Parents of children with autism are well aware of the importance of providing developmentally appropriate toys to their children that promote healthy sensory development. There are lots of great resources on the web that cover which toys are best for children with autism and what specific aspects of healthy sensory motor development they can help (see our post How Does Sensory Play Help Child Development). However, we thought it might be valuable toContinue reading “Where to Buy Toys for Autistic Children”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
5 Reasons Why Sensory Play Is So Important
Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates a young child’s senses of touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing, as well as anything which engages movement and balance. (goodstart.org) Children need to engage in activities that stimulate the senses in order to make sense of their world and to develop the necessary skills to function in society. In this blog post, we will cover 5 reasons why sensory play is important for your child,Continue reading “5 Reasons Why Sensory Play Is So Important”
5 Tips to Help Your Autistic Child Learn & Succeed
I’d like to begin this post with a metaphor. Imagine that you are looking for something in your garage, but the lights are not working so you make sure you bring your flashlight with you into the dark space so you can find what you are looking for. You open the door to the garage and turn your flashlight on and point it in the area where you think the object you are looking forContinue reading “5 Tips to Help Your Autistic Child Learn & Succeed”
How to Create the Perfect At-Home Calm Down Corner for your Child
As we get older and experience more in life, we learn to deal with “big” emotions and the “heavy” feelings that come along with those experiences. Children, however, are not yet equipped to managing strong emotions, which can lead them to have temper tantrums or melt-downs. For children who have ASD, tantrums, and melt-downs can be even more severe. It is ideal for parents and caregivers to have the ideal environment setContinue reading “How to Create the Perfect At-Home Calm Down Corner for your Child”
Why Sensory Play is So Important for Children with ASD
As human beings, we experience our world through our senses. We use taste to appreciate an incredible meal, touch to experiences the joy of petting a dog or cat, we may take in the sights and sounds of theater, or a movie….and we stop to smell the roses! For children, sensory play and sensory stimulation are important for development. It is even more important for children with Autism because motor skill development can beContinue reading “Why Sensory Play is So Important for Children with ASD”
The Best Sensory Toys for Children with Autism
The Best Sensory Toys For Children With Autism The CDC states that about 1 in 54 children are born with Autism in the United States of America, and it is prevalent in children from all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Being a parent of a child with autism can come with extra stress and even an increase in mental and physical health problems when compared to parents of children with other developmental disorders. Whatever theContinue reading “The Best Sensory Toys for Children with Autism”
10 Best Developmental Toys for Ages 0-1 years
Do we even need to buy babies toys their first year of life? They seem to be so fascinated by things they find around the house– pots and pans, large spoons, plastic water bottles, and empty boxes. These 10 toys will give you the best bang for your buck as they help babies develop the sensory and motor skills they’re expected to gain that first year and can keep that baby engaged and be usedContinue reading “10 Best Developmental Toys for Ages 0-1 years”
How Sensory Issues Affect Eating and Mealtime
How are your mealtimes, do they go smoothly or are they difficult? How many of you have a picky eater? Does your child eat a variety of foods that the family eats, or must you make separate meals for them? Do you eat together as a family or feed your child first? We must remember to consider the sensory system and how it can be impacting eating and mealtime for your children. Mealtime is aContinue reading “How Sensory Issues Affect Eating and Mealtime”
COVID Friendly Activities for the Active Child
Surviving Social Distancing with a Very Active Child Is your child always on the go? Constantly wanting to move, be outside, play at the park, and socialize with friends? Active children and quarantine don’t mix well together. Here are some activities to keep your sanity and promote regulation while remaining socially distant at home. They can be done inside or in your backyard! Calming activities: Massage Deep pressure (e.g. squish under pillows/cushions, roll up likeContinue reading “COVID Friendly Activities for the Active Child”
Games & Toys to Build Fine and Visual Motor Skills
Games and Toys for Fine & Visual Motor Skills Fat Brain Fruit FriendsSensory, bilateral coordination, and fine motor skill building inspired by an OT and SLP!