Christmas/Holiday Gift Idea List

Here at APT, we have been getting a lot of requests for gift ideas.  Our kids are all unique so it’s hard to boil it down but we are going to try!  Here goes:

For the do-it-yourselfers:

• Make your own crash pad:  buy a duvet cover and fill with foam pieces (try A-1 Foam, In Ex Upholstery in Portland for scraps)
• Homemade obstacle course with boxes, jumpropes as lines, you name it!  (These are cool for home or outdoor obstacle courses)
• Make your own weighted blanket or here.

Gross Motor and Balance Ideas:

• Balance Blox slack line is great for balance skills indoors, and a regular slack line for outside.

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  Balance Blox

• Scooters are fun to scoot around in at home or outside.  Always fun and a great workout for little arms and bellies.
• The game Twister is an old school favorite and great for gross motor skills and for motor planning.
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Attention and Cognition:

• For older kids who have a tough time paying attention in school, this watch vibrates and reminds them to pay attention, take medications or whatever else you program it to say.

 

Vestibular Skills:

• Spin Around Kids  is a sit and spin toy that kids power themselves.
• Bosu Balance Trainer is a half therapy ball which you can stand on to throw a ball,  play a game or prepare dinner!
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• Gorilla Gym (out of stock on Amazon) has swings and ropes that hang from the doorway.
• Spin Discs  also help with vestibular skills, but you can also hold them firmly and spin them around on an office chair.  If your child is particularly sensitive to vestibular stimulation, talk to your OT about whether these are appropriate.
• Trampolines are fun ways to get vestibular input and don’t have to take up a ton of space.

Toys for Deep Pressure:

• Weighted Vests  are a great way to provide deep pressure.
• Lycra Bands provide lots of deep pressure.
• Stomp Rockets are a favorite in our gym.  The stomping is super fun and great for proprioception.
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Fine Motor Skills:

• Hog Wild Zoo sticks are kind of like chopsticks and a great way to have fun while working on fine motor skills.
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• Rainbow Looms help kids make jewelry out of tiny rubber bands.  Great for dexterity.
• Wikki Stix are wax coated colored string which can be bent to make letters, shapes, whatever your creative mind desires.  They are a great fine motor and writing tool.
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Social and Stress Related

• Indigo Dreams CD’s are fantastic for stress and anxiety relief.
• Some great board games to promote social skills include Jenga, Consequences, Busytown, Guess Who and Labyrinth.  There are many games which encourage specific social skills.  Ask your OT if you would like something more related to your child’s social needs.

 

As always, please ask if you have more questions!

For a more thorough list go to: http://www.thejennyevolution.com/ultimate-christmas-sensory-gifts-guide/

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