Top 21 toys and tools for sensory seekers
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and ADHD
An estimated 40-60% of children with either ADHD or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) have both conditions. Sensory Processing Disorder is a condition in which the body doesn’t react appropriately to sensory signals — certain parts of the brain don’t receive the information needed to correctly interpret sensory signals. This creates challenges in everyday tasks and can result in motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, and school failure. Usually, SPD creates a child who is a sensory avoider or a sensory seeker. Ricochet, my son with ADHD, SPD, and LDs, is most definitely a sensory seeker, as I believe most clinically hyperactive kids are. Truly, he is both a sensory seeker and avoider, but the majority is seeking. A sensory seeker might:
- Throw themselves on the floor frequently
- Crash or bump into walls and furniture mindlessly, but on purpose
- Jump often
- Seem to be more calm when carrying a heavy load
- Be a tactile learner
- Feel the need to touch everything
- Chew on anything and everything, often shirt sleeves and/or pencils
- Make noises often
- Like to spin in circles
Occupational therapy is fantastic treatment for kids with SPD. Ricochet works on his sensory seeking, emotional regulation, social skills, handwriting, and more at weekly OT. Below you’ll find tools that correspond to occupational therapy activities often done with sensory-seeking kids.
21 Toys/Tools for Sensory Seeking Kids
Weighted Objects
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Resistance Tools
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/123145371036728776/
Tactile Toys and Fidgets
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Hand Strengthening and Manipulation
[AMAZONPRODUCTS asin=”B00L4N2ZQE”]
Jumping and Bouncing
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Crashing
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Balancing
Chewing and Oral Motor
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Don’t forget to check out my post on 9 Calming Sensory Activities for Kids with ADHD too!
I feel so helpless and lost in the world of spd! As a parent of 4, I just want all my kiddos to be content and successful in life. My youngest definitely has spd and in my opinion has adhd also but neither of those have been diagnosed. Waiting for months for an opening for evaluation seems to be the norm. In the meantime I could use any advice I could get with calming techniques or how I deal with aggressive behavior from my little guy. He is only 2. And has A LOT OF ENERGY! Unfortunately he often pushes or hits my other son who is 3 and has autism and more of a sensory avoider. This makes for a very chaotic household and really I just could use some advice. Thank you in advance, Jen
I would get an evaluation with an Occupational Therapist and they can create a sensory diet specific to your child. The calming techniques are really individualized and not everything works for every kid. Read Carol Kranowitz’s book, “The Out-of-Sync Child.” She has some followup books filled with activities and such too.