As I’ve learned more about my son’s ADHD and sensory needs over the last few years, I’ve also worked to make our home more friendly for him. Sometimes the ways in which his sensory needs can be met are obvious, while other sensory needs have taken more trial and error to meet. My overall goal is to help my son thrive at home, without destroying the furniture or hurting his sisters. Here are some sensory toys and tools that have helped him and may also help your child.
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sensory Swing
Swinging isn’t just a fun playground activity; it’s actually a great workout for kids as well as a rhythmic motion that helps many kids self-regulate. If your child runs for the swings as soon as you get to the playground, then having a sensory swing at home could be a great way to help them.
Occupational therapist explains, “Swinging can help children develop skills such as spatial awareness, balance, rhythm and muscle control. As they swing, they are keeping their core tight so they don’t fall off, pumping their legs which requires coordination and adjusting their body to keep their balance as well as enjoying that cool, floating sensation when they tip their head back! Even a quiet moment on a swing can help a child regulate their sensory system, remain in a calm state and help them develop the ability to adapt to different sensations.”
A sensory swing is made from smooth, stretchy fabric that is super comfortable for the child. Our swing currently hangs in my son’s bedroom, and I’ve deliberately placed his bed and bookshelf on one wall of his room to allow him an open space in the middle of the room for swinging and playing.
Play Couch
We have a large sectional couch in our living room. My son regularly stacks up the cushions into forts, piles them on the floor to bounce on them, or just throws them around the living room. This helped me recognize his need for heavy work (pushing / pulling the cushions as well as jumping / body slamming them) and made me decide to get a play couch for his room.
Since getting that couch, I’ve tried to encourage him to leave the living room couch alone for the rest of us to read books on, while he can rearrange his play couch however he wants. He’s built forts and ramps to his bunk bed, sandwiched himself between the cushions, bounced off them with his swing, and simply sat reading on the couch as well.
Weighted Blanket or Fuzzy Blankets
Bedding can make a big difference in helping children sleep well at night. While my son doesn’t like the weighted blanket I got for him, I’ve heard that it does help other kids. All my children love fuzzy blankets, so we have a large collection. There are two blankets in the living room that they can curl up in when reading or watching movies. The kids (including my teens) each have about two fuzzy blankets on their beds, which they can also wrap up in for bedtime. Some of our blankets are throw size, some are twin size; some are lighter and some are double-layered. Try some different blankets and see what works best for your child, for both playtime and bedtime.
Chewelry
My son has chewed on his T-shirt collar for a couple years now. YouTube sensation Penn Holderness admits to doing the same thing, even as an adult now. Telling him to stop doesn’t help, because he’s not consciously doing it. I often find my son chewing on his T-shirt while concentrating hard on his artwork. Instead, I rechannel his chewing to something that won’t get wrecked by his teeth.
He has a collection of silicone chewelry that he uses. He’s also been liking these terry cloth chew bands, which resemble his T-shirt more and prevent drooling (which annoyed him about the silicone chewelry). As each child has their own sensory needs and reasons for chewing, it could take a couple tries to find the right solution for your child.
Rubik’s Cube and Puzzles
Puzzles and fidgets are a great way to help keep kids’ hands (and brains) occupied, especially when they have to sit still or wait. These are also helpful for teens, as they can keep their hands busy while talking to a friend or listening to a class lecture. (My oldest can do a Rubik’s cube without looking at it.) Some of our favourite puzzles and fidgets include:
- 5 Pack Magic Cube (variety of Rubik’s cubes, from easy to hard)
- Perplexus 3D Puzzle Ball (keep around the living room)
- Magic Rainbow Puzzle Ball (like a Rubik’s cube but a ball. The only downside: it’s noisy and creates sensory annoyance for others around the person playing.)
- Fidget Ring (somewhat subtle fidget)
Play Dough, Clay, Slime
My kids absolutely love play dough, modeling clay, and any type of slime. We regularly make new batches of play dough, as they love to chose their colours and scents for their play dough. Whether they are pretending to bake cupcakes and pizzas for me, or arranging plastic animals in a new habitat, my kids find play dough a calming activity. Modeling clay requires a bit more effort to work with, but retains its shape longer, so that my kids have made clay animals for dioramas to play with for months afterwards. Slime regularly shows up in their stockings and Easter baskets.
Lovevery Toy Kits
Many of the Lovevery toy kits recognize kids’ sensory needs as well as their educational and social needs. These play kits combine well-built, sensory-friendly toys with various play and learning ideas. My son has loved all of his Lovevery toys and still regularly pulls them out to play with. From puzzles to water play to kinetic sand and more, these kits nurture all parts of your child and encourage exploration and creativity—perfect for our unique kids’ brains!
What sensory toys or products does your child love?
No Responses Yet