Over the years, we have been introduced to a whole new world of change, challenge, and new adventures. Below is a list of resources that have proven to be invaluable in regard to help us supporting Evan’s daily life, growth and development. My hope is that through our trials and tribulations along this journey, we can share some of the items we’ve discovered as true lifesavers in regard to clothing, shoes, orthosis, socks, toys and devices.
Sensory Integration Tools/Toys and Resources
Our son has several comorbid conditions; cerebral palsy, ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADHD, anxiety, as well as SID (Sensory Integration Disorder). Over the years Evan has made tremendous progress in regard to his ability to self-regulate and articulate his need for input. As we continue to meet his sensory diet, we have noted less sensory seeking behavior that had been noted in the past. Some of these behaviors include slapping, hitting, flailing/twirling his arms, shrieking, incessant talking, picking at his skin and pulling his hair. These tools, toys and resources have been invaluable in helping Evan along his continued journey. I hope they will meet your child’s needs as well.
Pinch Me Therapy Dough – Holistic Aromatherapy Stress Relieving Putty
This therapy ‘dough’ is unlike any other theraputty that we’ve ever experienced. It was introduced to us by one of Evan’s amazing therapists, Katie. While Evan was warming up, she would allow him to play with the dough, we noted the calming impact on him immediately. The dough comes in a variety of scents, our favorite is the lavender, but also really love the Ocean, Beach and Chill scents. Evan uses it throughout his day whenever he may feel anxious or need some sort of input, and most especially enjoys it before bedtime to help ease him into sleep. This little container of dough has been a lifesaver time and time again!
I love these fidget toys as they are small, discreet and can easily fit inside Evan’s pocket. These toys can go unnoticed for use in school, church and any other setting where Evan may need input. They also provide additional exercise for fine motor skills and help to stretch out areas of high tone in Evan’s hand and fingers.
Tangle Therapy Relaxation for Hand and Mind Wellness
This toy helps in so many ways, the twist, turn and release assists in easing anxiety, need for input or to aide in focusing. The textured rubber surface provides an additional sensory component to help elay sensory seeking impulses. It’s been a wonderful means of support for Evan, he will often use it on his ride to and from school to help with the transitioning of settings and to help decompress from his busy day. Best of all, it’s completely washable! So worthwhile!
This little piece of rubber has proven to be a lifesaver whenever we’ve needed to go somewhere as a family, while having Evan’s sensory diet and need for input met. I first saw the bands used as an accommodation for one of my students, and soon realized the incredible therapeutic value that these bands provided for children with ADHD, Autism and sensory seeking behavior. I now have bands on most all of our kitchen chairs and keep extras to use for travel purposes. They are truly worth their weight in gold!
These little gems come in a pack of three. They are small, discreet and provide 1.5 pound of input. The textured surface also provides additional sensory feedback and are wonderful to help support focus, concentration or aide with anxiety. My younger sister, a special education teacher introduces Evan and have proven to be invaluable means of support both at home and at school.
While this ball may look vintage and reflective of gym days long gone by, the essential premise of the ball remains timeless. We ordered this ball as one of Evan’s birthday presents to help round out a revised sensory input tool kit. The weights range from 8-20 pounds, we selected a 10 pound weight to help to not only feed his sensory diet, but to also help provide some strengthening. In addition to lifting the ball, Evan also enjoys rolling the ball back and forth with one of us. Having him sit on the floor with his legs apart also helps with stretching out his areas of high and low muscle tone.
We use this stability this ball when Evan is playing video games, watching tv or needs to just bounce a little or weight bearing input.
We recently began to use a weighted blanket for whenever Evan needs a little hug or weighted input. The one we purchased was a twin in size and weighed 15 pounds. It was available in weights ranging from 5 to 30 pounds. The recommendation is that you select a weight that equals 10% of your body weight plus one. We were very pleased with the quality of the blanket, and while we selected a solid color, they had kid-friendly motifs. Before going to sleep, Evan always asked to be ‘squeezed,’ the older and larger he gets, the more difficult it is to provide that input. Having access to the weighted blanket helps to quell and satiate that need. We have since purchased one for our daughter, who also enjoys the ‘hug’ it provides. It’s a very worthwhile investment.
We received this cushion from one of our therapists when Evan was in the preschool disabled class. It’s been very effective in helping provide immediate input. Evan loves to stand on it with bare feet. It comes in handy on particularly rainy days spent inside!
When Evan was very young, and just beginning to crawl, I would put treats on one end of the tunnel as incentive to have him move toward them as a reward! I quickly realized the therapeutic value of having Evan use his arms and legs as he began to plan his gross motor skills for movement.
SmartKnit Seamless AFO Interface Socks – 5 Pack
We have used this company to purchase socks for Evan since he was a toddler and first started to wear orthotics. . When Evan was fitted for his leg braces: both AFOs ( Ankle Foot Orthosis) and SMOs, (Supra Malleolar Orthosis. Supports the leg just above the ankle bones or the malleoli. He was given two pairs of these socks. They were the only socks thin enough to wear underneath both his AFOs and SMOs and thin enough not to cause him to overheat in the warmer months. The AFOs and SMOs are made from a plastic and can be very warm, the wicking from these socks helps to keep feet from sweating and chafing. The socks, shirts and seamless underwear are truly invaluable!
Hannah Anderson Clothing
This company makes some of the most adorable pieces of clothing that I’ve ever seen. It is also some of the highest in quality and washes up beautifully.
My 15 year old still wears some of her pajama bottoms! We first discovered this incredible line of clothing when my niece Sophia was born 18 years ago! We loved them for our daughter who had issues with her skin due to her asthma. When Evan began to show signs of a sensory disorder, we were delighted to know that we had access to clothing that was made from organic cotton and would never be an issue for him sensory wise. I truly can’t say enough about their clothing, especially the pajamas. I invested in their coats as well, they last forever!
Aside from the highly comfortable pajamas, we absolutely loved soft undies for boys, the boxers are soft, durable and very comfortable. They never bunch up, stretch out and wash up beautifully. The elastic waistband is encased so it never touches the skin, for kids with sensory issues, this is a huge plus!
Double Knee Jersey Lined Cargo Pants
The double knee jersey lined cargo pants are made from soft cotton with a plush jersey lining and are a real treasure! The faux fly gives the illusion of a zip up fly without the challenge of having one. For children like Evan who lack fine motor skills, zippers can be very tricky. I loved the jean version of these pants, as they looked like ‘real’ jeans that a typical kid Evan’s age might wear, but much more user friendly.
These long sleeve t-shirts are invaluable, they don’t have buttons, so they are easy to put on and off (even if they go on backwards-which is what happens with my son) and go with just about anything. Each season, I would purchase a few to mix and match with the cargo pants. They are incredibly comfortable, and wash up beautifully. I belong to a Mom’s clothing swap at school and everyone loves my hand me downs-especially our used Hannahs!
Just the name of this hoodie makes me feel happy! Evan loved the feel of this sweatshirt and really enjoyed wearing it on bitter cold school mornings. I would wait for a sale as they can be a bit pricey but they are also extremely well made! Hannah Anderson always has amazing sales, so you can snag one (or two) for a real deal!
This company has been a mainstay in my family for generations. Before the days of the internet, I remember how every Christmas, my grandmother would purchase our presents from a catalog that she received in the mail! The quality of the clothing is fantastic, and while it may seem a bit more expensive, it’s extremely durable and will last forever! There are always sales and if you call customer service, they’re happy to provide you with some sort of coupon code. Because Evan has sensory issues coupled with compromised fine motor skills, we are in constant search for clothing that accommodates his growing body. As he outgrew his Hannah’s, we moved on to Land’s End. I will highlight our absolute favorites.
I really love this pullover as it helps to transition from summer to fall and winter to spring. They come in a variety of colors and are easily slipped on and off with durable and accessible zippers.
Boys Long Sleeve Essential T-Shirt
I can’t say enough about these t-shirts. They wash beautifully and never lose their shape. I purchase them in most every color so that getting dressed in the morning becomes a more manageable task. These shirts are available in both long and short sleeves. Even if your child puts them on backwards, they still look great!
While Evan doesn’t need to change his pants for gym, we were so pleased to find sweatpants with bottoms wide enough to accommodate his leg braces. They are extremely comfortable with a brushed fleece interior. The perfect pant for a cold winter’s day!
Boys Iron Knee Pull On Climber Pants
While we don’t do very much mountain climbing, we do order these pants in every available color! They come in husky sizes, have a reinforced knee, and have a faux fly for boys who may not be able to access a zipper. These pants are extremely durable and have a wide enough leg that generously accommodate Evan’s leg braces.
I really love these bathing suits as they are very generous with their sizing. Evan is now outgrowing a very husky stage, however, the husky sizes provide enough spacing that he’s not bothered by the soft mesh lining. These suits are quick to dry and come in a variety of patterns. I usually load up on these at the end of a season in an effort to prepare for the following summer.
Boys Short Sleeve Rash Guard Shirt
Since Evan does not like wearing wet clothing, I have to invest in many swim shirts. I pack three to four shirts for each beach outing and two to three for each visit to the town pool. In an effort to avoid sensory overload, I help Evan dry off completely and then put him in a regular cotton t-shirt.
I can’t say enough about this jacket. It’s lightweight, yet really warm! It also fits neatly inside a backpack for easy transport to-and-from school. This lightweight jacket helps take us from late October through December. It’s also a great transitional jacket for spring.
This jacket helps to take Evan through the doldrums of winter. I usually only purchase one every other year, that’s how long they last. The sleeves are extendable so that they can easily accommodate growing boys! Evan can be very sensitive to the cold, and this parka helps to keep him snug and warm, even in the most unbearable of early winter mornings!
For a child with sensory issues, Evan loves, loves, loves, to play in the snow! Somehow, he always managed to get completely soaked, that was until we began to purchase these amazing snow pants. The adjustable straps helps to make the bib more comfortable. When in the midst of the winter doldrums, it’s wonderful having the option of going outside to play.
Now that Evan has graduated from mittens, and has mastered separating his fingers, I purchase these Squall gloves. I love these gloves! They are adjustable and last a very long time! One of Evan’s favorite things to do is make snow angels in the front yard. These gloves help to keep the snow, cold and ice out while keeping the warmth in. Lands End has a “Lost Mitten Club,” where they will replace any lost glove or mitten at a fraction of the original price and ship it out for free! This is a great option for anyone that has a pile of mismatched gloves and mittens!
These boots are a real treasure. We’ve been recycling them from one child in the family to the next, remaining in pristine condition. What I really love about these particular boots is the easy accessibility for children who may be challenged with their fine motor skills. They don’t have any laces or zippers, so the ‘rip and grip’ velcro, coupled with the extra wide opening makes them easy to put on and off, helping our little ones feel more independent. Also, the treads on the bottom make for sure footing even on slick surfaces. These boots are worth their weight in gold!
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