According to the SPD Foundation, as many as 1 in 6 children may have a Sensory Processing Disorder.* That is roughly 16% of the currently child population. Thus, chances are you know a child or have a child who experiences sensory challenges. My family is no exception. That said, this year, I have been looking for several Christmas gifts to help out my child with sensory challenges, and Chewigum and Litecup are among my faves!
10 Christmas Gifts for Children with Sensory Challenges
- A Chewigem. Up until recently my daughter has been biting her fingernails or picking at scabs. And then I learned about Chewigems. I was somewhat intrigued by this chewable jewelry, but before I got one for my daughter I wanted to make sure it would not only help her sensory challenges, but that it wouldn’t cause problems with her teeth either. The result? The dentist gave us the a-okay, and Peanut is now a Chewigem wearing happy girl.
- A Litecup. My youngest has actually enjoyed this treasure the most so far, but I became so enamored when we got our first Litecup I was telling all my friends about it, showing them this video (see below), and posting about it on social media. In fact, I’ve already vowed that this is the one purchase I will try to splurge on getting more this year for Christmas. They are fantastic!
- A bouncy ball. For a child with high energy these things things are great for bouncing up and down the halls or down the sidewalk.
- Brain Break Cards. I created these for us to use during school, and they have majorly helped minimize mental break-downs. Whether you just want something to break up your day or provide a school brain break, these are free! Just print, laminate and they are ready for use again and again.
- A large playball or exercise ball for sitting on. We got ours at Wal-mart since the girls could sit and try the size out right in the store. Besides that, they were only $3. My girls now use these balls nearly every day when doing their school work. Just make sure the ball is the right height for the child to sit on the ball with their feet firmly planted on the ground.
- A trampoline. When we started going to an OT, this was the number one thing she recommended for our daughter. We ended up going with an outdoor trampoline, but an indoor one will do the job just as well and isn’t weather pending.
- Sit n Spin. The number one sensory input my daughter needed upon beginning occupational therapy? Besides balance? Lots of opportunities to spin! The Sit n Spin now covers the indoors and #8 covers the outdoors.
- Tire Swing. My girls LOVE this thing. In fact, it may very well be their favorite toy in the backyard (even more than our playset or trampoline). They love to spin, swing, and pretend they are on a roller coaster when they get on this thing. I also like that this particular kind doesn’t leave tire marks on the girls’ clothing.
- A backpack. Do you know the number one thing OT’s often recommend if a child is feeling uncomfortable in a public place? A backpack filled with heavy stuff. It could be filled with water bottles, books, headphones…you name it. Something heavy and something they feel confident wearing. The extra weight will do wonders to help them feel more secure and grounded.
- Silly Straws. Silly straws are not only fun to drink from, but they also provide extra pressure for the mouth. Use them for smoothies, yogurt, ice cream and other thick liquids to provide a sensory sensation that meets your child’s oral sensory needs.
A Little More About the LiteCup
Okay, when we got our LiteCup in the mail, I just have to tell you we really did go crazy. Here’s a couple more videos to show you what I mean. So cool! Oh, and for the record, you really can drink from it from any direction. My daughter just didn’t tip the cup over all the way in the video which is why she couldn’t sip it very well initialy. She’s since figured that out and loves this cup better than all her others!
To to learn more about Chewigem products or to order visit:
To learn more about Litecup products or to order visit:
*More information about the statistics quoted in this article or SPD itself, please visit the SPD Foundation.