Hellobee

Winter time is hard. It’s too cold to be outside, and staying inside gives you cabin fever. Since Drake has been diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, I am even more acutely aware of how much movement is a necessity for him. Without the ability to run and jump, climb or spin, Drake can really become difficult to deal with his unruliness. With winter looming on us, I have spent a good amount of time researching things to allow him to be able to move and get out his movement needs when we are stuck inside for months at a time. I have geared a lot of his Christmas gifts to reflect this need, and I hope it will help him (and my sanity) once we really are pushed inside from the cold.

1) Trampoline – I have been wanting to get Drake a trampoline for some time, especially after seeing him play with one at a friend’s house as well as his therapy center. Juliet also loves the one at Drake’s school and seeing her jump on it is too adorable, so this shot up my list of gifts. I had originally planned on buying this one, but the other one came on sale for a great price that I couldn’t pass up.

2) Scooter – Drake hasn’t managed to learn how to use his balance bike since I bought it for him a few Christmas ago. He lacks balance and his therapist suggested a scooter to help him learn how to balance and move at the same time before moving on to a bike. I’m saving this one for his birthday as I think it would be better suited for outside, though we do have space inside currently he could use it in as well.

3) Bouncy Animal – Drake has been obsessed with playing with these whenever he sees them. At the bounce house we go to he always plays with these more than the bounce houses! He is in between sizes as the small ones are probably a little small for him, but the big one is a bit too tall. His aunt is buying him the small one for Christmas which works for both him and Juliet.

4) Plasma Car – I have heard rave reviews about these cars and even adults can use them. We have no furniture in our living room or dining room so when Kohls had their Black Friday sale, I snagged one of these at a good price. I can’t wait to try this out myself in truth!

5) Balance Board – Drake and Juliet both have low tone in their core muscles. Balance boards help strengthen and tighten muscles in your core as you work to stay on the board without tipping off. Drake doesn’t have great balance so this might be something that can help him even as he watches TV.

6) Bilibo – I admit I don’t really get what the point of this toy is exactly. I’ve seen it touted a lot for sensory kids and Drake’s therapy center has a few. This seems like a very open ended toy and also one that Drake can use while reading or watching TV, or even drawing if he wants to spin and move between colors (which he does already in regular chairs).

7) Gorilla Gym – I think this set up is really neat. The idea is that you can create outside playground equipment right in your home with your doorways and walls. I remember seeing this playroom design a while ago on Pinterest and it made me think of it. I want to do more research on the equipment since Mr Chocolate is so handy and perhaps we can modify and create our own to Drake’s tastes. This is also another indoor playground idea if you have the space

8) Ziggle – My friend recommended this toy to me after I told her about Drake’s struggles with the bike.  Her daughter also has sensory processing disorder and low tone, and this toy helped her strengthen those muscles while also being a lot of fun. It requires constant movement to help power it, so it burns a lot of energy while also working out muscles and teaching some coordination as well. If Drake had been a little younger or smaller I probably would have bought this one which looks similar but is a lot cuter in design, but since he is older and close to the top weight already I went with the other version.

9) Flat Scooter – This is another sort of open ended toy that I see at Drake’s therapy center. Kids sit on them, lay on them, push objects around on them. I can easily see my two kids racing around and pushing one another one this all afternoon. I got two for under the tree!