At Twenty-One Senses, our mission is also our passion. As parents and caregivers of children with sensory processing issues, we are dedicated to providing resources and support for families like ours.
As SPD Awareness Month comes to a close, our team would like to take a moment to share just some of the resources and products we’ve found to be particularly helpful over the years. Keep in mind that sensory supports don’t necessarily need to cost money. Get creative and experiment until you find something that works for your family—pushing a laundry basket full of books or groceries around the kitchen is great stimulation for the muscles/joints, and a nook full of pillows can work just as well as a crash pad. The possibilities are endless!
Books and online resources:
- STAR Institute
- Understood.org
- The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller
- Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Signals: A Practical Daily Use Handbook for Parents and Teachersby Angie Voss OTR
A few helpful products:
- Foam rollers, yoga balls, and wobble chairs are great alternatives to traditional classroom seating.
- Ear plugs and noise cancelling headphones help keep out unwanted distractions.
- Multi-sensory timers are great for helping your child manage his time and stay on task.
- Trampolines and indoor gym equipment keep kids moving and working out excess energy, even on cold and rainy days.
- Sensory swings and crash pads are a great place to read and relax.
- Weighted blankets, sensory sheets, sensory body socks, and compression clothing provide resistance and deep pressure in the joints.
- Chewy tubes and necklaces can help self-soothe and regulate, especially right before bedtime.
- Sensory fidgets, like squeeze balls and fidget cubes, are great, but don’t be afraid to use items from around the house. Legos, guitar picks, coins, hair ties—whatever works!
