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One of the many lessons learned in parenting is to trust your instincts.
My child would often ask for things for her birthday that I knew she was only asking for because so-in-so had it or, worse yet, she saw a commercial for it. Last Christmas I decided to throw the Christmas list out the window and focus on what I thought my daughter would truly love and use. (No need to tell me I’m the worlds meanest mom. My preteen is happy to remind me of that often!)
Now, my child is a sensory seeker. I remember when she was little, the most effective form of “discipline” was to tell her to jump on her Little Tikes trampoline until the timer went off, which was usually 10-15 minutes later. Of course, once she got going, she didn’t want to stop. The movement would help her body and emotions regulate and she would be much better behaved afterward. (Have you tried this trick? It’s magic!)
So, when I decided to re-think Christmas gifts, I knew I specifically wanted something to help her decompress after a day at school. My mind immediately went to a sensory swing. If I possess any gifts, it’s the abilities to find the biggest bang for my buck and product research through the wee hours of the night. Research, I did, and I landed on this sensory swing. It was a hit and well worth every sixty-nine dollars and 99 cents that we spent on it. My daughter LOVES this thing and has turned into a regular trapeze artist on it doing all kinds of flips and tricks. A year into our sensory swing and I can honestly say, she uses it DAILY!
Check out my full list of the best gifts we’ve given our sensory seeker over the years:
This is the exact swing we have and love. It has held up great and hasn’t stretched out at all!
Great for ages 3-6, Max weight is 55 lbs.
Yoga Ball
My one tip here is no yoga balls at the table during dinner! Don’t ask me how I know! Ha!
If you haven’t tried Mad Mattr, add it to your cart now! This stuff is worlds better than kinetic sand and….it’s NOT messy! It’s magical! It has a really soft texture but our favorite part is that it comes with a mold to make your own LEGO-style bricks that you can actually build with!
These are great for sensory input while doing schoolwork
For a more sound sleep and longer sleep, these are a must! Be sure to get the appropriate size/weight for your child.
Warmies microwavable stuffed animals
Adorable and snuggly but also lavender scented to help calm your child at night. The stuffed animals are also weighted which is another plus for sensory seekers!
This is one thing we don’t have due to space but, if I had space, I think it would be amazing!
What ideas do you have to add to the list! I’m looking for ideas for this Christmas!
I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Christmas season celebrating the birth of our savior, the one who was born to show us what perfect love is!
