Holiday Gifting for All Developmental Levels

Parents frequently ask me about the best toys for development at different ages. Parents are also frequently curious about the best toys for children with sensory modulation disorders. Below are a few suggestions for toys for a variety of ages and with a description about what types of development they promote. Please note - all toys should be used with close adult supervision and should be used as intended and for the age ranges recommended by the toy company.  

Happy Holidays! 
 

For Infants (0 years to crawling age) - Tummy time and Sitting up 

* Earlyears Fill n Fun Water Mat Toy by Earlyears - a great toy for promoting tummy time fun and early crawling. Another great tummy time mat is the Tiny Love Super Mat.

*Fisher-Price Discover 'n Grow Kick and Play Piano Gym - great for teaching cause and effect and to promote rolling and reaching activities.

* FOR INFANTS READY TO STAND AND WITH GOOD HEAD CONTROL: Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper - or any jumper that promotes standing and bouncing. Evenflo SmartSteps Jump and Go is a great doorway bouncer. 


* Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether - a great teether for cutting those front teeth. 

* Hand and Foot Teether by Toysmith - a great teether for cutting teeth on the sides. 

 * 10" Chilean Cactus Rain Stick Shaker Instrument - great for learning about sounds and learning about hand use as child ages. 

* Hohner 5 Piece Toddler Music Band - learn about sounds, cause and effect, holding toys with one or two hands.  



* Munchkin Snail Stacker Bath Toy - great for eye hand coordination and just fun bath time play! 

 * Rhino Toys Oball Rainstick Rattle - this was my daughter's favorite toy when she was an infant.  A ball that makes it easy for babies to grasp, play with, and learn with... this one makes noise!





Beginning Crawling through Beginning Walkers:  

* Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Press And Crawl Turtle - encourages movement/crawling.  Another great option in this category is the VTech - Move & Crawl Electronic Activity Ball.

 * Early Learning Shape Sorter (any shape sorter will do!) - helps to develop eye hand coordination, promotes matching as child grows, can be used for "fill and dump" play. This one is my favorite: Toysmith Battat Sort and Stack Toy

 * Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker - or the fisher price ring stacker: These are great for learning eye-hand coordination skills and for hand development and learning to use two hands together.

 * Gymnic Rody Horse - great for helping to develop balance and independent sitting skills. A great bouncer for older children.

 * iPlay Cool Tools Activity Set - Great for beginning to use hands and learning to use tools in play.

 * Haba Walker Wagon - Every early walker needs a walker toy. Please avoid the walkers you put your child in and select a push toy instead. The Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker is another great option with a wide base to help avoid more falls than necessary.  

* PlanToys 50 Construction Set or another toddler block set.  Start you child early on learning to stack blocks, bang toys together, and manipulate small objects in their hands. 

* Child's sized utensils - check out toddler utensils on Amazon.  Utensils that are just like yours but made for smaller hands.   
  
* Smart Planet Piano Mat - great feedback for the early walker or crawler.  Encourages movement through sounds. 



* Alex Toys Tub tune Symphony - great fun for the bath tub. 

 


For the Toddler (Walking well, beginning to talk) 

  * Lauri Toys Tall-Stacker Pegs and Pegboard Set - hours of fun putting pegs together and learning to place them into the peg board. Helps with hand development, using two hands together, and eye-hand coordination.

* PlanToys Plan Preschool Walk N Roll, Push and Pull - great for the early walker who can pull or push a toy!


* LeapFrog: Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set - one of my favorite toys for the early talker and walker. Encourages fine motor skills (in hand manipulation), eye-hand coordination, and promotes letter and sound recognition. For older children the Fridge Words Magnetic Word Builder by LeapFrog is lots of fun.

* Plan Toy Geometric Sorting Board - great eye hand coordination, matching, and visual motor skills. Will be a challenge to work up to.

* Schylling Little Helper Broom Set - young walkers love to help around the house with tools that look just like the ones mom and dad use. Promotes self help skills, coordination, and early learning skills.

* Crayons - this is the time to introduce crayons to your child.  Be sure to always have adult supervision and teach your child that crayons go on paper, not in mouths or on walls.  For kiddos who want to color on the walls try:  Health Science Labs Endangered Species Carded Bath Crayons for bath time coloring. 

 
 For the Sensory Kid (Walking, jumping, 2+ years) -

Please use all recommended toys with close adult supervision and be sure to check with your Occupational Therapist to choose which toys are best for your child's specific needs.

* Alex Monkey Balance Board - great for core strengthening and balance work.

* Chew Tubes - Check with your therapist for the best type to buy for your child.

 * Squirmy Wormy: How I Learned to Help Myself A great book about sensory modulation written for kids!

 * Bouncer Trampoline - find a well padded trampoline for younger children.  You may also choose between one with or without a handle bar.  Must have DIRECT Adult supervision.  Use only as directed and at your own risk.

 * Disc'o'Sit Jr Inflatable Chair Cushion - Great for kids who like to wiggle when they sit.  Can be used at mealtimes, at school, or during homework time.

* POOF-Slinky 131 Slinky Brand Pop Toobs - a great stocking stuffer and fidget to help get the wiggles out.

 * Kid-O Bilibo - a great vestibular toy for all ages.

* Scooter Board with handles - a great heavy work toy when your child lays on their stomach.  Works best outdoors, on wood or tile floors, or on office style carpet.

* Cuddle Me Sensory Tunnel - this can also be made from fabric at your fabric store from "tube fabric" which is already created in a "tube" fashion...just cut to length and play!  Great heavy work play and resistive play opportunities. 

 * Jump-o-Lene - If you are worried about the trampoline safety try a Jump-o-lene.  Fully contained with blow up walls and floor.  Can be filled with pillows or balls for a fun crash play opportunity.

* Gymnic / Hop Fantasy Hop Ball - Great heavy work play!! Please use direct parent supervision when using this toy.  Check with the websites or stores for correct sizing.

* Exercise Bands - Great resistive play, for use with direct adult supervision and direction only. 

 * Yoga mat  - great for burrito rolls or actually doing Yoga!

 * Yoga Kids: For Ages 3-6- I would not normally recommend a video for sensory processing kiddos but this is a great video that your child will get many hours of heavy work from!   If you don't like the idea of a video try The Kids' Yoga Deck: 50 Poses and Games instead!

* Exercise Ball (i.e. pilates ball or balance ball) - great for rolling, bouncing, or providing deep pressure.

* Gel Filled Medicine Ball (2,3,4, or 5 lb) - great for heavy work games such as tossing into a laundry basket, pushing around in a basket or toy car!

* Green Toys Jump Rope - a great coordination activity with balance and heavy work too.

* Hula Hoop - with a few hula hoops you can create a variety of games from jumping from one to the other, tossing outdoors, crawling through, or actually hula hooping!

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Hippotherapy - Occupational Therapy with Horses

For those who find occupational therapy to be a confusing term a little clarification and a definition is often helpful.  Occupational Therapy, frequently termed "OT" is not aimed at helping people to obtain jobs nor do we counsel people on their work history and finding the right "job" or "career."  The "Occupation" part is actually based in the every day occupations you participate in a daily basis.  OT's love to talk about ADL's or "Activities of Daily Living" which include Bathing, toileting, hygeine and grooming, feeding/eating, dressing among others.  When working with children, an OT may address these areas but may also address a child's ability to participate in their true occupations, which are Play and School. 

As an example, an OT may help to develop a child's motor skills in order to participate in play activities.  They may address sensory processing difficulties in order to improve function and participation both in school and in play.  They may address social skills in order to improve a child's ability to play with others and in a variety of environments (such as the playground, on play dates, or at family events).  The truth is OT's address a wide variety of skills and use a variety of tools to address children's areas of occupation.  The key is to have therapy that is client centered, individualized to meet your child's needs, and that therapy is completed in a way that motivates both you and your child to succeed. 

So, what tools do occupational therapists use to address these areas?  The best OT's use a variety of settings, skills, approaches, and tools to help both children and their families. One of the tools that more and more therapists are using is called "hippotherapy."   This is not to be confused with therapy for the hippopotamus nor does it utilize hippopotami in treatment. In fact, "hippos" is the greek word for "horse" indicating that hippotherapy is therapy using horses. 

The American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) is a leader in bringing awareness to hippotherapy as a treatment strategy.  Please visit their website for more information on their mission and to find therapists providing hippotherapy in your area. 

The AHA defines hippotherapy as:

"Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes.Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic (moving) base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and. motor planning. Equine movement offers well-modulated sensory input to vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile and visual channels. During gait transitions, the patient must perform subtle adjustments in the trunk to maintain a stable position. When a patient is sitting forward astride the horse, the horse’s walking gait imparts movement responses remarkably similar to normal human gait. The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills and attentional skills. Equine movement can be used to facilitate the neurophysiologic systems that support all of our functional daily living skills."


 
 Hippotherapy is often used to address a variety of areas including sensory processing, trunk stability, gross motor skills, strength, endurance, and much more. 

So, why the horse as a treatment tool?  What makes the horse so special in treatment and why do therapists who practice hippotherapy believe that it is so beneficial?

To begin, the movement of the horse provides sensory input through a variety of means.  The horse has a rhythmic movement that is repetitive and can be varied to meet the need of the rider. Also, the movement which the horse produces in the human pelvis mimics that of the pelvis in walking, which can be beneficial in improving and correcting the movement of the pelvis while also providing sensory input, strengthening and endurance building.  Occupational therapists can also use the time on the horse to improve fine motor skills and to address other basic skills required to participate in ADLs and other life occupations. 

Finally, for some people, horses provide an accessible friendship and easy to build relationship.  We find that many people will talk to the horses when they have never spoken to another person.  Children have been observed to build a social relationship first with the horse, which eventually translates into a relationship with people.  They may learn skills like eye contact, social interaction, and more complex skills like motor planning and sensory processing skills.


TheraPlay of Colorado is proud to announce that we will soon be offering Hippotherapy at our new clinic space, located in Lafayette CO. Our therapist is Hippotherapy Level I Certified through AHA and is ready to work with you and your family!   Please feel free to contact us at TheraPlayColorado@gmail.com if you are interested in hearing more about our upcoming services.

All our best in health, occupation, and horses. 

Sensory Processing Disorder... is it real or are we dreaming?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently wrote a position statement on Sensory Processing Disorders... you can read it here: on the APA Website.  You can also read the response of Lucy Jane Miller, owner and founder of the STAR Center, find that response HERE.

I find it interesting all of the discussion around SPD, especially since in the past five years I have witnessed such a large number of children and families who struggle with this disorder.  To those who struggle with this everyday it is a great disservice to deny the existence of SPD.

I decided to do a bit of research to see if I could find pediatricians on the internet who are endorsing SPD as a diagnosis and this is what I found:

Dr. Shapiro in Encino, CA says he has seen a large number of children come through his practice that he believes truly do have sensory processing disorders, with no other co-occurring disorders.

The American Occupational Therapy Association released this statement in regards to the AAP's position statement.

All in all, I think families have some important things to learn from the AAP's position statement on SPD.  It is possible, that the AAP is not always correct in their statements.  However, they do in fact bring up some important points.

 First, families should always understand the purpose and expected outcome of therapies.  If your child is participating in therapy of any type, you should understand what the goals are, what you should expect to see, an approximate date of discharge when goals are met, and at what time your child should be discharged from therapy if no progress is being made.

Second, you should always consult with your pediatrician and include your pediatrician in your therapy progress and the plan of care your therapist has laid out.  At the very least, your therapist should be providing copies of all evaluations, re-evaluations, and occasional progress notes so that your doctor can be up to date on your child's progress and the goals of therapy.

Finally, if you ever feel uncomfortable with a diagnosis anyone has given your child or the plan of treatment they recommend, seek out a second opinion.  Never participate in a program that makes you or your child uncomfortable and always do your research to find the best therapist to fit your family's needs.


In the words of Jean Ayers: "Truth, like infinity, is to be forever approached, but never reached" (Ayres, 1972, p iv).

Sensory Processing Resources

How do I help my child....?  It is the question I think most parents have in their mind when they are seeking occupational therapy services for their child, or any therapy services for that matter.  Sensory Processing Disorders can be one of the most challenging to understand, while the symptoms may be easy to identify the "why is this happening" is often hard for parents to understand.  Surely, Sensory Processing can be a challenge for anyone to understand, even some therapists.  Luckily, there are many wonderful websites and resources available to you and your family to help increase your understanding of sensory integration, sensory processing, and sensory processing disorders.  Check out a few of these resources if you are looking for creative ways to work with your child.

After doing some research, if you are still wondering what to do, be sure to find a good Occupational Therapist in your area who can help you to get working on the challenges you and your child are facing.  With the right interventions at the right time, your child can make great progress toward their and your goals.

BOOKS: 

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, Revised Edition by Carol Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller

 

The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun, Revised Edition: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz

Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World by Sharon Heller

 

Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder by Lucy Jane Miller Ph.D OTR and Doris A. Fuller

 

Sensory Integration Strategies, Sensory Strategies for Home and School by Lisa Berry OT and Girard Sagmiller

 

Sensory Integration and the Child: 25th Anniversary Edition by A. Jean Ayres

 

WEBSITES: 

SPD Foundation 

 

SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER . COM

 

 

How does my child "measure up?"

Should she have started talking by now?  Should he be walking already?  When should I give her a spoon to try to eat by herself?  Shouldn't he have rolled over by now?  Why doesn't he play with other children? Why didn't he ever crawl? 

As parents, it is natural to ask questions such as these.  We all wonder how our child is developing and if the doctor will catch on with those few check ups in the first few years if something has gone awry.  But, there are many resources out there to help parents determine if their child is on track or if they are falling behind.  First, it is always important to remember that all children develop at their own pace. Some children may walk as early as 9 months while others may wait to take their first steps at 18 months.  Remember that your child is an individual and will develop at their own pace.  If you are concerned, there are wonderful resources for all families that are offered free to you and your child.  If you are in Colorado check out Early Intervention Colorado. 

This site is full of resources to help you and your child find your way to the answers you are looking for.  If you are still concerned after checking out the developmental checklists contact your local school district for information on Child Find.

Child Find is a state mandated program, free to your family, for children ages 0-3.  Child Find is responsible for locating and identifying children who are experiencing delays and helping them to get the services they need.

Early intervention has been proven to be the best way to get children "caught up" when they are falling behind in those developmental milestones.  So, whatever you do, if you are concerned, do the research and get your child the help they need.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Welcome to our Blog!  TheraPlay of Colorado is located in the Denver Metropolitan area (Colorado,USA).  We are a new company providing Occupational Therapy services to children of all ages.  We specialize in a variety of developmental delays and disorders, ranging from Autism to Handwriting to sensory processing disorders.  Check back with us in the future for more information on our services.  Also, feel free to contact us with any questions!  Enjoy!