Bringing Sensory to the (Easter) Basket!
I always have grand plans of being ultra prepared and then time plows right through said plans and we’re sitting at the week of Easter. I picked up some great sensory toys for our boys’ Easter baskets at Dollar Tree a few weeks ago on a whim which you can view on the first and only TikTok video I’ve ever made, ha. Seriously, though, some really great sensory friendly options.
Fidgets
One of my favorite ways to bring more sensory-based toys and tools into our house is through gift giving. It puts a fun spin on things that also serve a purpose. Fidgets make really great additions to baskets and stockings, things left by Lucky the Leprechaun, or gift toppers if you’re fancy. We have some favorites that I thought I’d share in case you’re looking for some last minute items for your baskets…here are our top five:
Pop-it : Both of our boys (ages 3 and 6) love the pop-its that my sister bought them for Christmas. They’re great because they are much quieter than bubble wrap and are super portable. They are also easily washed in the sink!
Wacky Tracks: Super versatile, also really portable (I usually keep some in the car and/or my purse), and fun to see the various ways kids put them to use. These are used almost daily during virtual learning in our house – they fit very discreetly in a little lap.
Fidget Ball: This thing is like Rubiks Cube meets Pop-It and it’s as fabulous as it looks. Fletcher loves that it’s round and that he can feel the ball popping from one spot to another while he tries to solve the puzzle.
Arrgh! Ball: The Arrgh! ball is one of our favorite new things of 2021. We learned about them from our craniosacral therapist. They’re super fun because they’re squishy, but they also have a little weight to them which provides wonderful input. Both of our boys love the Arrgh! Ball. A quick note of caution: One that we purchased has water beads inside. Looks super cool and adds a textural element to the ball. However, if you have a child with endless curiosity like we do, they may find their way to the plug at the bottom and figure out how to get some of those water beads out (this definitely happened to us within 20 minutes of owning it, ha!)
Therapy Putty: This putty was one of the first tools we received from OT and remains one of Fletcher’s favorites. The containers come in different strengths depending on the level of input you’re looking for. Therapy putty is a great sensory tool disguised by fun colors and compact containers. (We sent some to school with Fletcher in his backpack when he was just beginning his sensory journey and really struggling. It was used as a “take a break” activity for him.)
Basket Fillers
Our good friend Emily the OT is frequently asked about sensory basket fillers for Easter, but also for other occasions like birthdays. Following is her go-to list of tried and true sensory basket fillers:
1-Chewy
2-Chalk
3- Easter Light up spinner toy
4- Water Wow
7-Jump rope
10-Touch and feel books
13-Scarves
15-Kazoo
16-Koosh balls
17-Slinky
18-Glow sticks
19-Easter stickers
20-Magic towels (dollar store)
Egg Hunt Sensory Strategies
While we’re talking about Easter and some of the more traditional activities, you might consider some of the following strategies to help your sensory kiddos manage what can sometimes be a chaotic, overwhelming and overstimulating experience…. THE EGG HUNT.
- Visual schedule (create a visual schedule with pictures so your child knows what to expect, the order of activities, where they’ll be looking for eggs, etc.
- Color code eggs: Give each child ONE color egg to hunt for. So Ryan knows ahead of time he is only looking for yellow eggs and Ari knows she is only looking for purple. This cuts down on the anxiety.
- Egg hunt social story – similar concept to the visual schedule above, but another way to lay out expectations and the overall experience.
- Quiet area for breaks: Create a safe space for your kiddo to retreat when/if they’re feeling overwhelmed. With color-coded eggs, the “rush” is eliminated and they can find their respective eggs when it works for them.
- Practice ahead of time!: Create an egg hunt or other hide and seek games prior to the day of so they’re comfortable with what to expect.
Wishing all a low-stress, low-anxiety, enjoyable weekend!