Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Handmade Sensory Toys And Equipment

Many products that can help our sensational kids are very expensive and available in a limited number of catalogs.  This leaves us parents trying to budget our money to get the help we need or start thinking outside the box.  Personally, I like to think outside the box.

Fortunately, I am pretty crafty and have a lot of tools to make my own therapy helpers.  There are some things, like anything that involves a sewing machine, that I can't make myself.  Some of us aren't crafty, so what can we do?

Etsy.

Etsy is the leading online marketplace for all things handmade, vintage, and craft supplies.  It's made of millions of different sellers that make everything from jewelry to clothing to, yes, even sensory toys and occupational therapy needs.  I've been selling on Etsy for almost three years and it still isn't the first place I think of for therapy helpers.  One of the best features of Etsy is the ability to request custom items.  You can use Alchemy or find a seller whose work you like and ask if they can make a custom item.  You can get weighted vests with your child's favorite character on them.  Find chewing necklaces that your child will want to wear to school.  Here's a treasury I made of just a small selection of sensory helpers available for sale on Etsy.  A search for sensory, occupational therapy, and autism can yield thousands more.  (Some good treasures are tagged for autism, but they work very well for our sensational kids as well!)

4 comments:

  1. What a GREAT post!!! LOVE it! I'm currently working toward opening my Etsy shop and hope to eventually include some sensory-friendly items as well. My first project isn't exactly sensory-related, but I sure wish I had a few of them last year, when I was in waiting rooms with a toddler and preschooler while my older child was in therapy appts. for HIS sensory issues. Lots of sensory moms are in waiting rooms during appts., and sometimes with their other kids, so maybe it will support the sensory category after all ; )

    My fellow SPD Blogger, Tiffany, has started making and selling some sensory items on her site at this link: http://www.tiffanylagrange.com/Site/Gift_Shop_2.html

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  2. Etsy is a fabulous place to get custom hand-made toys that are positively PACKED with love. I've been an Etsy seller for almost 2 years now and many of my creations are inspired by my daughter and her insatiable need to fiddle.

    Thanks for giving a shout out to this great community and all the best with your shop!

    Karla
    http://helloworlditskaia.blogspot.com/
    http://www.etsy.com/shop/theitsybitsyspider

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  3. Karla your creations are DARLING! I was browsing books for softie toys this winter and came across some for amigurumi...it made me wish I knew how to crochet. They're so cute : ) Congrats to the success of your shop!

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  4. I think you have the right idea sister!

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