her down. So, we’d use puzzles as sensory toys. That seemed to calm her down and give her the chance to regroup. In every single All About Me booklet that we gave to camp counsellors and others, we told them puzzles were a means to soothe her. As a result we had some remarkable puzzles for all ages and abilities. 12. Swing For years, we had a swing suspended from a beam in Ainsley’s room. It was like a cocoon for her when she needed to calm down. It worked very well. Our indoor swing was similar to this one here. There are other swings for kids with SPD options too that are just as cute. 13. Weighted Blankets While not a toy exactly, these are so very useful for kids with SPD. Use these to relax or to sleep. Just pay attention to the rules surrounding weight limits and size. Most good weighted blanket companies will tell you size and weight.

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No Mess Foam – A New Sensory Toy

Paula — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 14:28:07 +0000

I received product for consideration. Post contains affiliate links as a service to my readers. Are you SO over the DIY slime phase? Is it all over your house? Is it contained in a dozen old small margarine tubs in your laundry room? OH I feel your pain. So, why not replace it with a new sensory toy? On the one hand sensory toys are useful for so many reasons and so many kids. But slime has had its day. I think we can all agree on that. But, it is also useful in calming and soothing sensory seeking children and youth. A New and Buzzworthy Sensory Toy If you are sick of the messy slime phase and hunting for something equally enjoyable from a sensory standpoint and yet with less mess and kitchen chemistry involved, then I have the answer for you. Foam Alive is so satisfying. It’s unexpectedly just what you and the kids need. True story. My kids are teens and I am clearly an adult – most days anyways. We opened the Foam Alive last week before Ainsley left for camp and it is currently in my kitchen on the counter in a container. It’s not in the cupboard with the dying slime or the other sensory toys that have outgrown their lifespan and usefulness. It is front and centre and we can’t stop playing with it. Foam Alive seems to have a life of its own. It is soothing and calming and soft. Most importantly it does not dry out and is mess free. Oh, listen I know you are rolling your eyes when you read mess free sensory toy. I would too. There’s no such thing as mess free you are thinking, but if you thought that you’d be wrong because it is genuinely mess free. We have put it through its paces and the Foam Alive is a new favourite in our home. This Foam Alive new sensory toy can be shaped and molded and crushed and sculpted and squished. It moves and takes on its own life. Roll it into a ball and then drop gently into the container you are using to store it. Watch as it spills outwards losing its shape almost moving right in front of your eyes. The first time we used the Foam Alive sensory toy I told my older daughter it reminded me of the third season of Stranger Things on Netflix. The ooze that was the gross part at the start of the season had a grotesque characteristic to it. Because Foam Alive moves on its own the toy reminded me of that scene. It moves. There’s something super freaky and cool about that. A Worthy New Sensory Toy I wasn’t planning to get any more sensory toys, but then this Foam Alive sensory toy arrived at my home. We can’t stop playing with it and touching it. The Foam Alive is oddly compelling and a worthy addition to your list of sensory tools for kids with sensory processing disorder, or simply any child who likes to play. Where to Buy Buy Foam Alive here now. Great price and perfect for gifts. Put it away for gift giving. Perfect for any occasion really. Recommended for ages three and up. Sells here at Amazon in a fun kit. LOVE this sensory toy right now. If your kids need fidget toys here are a few options also on Amazon. I wrote a post here about sensory tools and must haves for travel with kids.

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Teethease Necklaces and Teething Jewelry – Interview with the Inventor

Paula — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:59:00 +0000

My daughter Ainsley chewing on her newest tool for Sensory Processing Disorder, the Teethease Necklaces. Sensory Processing and Special Needs We are way too old for teethers in our house. Our youngest child is seven, but when the option to review this fabulous product line called Teethease Necklaces came to my attention, I was thrilled, because I like having options and I adore having BPA and lead-free items. For people who don’t understand, a lot of children with sensory processing disorder, or autism, need oral input. They chew a lot on sleeves, fingers, jewelry, even toys. It is an organizing activity according to the many books I have read on special needs. So, many parents with kids who have special needs, buy chewy jewelry or special needs teethers. We have used chewelry and Dr. Bloom’s here and now we have Teethease. Rockease is $34.95 I am so in love with the turquoise one. These Rockease Teethease necklaces look like real necklaces and are totally safe for babies or kids to chew on. They have an EN -71 rating, the highest international safety standard and they are made of medical grade silicone. This is the highest rating possible. The Teethease necklaces come in sandstone, turquoise and grey marble. At $34.95 they are a bit pricier than some of our other chewy jewelry. We received the sandstone. I would pay the price for the turquoise jewels because they look so cute and fashionable. I like the sandstone too, but turquoise just looks like something I would wear. Teethease also has these Original Teethease Bangles at only $9.95. I like these and the price is right. One is $9.95 and there is a wood look bangle too. Continuous loop is easy for chubby little fingers to grab onto. Original Teethease Pendant necklace $34.95. And, maybe the cutest part of all – the packaging. It looks like a little paint can and my kids loved it. I would absolutely buy the pendant necklaces because they don’t look like teethers. The Interview with Mompreneur Lindsey Sardi- Dubuc THRIFTY MOMMAS TIPS: 1. How did you get the idea for Teethease necklaces? Lindsey: Teethease was created when I set out to find a product that would allow me to know the teethers I was using were safe, and to be able to wear my jewellery again. It seemed like every time I was out with my daughter (especially at the grocery store) she would grab anything in reach to chew on. I did have some plastic teethers I had received as gifts, but this was around the time that BPA (Bisphenol A) and its negative effects were made known to the public. Avoiding BPA As I think most moms were, I became increasingly weary of what contaminants might be in the products I might own. Avoiding these plastic toys, I realized my daughter was instead grabbing at my keys, my phone and especially my necklaces! Inevitably you end up carrying your child all the time and those necklaces are just too tempting for them.; they always seem to hang at just the right length to chew on. So began the search for a material that was sturdy and flexible, easy to keep clean, didn’t stay wet from drool, was easily accessible, and most importantly, safe. THRIFTY MOMMAS TIPS: 2. How has teethease been received? Lindsey: We are so grateful to have received such positive feedback about Teethease. Every so often, I receive a note from a mom that leaves me feeling like all the hard work and long nights have been worthwhile. Messages will range from a general thank you for a safe product, to stories of when one of our products saved them from a shopping meltdown or how they love being able to accessorize without worrying about their baby’s safety. It warms my heart when someone takes the time out of their day to let me know that they like what we’ve created. What Do Moms Think? Recently we have had the opportunity to work with some fantastic mom bloggers. Their reviews have been very kind and the support we receive from their readers is unbelievable. Sometimes when I’m surfing, whether on Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or Google, I’ll see someone posting comments about Teethease. It won’t be in response to a contest or review, but just because they saw a product that they thought was worth sharing. It keeps a smile on my face for the rest of the day. THRIFTY MOMMAS TIPS: 3. Any plans for future products or lines? Lindsey’s Response: I have so many ideas for future products. I’m looking into a line made from wood and other renewable sources and I am really hoping to be able to find some great Canadian Maplewood. It’s a beautiful colour and I’m always happy to support our economy. In fact, I also have a few new styles that are in testing, but I can’t give too much away and ruin the surprise! We’ll also be adding new colours to the existing lines this year. THRIFTY MOMMAS TIPS 4. How has being a parent impacted your business? Lindsey’s Response In many ways I think that being a parent and owning your own business are very similar, both require a tremendous amount of nurture and patience. My guess is without having children I probably would never have started Teethease, but the truth is that sometimes being a stay-at-home mom and running all aspects of the business alone can be rather trying. As a mother, I have acquired skills that have served me well in business and vice versa. I’ve become a self-proclaimed “marvel of multi-tasking,” which means I have breastfed while making business calls, worked on newsletters during nap time and prep dinner while I go over monthly statements. At the End of the Day At the end of the day, my children will always come first. A little while back, my eldest let me know she didn’t like seeing me on my BlackBerry while we played in the rec room. From that moment on we worked out a deal; you give Mommy 20 minutes to finish what needs doing, and then for the next one to two hours you will have my undivided attention, which means phones and computers do not enter the play area. If it’s a busy day, sometimes we do this two or three times in a row. For those who deal with me on a regular basis, they know that often my emails show up in their inbox after midnight because it’s so much easier writing without little hands trying to type simultaneously. Being a Mom and Entrepreneur The biggest impact that being a parent has had on the business is my drive. I make sure that my kids understand that what I am doing is ultimately for them, that my emails and phone calls are how I help contribute to our household. Also, I now allow my eldest to help in any way she can. She helps with colour choices, packaging and design ideas and testing. She loves to tell people she “went to work” with Mommy, and I love getting to show her what we can accomplish with a little hard work. THRIFTY MOMMAS TIPS: 5. Was there ever a plan or discussion given to marketing teeth ease also to children with special needs? Lindsey: We have had a number of inquiries about using the Teethease products for children with special needs. Of course, we have a number of clients whose children are autistic, and compulsively chew. The bangle is a great alternative to chewing on their sleeves, pencils or other potentially harmful objects. We ask the parents to use their best judgement when deciding if the Teethease products are suitable for children over three years of age. There are currently no set of standardized tests that allow us to ensure the products are safe for special needs children across the board. Unfortunately, there are so many variables (age, strength, motor skills, etc.) that make any sort of “standard” almost impossible. Final Thoughts After years working in a children’s rehab hospital, I do have some ideas for future lines that might work well for any age. My Recommendation and Rating Thank you to Lindsey for the interview and for creating a fabulous product I recommend fully. $$$$ out of $$$$$. You can’t put a price on safety. Love how soft the Teethease necklaces and jewelry feel and the clasp – breakaway is well done and nicely crafted. Also the packaging is adorable.

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