Hey {{first_name}}
Black Friday week is loud.
Everywhere you look, someone is telling you that you need this sensory fidget… or that sensory gym for your living room…
It’s a lot.
And most parents end up feeling like they’re buying tools without actually knowing if they’re right for their child.
But here’s a little secret I want you to keep in mind this week:
Tools aren’t effective unless they make sense for your child’s sensory profile.
If you haven’t heard already, this is exactly why I created the Sensory Decoder Kit. So you’re not guessing during weeks like this. More on that below.
But first…since I know many of you are shopping this week, I wanted to share MY personal go-to sensory tools as a pediatric OT, no affiliate links.
Not because you need them.
But because they’re versatile, regulating, and work across multiple sensory profiles. And I use them daily during my therapy sessions to work on sensory regulation but also core and upper body strength.
Let’s get into it 👇
🎉 My favorite sensory tool: Scooter Boards
Why I love them:
Works on core strength + upper body strength
Provides vestibular input (movement)
Offers heavy work through pushing/pulling (proprioception)
Helps with body awareness, and motor planning
Great for allll children, no matter what their needs are
Bonus Game to Try:
✨ “Fire Rescue”
Place stuffed animals around the room. Have your child ride their scooter board while on their tummy to collect them and bring them back to the safe zone.
Add a rope to pull themselves (excellent heavy work)
Add obstacles for motor planning
🎉 My other favorite sensory tool: Yoga Ball
Why I love it:
Amazing for deep pressure + calming rhythmic movement
Helps kids with postural control, and balance
Can be used for alerting or calming input depending on the activity
Great for kids who need movement during homework
Bonus Game to Try:
✨ “Roll & Toss”
Have your child lie on their stomach on the yoga ball and use their hands to roll themselves forward and backward. Place a bin a few feet away and give them stuffed animals. Each time they roll forward, they try to toss the stuffy into the bin before rolling back and grabbing the next stuffed animal.
Why I love it:
Amazing for vestibular input
Strengthens core and shoulder stability
Works on motor planning and coordination
💛 If You Haven’t Heard Already…
I created something specifically to help you avoid buying random tools and hoping they work:
✨ The Sensory Decoder Kit
It helps you:
Take a simple sensory quiz to understand your child’s sensory needs
Learn whether they seek, avoid, or miss certain types of input and how that impacts regulation
Includes activity ideas + accommodations tailored to your child
Build 2–3 go-to regulation routines for your hardest times of day
So instead of grabbing every sensory toy you see this week… you’ll know exactly what makes sense for your child’s nervous system.
👉Get ONE MONTH FREE in my VIP community where you get direct access to me for all your questions if you sign up for the waitlist and purchase the kit within the first 24h of the early bird release which is TOMORROW, November 26th. Sign me up!!
🍽️ Picky Eating Tip of the Week: when your child HATES messy play
If your child avoids messy play (slime, finger paint, glue, wet textures, touching dough) this can indicate tactile sensitivity.
And kids who avoid messy hands often avoid messy foods too and might be picky eaters.
Here’s how to support them:
💛 Accommodations (to reduce stress)
Offer utensils for exploration instead of hands
Keep a nearby napkin or clean cloth
Let them wash hands as often as needed
Keep textures separated on the plate
Start with dry sensory play (rice, beans, pom poms)
💛 Ways to Slowly Build Comfort
Encourage touching foods with a tool (toothpick, tongs, spoon)
Progress to a finger poke → quick touch → longer touch
Try “safe messy” play like shaving cream inside a Ziploc bag
Use interest-based play (e.g., “paint dinosaurs with yogurt”)
Keep it short, fun, and pressure-free
💡 And yes, the Sensory Decoder Kit includes tactile-specific activities that can help with tactile sensitivities.
Hope this was helpful and I can’t wait to see you inside my VIP community 💛
You’ve got this,
Effie
