My daughter is autistic, as I have said about in the past. We have multiple therapists, and a monthly plus supply of money being thrown toward helping her. I so wish the Combating Autism Act puts more money into Autistic programs in my area. As it stands now we have to travel for her sensory chamber usage as well as a lot of other therapist recommended activities.
Her Social Security checks are hers and we use them specifically for her. One of the recent things we where told to look into are trampoline/ballpits in one. Now I ask you the teeming millions, where can we find her one of those. It has to be at most 5’ x 5’
as I want her to be able to use it year round indoors in the colder temps and outdoors if possible in the warmer months.
And I ask you in your opinions, what other toys/learning utilities/advice can anyone give in regards to helping her a medium functioning, non-communicative going on 3 autistic child.
She will watch Barney but Barney teaches nothing that we and the therapists try to work on, (sign language/PECS/ autism specific teachings) so any DVDs or whatever you could recommend would be excellent as well. (It would have to beat the 80 plus hours I put into making a Jaelyn specific movie I made for her a few weeks ago. All that time for a 20 minute show)
We were at therapeutic playgroup today (2 and 3 year olds, one boy autistic) and one of the favorite toys is a giant inflatable ball which rests inside an innertube for stability. While holding a grown-up’s hands, the kids can slap, punch, jump, bounce, or “fly” on the ball. Take it out of the innertube, and it can be pushed, rolled and bonked off walls. Put it back on the innertube, crawl UNDER the ball (Mom has to help by rolling the ball aside for a moment), and it’s a great gentle smooshy pressure “hiding” place where you can get your own space while Mom gently rolls the ball over your back.
While I don’t know if the pair is sold together, you can get therapy or exercise balls any number of places (google it) and innertubes at swimming pool supply stores.
The little guys I worked with used a mini-trampoline as part of their sensory diets too. Other toys for that were things like a sit-n-spin, Some sort of round board with a ball under it that the point of is to keep your balance on sort of like this, and these little scooter things which also come made of plastic that you also find in regular elementary school gyms.
Thanks for the quick reply, WhyNot. I’ll have to look at the innertube idea, as she already has two giant exercise balls we bounce her on when she needs it. (tensing up)
Any other ideas would be appreciated as the innertube/ball combo sounds like a great sensory toy she will use.
*** I am not on Posting Sabbatical anymore***
I like the balancing ball thing in your first link! That’s something she could really use help on (balance) We have foam padding in a 12’ x 10’ modified room we use for her therapy so no fear of falls. Thank you! badkittypriestess thank you I will have to go over that website in more depth later.
EDIT: The second link was it!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Purchasing it now!
I have little experience in dealing with autistic children, and, indeed, am just learning more about children in general since starting work last July in a children/baby needs/maternity store. I have two regular customers who have autistic children, and the thing they buy the most of: train sets. They each have train tables, and they come in regularly to buy wooden train tracks and trains to go on them. It can initially be a little expensive, but if you hunt around, you can often find used train tables on craigslist or in secondhand/consignment shops. Thomas Trains, Maxim, and Brio sets all work together - Maxim is a nice affordable set for those who’d like to save their pennies.
One child is three, the other is five, and both mothers have told me the train sets are just awesome for their autistic children. They just sit and build and build and build.
I don’t know if that helps at all, but I thought I’d throw it out there.
Well help her spend more of her money, she has about 1130$ (Out of 1200 I started with) more that is expendable to help her. After I check the validity of the website selling the balancing ball/board elfkin showed me then it will be less but plenty to spend.
I need to figure out the size of innertube to get, if you can help WhyNot that would be excellent. Her exercise balls are big but both the same diameter (not sure what that is though) but they are normal exercise balls sold for adults.
We bought about everything I could think of to help her already, everything her three therapists thought of already (thanks to badkittypriestess), there is more as the other posts have shown.
Thank you for your suggestions. Sadly though for our daughter the trains would just build on her OCD traits, things like lining objects up and spinning things we do not allow her to do. Per her therapists instructions. We try to get her things we can participate with as much as possible. (Keep her in “our” world, try not to allow her to retreat to “her” world) But please do not take that as a slight, I truly appreciate the time you took to try to help, anything else would be appreciated!
Oh, yay! Let me know how she likes it. I think the two of you will find a lot more possibilities than with the unsecured ball (plus, as she gets bigger, it’ll be harder for you to steady a loose ball and her at the same time!)
One of my professors, who has an austistic son, built a trampoline house in his backyard. I think it used to be the garage, but now it has a big trampoline sunk into the floor so it’s at a level with the rest of the space, some couches and chairs, and a woodburning stove for the winter. It’s amazing. My professor spent so much time jumping with his son that he had to get a hip replacement in his forties.
I know this doesn’t help you, but your therapy room reminded me of that.
Monday her behavior therapist will be here, and I am keeping it hidden until then. So she can experience it with the therapist as well. I will let you know how she does with it. Thanks again.
Yes it does help me, every story of what another parent does out of the ordinary for our unique children, helps me. Just hearing stories about other people and how they cope whether playing or otherwise gives me inspiration when admittedly I need sometimes. (It’s a fight inside of me wanting to do everything, but yet not seeming to accomplish anything with her advancing)
