Back to School Sensory Style

    We're not a typical family. Which is why our back to school list always includes sensory items. Liam is home/cyber schooled and he needs things that can keep his hands busy so his brain can focus. We just got this awesome kit, check it out!

Back to School Sensory Style

    Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit is amazing! It has twenty-four colors of crystal clear slime. There's also an egg packed full of Galaxy slime, and fruit slime as well. Tons of slimy fun to fulfill their sensory needs, and keep their hands busy. Keeping hands busy helps to keep people focused. It works wonders for my son, and we don't do lessons without something for him to fidget with.

    However, slime isn't just a sensory tool. It's an amazing stress reliever too. I often sit in my chair and stretch slime, or make bubbles in it an pop them. Believe it or not, it helps me unwind after an especially rough day.

Add Ins to Make it More Fun

    The Explorer's Choice kit even comes with add ins to make your slime even more sensory fun! There are six glitter jars to make your slime sparkle and shine. With six packs of foam balls your kids can add more texture to their slime. The different sizes of the foam will make slime bumpy and exciting to stretch in your hands! There are even some fruit slices that they can add into their slime!

    The creators of Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit even included stuff to play with your slime! There's a three piece tool set to cut and smooth out your slime. With six animals, you can hide them in the slime and let little hands dig them out. There are even three straws to blow bubbles into your slime. (We love making bubbles in our slime because then you can pop them, and it really fulfills those sensory needs!)

Blast Off For Family Game Night

    Are you ready to blast off for family game night? If so, then we have the perfect game for you.

Blast Off for Family Game Night

    Summer and fireworks go together like winter and sledding. Goliath Games new game Pop Rocket makes the premise of fireworks safe and fun for the entire family. Grab this super fun game, gather your kids, and get ready for an evening of explosive fun!

Pop Rocket

    Pop Rocket is sure to make your kids squeal. Fill it with all of the stars, pull the fuse and wait for it to explode. (Have no fear, it's not a dangerous "explosion." When the top pops up, a shower of safe stars come out.) When it does, the stars will shoot out. The player that catches the most stars of their color, wins the game. Then just collect all the stars, refill Pop Rocket, pull the fuse, and wait for more fun!

Schools Out for Summer

    For most, school is out for summer. That means in about five seconds, you will hear, "I'm bored. There's nothing to do. Mom! He/She is touching me." Just wait for it. Or, grab some fun games from Goliath Games, and give the kids something to do. They have fun things to do for all ages. From games, and puzzles, to outdoor toys. There's something for everyone, and a great way to beat summer boredom, and spend less time on devices.

Slime!

    Liam is all about slime. When he saw that Goliath Games has the Dr. Toxic Slime Lab he was stoked. In this lab kids can create slime and experiment with tension and elasticity. For those that seek sensory input, it's therapy made fun! Check it out!

You can shop all of the fun at Goliath Games.

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Give Them the Gift of Sensory Calming

    Gifts in this home usually have a dual purpose. Since Liam is such a seeker, we try to get him things that he will not only love, but items that will fulfill a sensory need as well. That's where Senseez comes in.

Give Them the Gift of Sensory Calming

    Senseez knows that some kids and adults need more sensory input than others. Which is why they have created cushions, pillows, and lap items, that offer them the extra input that they need. Adults and kids alike can relax, be soothed, and more focus thanks to Senseez.

Good Vibrations

    Have you ever taken a few moments to sit in one of the massage chairs in the mall? If so, you know how relaxing it can be. Your body relaxes from the constant rhythms of the vibrations. Many kids whom seek sensory input are constantly moving. However, that isn't always possible, especially in school. Senseez vibrating pillows and cushions help to calm their bodies by keeping their muscles moving, while they sit still. 

    Senseez Originals are vinyl sit upon cushions that offer those calming vibrations. You can also choose from one of their trendy vibrating pillows (they look like shirts!) If you're looking for even more input, then check out their 3 in 1 Adaptables. These bolster shaped pillows offer children and adults added weight, vibrations, and hot/cold therapy as well. You'll be giving them three calming tools in one convenient item. 

Some Like it Hot, Some Like it Cold

     The Soothables line from Senseez offers kids (and adults) either vibrations, or warm and cooling therapy. Plus, the outsides of Soothables are soft to the touch, and offer other parts to run your fingers through for even more input. 

    Liam happens to love cold things. He puts his smallest blanket in the freezer so it's "nice and cold," every day. So he chose the Soothables Lil Turtle Hot/Cold Pack. As soon as it came, he took the inner pack out and put it right in the refrigerator. Then he took the turtle cover and rubbed it all over his face. It's so soft, and the little "lumps" on it, offer a really neat feeling.

Perfect for Easter Gifts

    With Easter right around the corner, why not give your kids some calming vibes? Check out all of Senseez products on their website. We love them and know that you will too!

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Easter Goodies for Kids of All Ages

     Easter is getting closer! Have you started getting goodies for their baskets? We just started and I have a few toys to tell you about that I think kids of all ages will enjoy!

Easter Goodies for Kids of All Ages

    Tomy has long been a maker of some of our kids favorite toys. They have everything from Pokemon, John Deere, Sonic the Hedgehog and more. You're sure to find a ton of goodies to put in their baskets! I just got Liam two awesome toys from Tomy that he's going to love, and I can't wait to tell you about them!

Spring Means Playing in the Dirt

    After being cooped up all winter, my boy looks forward to getting outside and digging in the dirt! He loves having all sorts of cars and tractors to play with. I got him this cute little John Deere Gator from their Monster Treads collection. He's going to love this addition to his toy car and truck collection. It even has the open back for hauling dirt and pebbles. The small size makes it wonderful addition to your child's Easter basket. To see all of John Deere toys from Tomy, click here.

Sensory Fun Wherever We Roam

    In this home, toys have no gender identity, and no age limit. Especially when they can fulfill Liam's sensory needs. Which is why I know he's going to love Tomy's Lamaze Jibber Jabber Jake.

    While initially designed for babies and toddlers, this frog is packed full of sensory input areas. It makes little frog sounds as you turn it over. Different parts of the body crinkle fulfilling both auditory and tactile sensory needs. There's even a silicone leaf to fulfill kids' need to chew. Oh and the clip on it means, you can hang it anywhere. (I'll keep Liam's in the car so he always has sensory input with him.) Plus it's adorable! The bright colors and cute face are sure to make it a hit with your child. (I totally recommend it for special needs that seek sensory input!)

   This is just one example of the adorable and fun toys that you can find from Lamaze. From butterflies, inch worms, donkeys and more, they have sensory fun for kids. Check them out!

Much More from Tomy

    These are just two of the hundreds of toys you can find from Tomy and their parent brands. To see them all, you have to head to their website. With free shipping on contiguous US orders over 50$, now is a great time to stock for their Easter baskets.

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Scented and Squishy Fruits to Satiate Sensory Seekers from Buylet

    I have a seeker! He's always moving, jumping, squishing, spinning and more. When we go places he has to touch everything to feel it. So how do I stop him from that? I give him sensory toys to keep his hands busy! I happen to love these scented and squishy fruits from Buylet. If you have a seeker, then this is for you!

Scented and Squishy Fruits to Satiate Sensory Seekers

    I just got Liam a four pack of jumbo squishy fruits from Buylet. They were an instant hit! These fruits are so soft and pliable, which makes them a blast to squeeze. Liam likes watching them slowly rise back to shape too. 

    He pokes and prods them, squeezes and squishes them. They're even scented so they not only satisfy a tactile seeker, but an olfactory seeker as well. 

Use Them to Help With Hand Eye Coordination

    Because Buylet's Jumbo Fruit Squishies are soft, they're great for using in a game of catch. Liam still struggles with catching objects. These soft fruits are great for tossing, inside the house and out. You won't have to worry if your child gets hit with them because they are so soft. We even use them for games of Hot Fruit (because fruit is cooler than potatoes!)

For Adults and Kids Alike

    Whether your child has special needs, or just gets anxious, Buylet's Jumbo Fruit Squishies are perfect. They're great for squeezing and relieving stress! My niece loves them too!

    As for adults, they are also an effective stress reliever, as well as perfect for exercising their hands. My mom has Psoriatic Arthritis, and her hands get so sore! Liam gave his Nana the giant Peach and she has been using to stretch her hands every day. She loves it too!

    Easter is coming, so grab this four pack from Buylet, and add a piece of squishy fruit to everyone's Easter Basket! 

The Story of an Autistic Elf

    This is the story of our Autistic Elf. Of course, she's not Autistic but since she now belongs to an Autistic boy, her story and journey with our family, is much different than that of a "typical" elf. I'm sharing because yesterday on IG I was explaining the story of our Elf, on the EotS account. Many parents reached out to me to learn more, and then for some reason EotS deleted my comments. Since so many were interested in Tinsel's story, I thought this would be the perfect platform to share her journey with all of you.

     Hi! My name is Tinsel TrudyJohn! You can call me TTJ, but many of my elf friends just call me the Autistic Elf. I'm a scout elf, but I'm not your "typical" scout elf. I was adopted by the Legion family in 2013. Liam actually picked me out in the store because he wanted to choose his new friend. When he got me home and opened me up, he held me while Mommy read him my story. She went on to explain that once I had my magic, he could NEVER touch me. She also told him that after Christmas, I would fly back to the North Pole until the next holiday season.

    This made my boy super sad. He cried. A LOT! He wouldn't put me down for fear that when I got my magic, he could never play with me again. My boy has very bad anxiety and I was causing him more stress than joy. I felt awful!

     That night, once he was asleep, another scout elf came to bring me my magic. I immediately flew back to the North Pole. I insisted on seeing Santa Claus immediately, as my mission was of the utmost importance! He met me at once, and over hot cocoa and cookies, I explained my dilemma. Of course, Santa knew all about my special boy. He explained that such a special child, required a special elf. Santa told me that my boy chose me specifically, even if he didn't realize it. He said I would not be a typical elf, because I was now the elf of an Autistic child. The big guy knew just what to do! He said he would give me special magic so that my boy could hold me and play with me. He also said that I could stay with my new family, year round! On Christmas Eve, when he delivers Liam's gifts, he would take my magic back to the North Pole. Then, next year around Thanksgiving, he will send a Scout Elf back to me, with my magic, and I must fly straight to the North Pole so he can give me back my SPECIAL magic.

      This is how it works for me, and has since 2013. I know my journey is quite different than that of my other Scout Elf friends. I tell them all about my boy every chance I get, because I know how important my journey, and our story is. So you see, I'm not Autistic, but my boy is, and so I am the Autistic Elf, and that's what they call me at the North Pole. My new mother even made me a very special, Autism Awareness, so I can spread the word wherever I go! I love my boy and I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world. Although, he needs to sleep more because some nights he doesn't leave me much time to fly back and report to the big man!

      Below are some pictures of my Elfcapades with my boy. Much like my boy, I'm very spunky, and I love to have fun!

Elves need Sensory Input too!

We like markers! And mustaches!

teehee!

Just hangin' around!

SNOWBALL fight!

I love to take sELFies!