I just realized that Easter is this weekend. I knew it was coming, it just hadn’t registered that it was this week – has anyone else lost all sense of time during this pandemic?!
Anyway – 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.)
Enjoy! I’d love to hear about your favorite fidgets! We’re always looking to add to our repertoire!