Carmen Knight, M.A.T., Early Childhood and Special Education

During this holiday season, it would be great for Early Interventionists and Therapists to provide a small prize to their patients from the person that loves and teaches them each week. I have found an item that would be beneficial and fun to all children, especially those with a sensory stimulation need or those that could use something fun to reduce their anxiety during the busy holiday season. Everyone does not enjoy deep hugs, large crowds, and noisy rooms, so this small and portable item would be a great travel item that could provide fun for hours.

SmileMakers has a fun Build Your Own Sticky Sand Character. These amazing portable sticky sand kits can fit in a small pocket or bag and take up very little space. This kit comes with 12 sand sets in it so you will have plenty to go through your caseload and they are very reasonably priced. Children with sensory integration disorder often get overwhelmed in large crowds or with loud noises and this activity can provide the sensory stimulation that can help reduce their anxiety. Children with sensory integration disorder may use this sand with a flat hand to pound the sand down and pack it tight and some may need the sand to simply run through their hands to receive the sensory stimulation that will satisfy their sensory needs and make them feel much more calm. 

Early Interventionists and Therapists can also use the item during their session to review names of body parts, colors, and shapes.  Also, ask your little patients to identify the features on their face and on yours to ensure that the skill transfers to different people and objects. You can also make silly faces with your Sticky Sand Character set. They can rearrange the faces so you can work with the patient on emotions. You can make the characters happy, sad, or silly! Reading emotions is so important for children to understand the needs of others. This is a fun and simple way to work on emotions. There are so many opportunities for all children with this fun set. Children of all ages love to play with sticky sand. I have an 18-year-old high school Senior that could not wait to open and create her own fun Sticky Sand Character!

SmileMakers has so many different items that can help you meet the goals that you are working on for the children on your caseload. Look on their Early Interventionist and Therapists page to get these affordable toys suitable for the children you serve.