kinesthetic toys/items

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  • Rachel White
    Participant

    I have a 21 mth. old grandson that I can tell he is very kinesthetic. I would like to provide him what items, house hold or companies (like Lauri or Super Duper) to use and/or buy to give him the sensory input he needs. All areas of kinesthetic and oral input (He’s teething) ideas are welcome. He’s behind developmentally, but I want to get him some sort of dough to play with and squeeze, but I don’t know if he’s old enough for playdough. He likes soft stuff on his skin, doesn’t like getting his feet messy. He loved a soft hand exercise strengthening ball that he rubbed and pressed against his cheek. Liks to touch faces and rub. Things with different textures. He pats his and other’s legs a lot. I know I want to balance his senses, too.

    I have an adopted dd whose needs in this area were not met (we got her at 3) and she suffers from the  repercussions now and for the rest of her life; I’d like to try to help him avoid the problems that plague my dd.

    Thanks,

    Rachel

    missceegee
    Participant

    Hi Rachel,

    • I suggest Blubber for a molding, shaping, dough. It is fabulous and much softer, easier to mold than play-doh. 
    • Play silks feel heavenly are delightful for many different uses. 
    • A Koosh Ball has a soft, yet interesting texture.

    HTH,

    Christie

    lgeurink
    Member

    I have a dd with sensory processing disorder and the most helpful books I have read are The Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz which explains and discusses sensory processing and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun which is probably more what you are looking for.  It breaks down activities based on the sense you want to improve/target/help and they are for all abilities.  It has recipes, games, toy suggestions.  It also uses a lot of things you probably already have around.  I hope you find it helpful! 

    Rachel White
    Participant

    Thank you Christie for those links; I wasn’t sure he would be able to do play-dough yet as it requires a little more hand dexterity than I think he has, plus he’s not used to getting his hands dirty (I’m hoping to work on that the more we have him) and all goes in the mouth still, so I’ll check out the Blubber; I think Timberdoodle had some.

    It’s funny you should mention those two books because I had a ‘duh’ moment last night when I realized I have both of those! And the one for fun right next to my bed! There’s so many books in this house…Embarassed Smile

    I’m going to go through the “Has Fun” one and see what I can put together for him and my dd. I bought it to give my dd more of what she needs as she has sensory processing disorder, too (including temperature regulation, seems like she’s never comfortable); I have a therapy ball and 2 fun decks for her, but the activities are too advanced for him. I noticed in the back of the book, there was an age comparison chart so I could match them together sometimes doing the same thing. My dd therapist gave me a composite of differing activities but I’ve never been able to really organize into my day. Igeurink, do you have a schedule/chart/order/plan of sensory activities that you do for your dd? Not the activities themselves, but how do you schedule them? That’s what I have to get in order, and not just for him, she still needs it.

    Rachel

    Sonya Shafer
    Moderator

    Another very good book is Sensational Kids by Miller and Fuller. I believe Carol Kranowitz wrote the foreword. It gave very practical scenarios of various types of sensory processing disorders and lots of hands-on tips. Your library probably has a copy.

    lgeurink
    Member

    So many books…  I lent my copies and do not remember who I lent them to, grrrr….  As far as scheduling, that is always the problem.  My dd has pretty severe special needs so she has been at our local Christian school full days in 2nd grade this last year.  Next year she will only go in the mornings but we have finally qualified for aid in our house for her so we have an actual “program” they follow.  As far as her sensory stuff, we have a sheet with about 10 activities that can be helpful to her and the aids try to do five per day.  Our goal is to do them before she gets upset and we have a picture calendar on the fridge for the day so she knows when it is time to listen to her headphones (for auditory sensory therapy-her biggest sensory issue), when she gets to jump on the tramp, and we can all tell when she wants to wrestle!  Our goal is to get to her before she starts loosing it but that gets tough with taking care of the other girls so it helps that after 9 1/2 years we finally have some help b/c I notice her being more relaxed.  I am actually writing this in her bed since this is the third time she has woken up tonight in 2 1/2 hours- she has a sleep disorder that is common with her diagnosis.  It is wonderful that you are able to help your grandson’s parents as this is such a hard thing to go through and other people don’t understand it as a real disorder and think you just have a naughty child or you just don’t discipline.  I am sure they appreciate your knowledge and support.  I would look through the book again and see if you can adapt for that age.  One sensory camp that we went to had some “snow” that you can order off the internet and make at home in a kiddie pool and my dd loved that, they also filled it with cut up yarn, sand, and crumpled paper and had little toys hidden in it.  Some of that you could even do inside with less stimulation.  Hope you find some things that work, he is so young and we have noticed amazing growth in our daughter as she has had intensive therapy and help, most of which was started when she was 4 1/2 so there is still a lot that can be done for your two who are so young. 

    Rachel White
    Participant

    Well, my dd is actually 9; we didn’t get the adoption finalized till she was 3. Her “biological incubator” used drugs extensively while pregnat and then she was abused in the home until DEFACS took her and then she was shifted to 5 different homes during a 2 1/2 yr. time period. When we got her, she would have tantrums for up to 1 1/2 hours!She too used the headphones starting at age 7 and therapy cd’s which were very successful along with therapy at a Challenged Child Center until she ‘graduated’, but I was given paperwork to use with her at home, which I have failed to follow thru on. I can still have access to the cd’s, it’s just a 25 min. drive to go get them in a direction I don’t go in but once a month. I’m thinking I need to ask them if they will let me use them over a 4 week period instead of 2; gotta remind myself to make that call.Undecided Anyway, she still has so much to work on; I’m supposed to use the brushing on her skin, or have her do it herself; use the joint pressure techniques to stimulate her to calm her down. She sleeps as light as a feather and really doesn’t sleep very well; she gets warm, then cold-her temp. modulation is terrible. She is dysfunctional in all the areas described in the Out of Sync Child, with crossovers in some, if that makes any sense. I’m thinking about using herbs for temp. regulation mixed with the calming herbs to treat both areas at night.

    My grandson, I don’t believe, has the SPD yet, but I can easily see it heading in that direction if his life continues in this direction. If my own dd had gotten the kind of help early, she would be better and I know there are things going on with him to not prevent him from going in the same direction. Unfortunately, I’m dealing with a son (the child’s father) who has turned out as a substance-abusing, deadbeat dad and my dd-in-law is now a single mom, seeking divorce, with our support Cry. So the little guy is shuffled all over and living such an unstable existance right now-one area that glares out that I (and my hubby) can see his oral development problem in his eating habits and talking (the same we had with her because no one did the right thing for her at the appropriate developmental time) and the massive insecurity and hyperesponsive fears. Then we also see areas to be encouraged (we think he would love musical instruments and the above mentioned texture loves) that are obviously not being encourages and want to address those and help her there as well; his mom is responsive/appreciative to us and we try to make sure to be respectful to her position as ‘momma’.

    I could go on and on; we are very angry and saddened by the direction my (step)son has taken. We are trying to help her as much as possible to offer little Benjamin as much stability as possible-she mentioned how much of a diffference she sees in him when he comes back from our home. We are praying that G-d will move her up closer this way so we can have the most inpact on both of their lives and reduce her babysitting costs and reduce his time with his other grandmother (my st.son’s mother-long story there, part of the problem); how much less my son will be meeting his obligations we shall see; he seems to enjoy the single life at this point than fulfilling his responsibilities.

    Yes, it does get overwhelming; I have a son who is 9 1/2 who is completely opposite of all this but is demanding in other ways-extremely intelligent and can’t understand logically why his sister acts the way she does; my two surgeries in 4 years on my neck and the chronic side effects, my husband’s kidney disease, back surgery and seizures. So yeah, things get put on the back burner and then G-d brings them back to your attention. However, both of mine are very helpful and my prayers will be answered that G-d will use the events in our lives as a benefit to the plan and purpose He has for theirs.

    Sorry for rambling and getting very personal; I also don’t mean to sound whiny or self-pitying, I despise that and find no use for it and I don’t feel that way; I just sometimes get weary and the past week has drained me. G-d has provided and answered many prayers so my faith in Him is firm (my latest surgery 4 weeks ago was tremendously successful). He gave me the constitution to deal with what He sees fit to allow in our lives and “all things work together for good to those that love him and are called according to His Purpose”.

    Thank you your encouragment and ideas. If you come across anything else, I appreciate it.

    Rachel

    lgeurink
    Member

    Ramble away, we all need to get it out sometimes.  I know what you mean about not feeling self pity or whiny but still needing to ask for help or suggestions and not being sure how it will come across, especially when not a lot of other people can understand.  And it is hard not to sound whiny, even if you don’t feel like it, when you have not slept through the night in nearly 10 years!  I am with you there.  Anyway, sounds like you are commited to your family and I am sure they know that, even your son.  I will keep your family in my prayers and if I can think of anything else I will let you know.  Does your state have an Early On program through the public shools or maybe community mental health?  In MI it is a birth -3 years old program that concentrates on early intervention for any child who has a potential for a learning disability of any kind, not sure if it is a program nation wide.  Not only did we receive help and support in our home but we made lots of connections to doctors and therapists as well.  God bless.

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