Let Australian Therapy and Sensory shop help you with Traveling with kids

Let Australian Therapy and Sensory shop help you with Traveling with kids

Its that time of year when we pile our kids into the car and go on holidays.

Some of the lucky ones get to go on an Airplane, or even a train.

The problem is the same for all of us though, kids getting bored.

A lot of people choose to give their kids a tablet or phone to keep them occupied.

But if your anything like me, you remember traveling and seeing things along the way, broadening our horizons. Kids these days often miss out on that, with their heads in screens they don’t see the interesting things going on outside.

With this kit, it encourages kid to keep themselves busy without a digital devise.

https://therapysensory.com.au/collections/kits/products/travel-fidget-kit

I also suggest a bunch of games the family can play, to keep it fun and interesting.

Ideas for traveling:

I Spy, For younger kids, use colours, for example, I spy with my little eye, something that is green. For older kids use the alphabet. Make sure to make some ground rules, like, it has to be something we can all see, not something from 5 kms back. And keep it light, if its too hard, give clues.

The number plate game. When your kids are old enough to know the alphabet, you do a game where you make a sentence from the letters of the number plate in front of you, there are no winners or losers but lots of family fun. We chose to allow some silly words like Willy, and Boobs which my boys thought was hilarious, but up to you what guidelines you choose.

First person to see! The beginner chooses something everyone has to look out for, it can be easy as a blue car, or a brown cow, but something doable. Keeps them busy looking. Be creative.

Sing along. Choose music the kids will enjoy too, and sing along, Christmas is a great time for Christmas carols, good old Wiggles, or whatever your kids enjoy.

Remember grownups, this is about keeping the kids happy, its not about you winning just because you can, let that competitive spirit go and enjoy some family fun and laughter.

Please if you have any travel ideas please add to this and share with everyone else. Happy and Safe Travels Sharon Ralston Therapysensory.com.au sharon@therapysensory.com.au

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Improve writing skills with Grotto Grips

Many children with autism have difficulties with gross motor skills, such as running or throwing a ball. Many struggle with finer tasks, such as cutting with scissors or writing legibly.

Using an ergonomic Grotto Grip trains the hand to form a proper grasp. It enables the use of dynamic finger movements, which can lead to more precision and increased writing speed.

The Grotto Grip was designed with optimal firmness to provide sufficient feedback to the fingers. This helps to maintain a proper grasp while writing. Grips that are too soft, lack finger guards, or place fingers too far from the pencil point may reinforce improper grasp habits.

Uniquely designed, the Grotto Grip places the hand and fingers in a position which shifts the support to the palm of the hand. This facilitates the user to hold the wrist in an extended position which is the proper way to hold a pen.

Improving writing skills can also support children in their wider education and boost their confidence. So if you haven’t tried a Grotto Grip give it a go.

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Back In Stock – Airfort Starry Night

This morning we woke up to an exciting delivery of Starry Night Airforts! They have been popular Christmas and birthday presents for children who are looking for a comforting play zone or dark den. 

Simple to use – 1. attach to a box fan (not included), turn on and it inflates in 30 seconds! Play or chill out! To pack away turn off the fan and fold Airfort up into its carry bag.

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Chewellery – no more holes in clothing!

If your child often comes home with holes in their clothing or bite mark on their pencils then you should have a look at stylish and discreet chewable jewellery designed for kids through to adults who have the need to chew.  

lMade in the USA and medical grade, these ARK “chewellery” sensory chew necklaces are perfect for on-the-go oral sensory input.  They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, thicknesses, and toughness levels to best fit a variety of sensory preferences.    

Long slender shapes are sized to reach the back molars,  textured options provide extra tactile input for sensory seekers. The Ninja Star chew necklace is 9.53mm thick making it suitable for those who like to bite with their front teeth. Chewing can also help kids to calm, focus, and self-regulate which are essential skills to have in the classroom or at home.

TherapySensory stocks a range of chewellery, if you can’t find what you are looking for please let us know. We can also do school orders for bulk buys.

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Are you ready for back to school?

Getting ready for back to school?

Let’s talk about some ideas to help not just the first timers, but the kids returning after holidays.

If you have a chewer, who chews everything including collars on shirts and pencils, look into oral chew necklaces, bracelets or hand tools. TherapySensory stocks a wide range of shapes and colours.

If your child struggles with writing, we stock the Grotto Grip which you put on a pencil to guide their fingers into the right angles for writing. These are the best on the market and are the most recommended by Occupational Therapists.

Fidget toys that are ideal for school to support fidgeting are products that do not make a noise or bother other people, something small they can hold in their hand and keep in their pocket or pencil case.

The next thing I would recommend is a weighted cushion. A plain coloured cushion with 4kg of weight can be used to sit on and wiggle, or placed on their lap for deep pressure therapy. Being a cushion it will not make the other children feel left out like a weighted toy might.

OK, what about uniforms? Does your child hate uniforms because they are scratchy? Or the socks feel funny? We have a great range of singlets to wear under their uniform or regular clothing to help them feel less irritated. Of course our seamless socks are a perfect for children who say they feel uncomfortable.

Check out www.therapysensory.com.au for some awesome ideas and tools to help with school.

Also don’t forget you can always message me (Sharon) on here for free advice as I am a Sales and Sensory Consultant.

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So, What's the big deal with this cute little Train?

What a simple little game to help with exercising children’s lung capacity and strengthening the neck muscles. 

Blow through the pipe and the Styrofoam ball floats. 

The lightweight ball will rise and hover over the train funnel. 

When you stop blowing, the ball will fall. 

Blow too hard and it flies away.

Part of the game is to learn how to control your breath, and hold your mouth and tongue so that the ball is not blown too hard and flies away and falls on the ground.

With Practice, the child learns how to blow just the right amount to keep the little ball floating. 

By maximizing lung capacity and strengthening muscles it can help with speech and mouth control. 

 

This is an absolute must for most sensory kits, particularly for those seeing a speech therapist.

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Ohh the drama!

How many of us have seen this meme and have had a knowing chuckle?

People with neurotypical kids have no idea, something as simple as a tag can end up meaning a missed school day, a late appointment, or just a miserable start to the day.  Fortunately, a very clever Mum of a Special needs child decided to take this in hand and has been a blessing for the rest of us. 

We can now put shirts without seams and tags on our kids, they can wear them under their uniforms, and no one is wiser, the kids are happy, and we are relieved it’s one less drama to deal with.

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A bit about me, Sharon the blogger.

HI I’m Sharon, I’m the Directors of the Australian Therapy Sensory shop.

We are a newly opened Mum and pop type shop, currently online.

I have been in the special needs therapy tools business for over 20 years. Having started up two companies, sold them, and helped a friend set one up, they are all still going.

Australian Therapy Sensory is a bit different! We are not just focusing on toys, but we have a strong focus on Therapy Tools, and how they help. With a focus on what you can do to help people requiring support.

We are also big on DIY support ideas, and how to get the most out of your choices.

I am the mum of two boys, one with ADHD, James, 28, he lives away from home. Additionally, Toby with ADHD and Autism, who is 19 and has his own place with SIL, I’ll do a blog on SIL one day to explain.

I’m at home on my own now, so I can focus on making some great informative blogs. To help parents carers and support people alike. I would love feedback and questions. Please feel free to contact me! Both with your ideas, opinions and experiences.

One thing I have learned throughout my experience being a mum. Is to laugh as much as you can, they say laughter is the best medicine, and it really is. Keep life as lite as possible cause the dramas will come, so save your energy for when you really do need it.

Keep an eye out for our blog!

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Check out this secret fidget tool for all ages.

This wooden hand fidget is particularly popular for its size and discretion.

It does not make a sound.

It is comforting to keep in your pocket and twirl the round ball in the center.

The wood itself is smooth and provides a calming sensation.

Particularly helpful for teens and adults who require stimulation without being obvious.

This hand fidget has long been popular for all ages.

Particularly for teens and adults, as unlike many other fidget tools, which look like toys, this does not look like a childish toy.

It fits comfortably in the hand, you can hold it discreetly without anyone knowing, or you can put your hand in your pocket and use it.

You run your thumb over the round ball whilst holding the disc in your hand.

The repetitive movement is both calming and relaxing, whilst helping you focus on the job at hand, be it a meeting or a school assembly.

Once your friends find out you have one, they will want one too, they are pretty cool and fun, and really do help you focus.

A great addition to any sensory kit.

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