Autism and SN Guides Qld and beyond

One of the incredibly resourceful ladies I’ve had the privilege of “meeting” through Facebook has put together two very indepth resource guides that she is keen for people to share wherever they would be useful.

A Resource Guide & Ideas for Therapists, Teachers, Parents and Carers working with people with Special Needs- covers a multitude of topics, and is well worth checking out.

The Queensland Autism Parents Handbook is 101 pages and is a comprehensive guide to autism services, support, tips and ideas for Qld. The book is most relevant to Qld but is a valuable source of info wherever you live.

Toy triumphs!

We all know how challenging it can be to find toys that our kids love.  Thankfully when they get a bit older, there’s always special interests to guide our gifting decisions.  Here’s a selection of our recent wins:

Topple Tree – we’ve had a lot of fun with this toy. It’s one of a few balance/construction type toys, that can be used for turn-taking, sorting and so many other things!

Brain Box Click Electronics – not so much about the electronics (at this age), but the fan.  You can assemble the circuit so that pressing a button makes the fan spin, and releasing the button releases the fan to flyyyyyy!!  Great for indoor exercise as well, retrieving the fan, sending it flying again, retrieving the fan, sending it flying again etc.  There’s also a little light and a few other options.  Next step will be demonstrating the order to assemble the circuit :).

Wind up monkey with cymbals.  Clockwork toys just never seem to get old.  Add in the cymbals and it’s a winner :).

Spinning top with colourful LEDs and music.

Fringe dress.  Sooo cute!  Hmm, to file in sensory toys or sensory clothing??

Micro Chargers Light Racers.  Two tiny cars are charged up then race around the glow-in-the-dark track with their lights on for the specified number of laps, then circle in the finished area until they run out of charge.

Battery-powered glitter lava lamp.  Also cycles through different colours of light when shaken/inverted.  I bought ours for $3.50 from Stacks Discounts (a $2/cheapie shop) – unfortunately they don’t have a website, but it’s always worth checking the cheapie shops! (The link is to a similar product at Smiggle, right at the bottom of the page).

Skylight Rocket.  The good old stomp rocket, with a light for night-time, and a soft tip for indoor use.  Also great for indoor exercise – glee and retrieval :).

Pin Art!  Gotta be the metal though – the plastic just doesn’t do it for us.  Can get it cheaper on Ebay or elsewhere if you shop around.

More sensory toy shops

Mudpie (NSW, shipping $12.95) – great range of therapy toys and tools!

Uniquely Awesome Kids ASD Resources (Bendigo, shipping $12.90) – large range of resources.

Wobble/balance board

Balance/wobble board – $25+$12.50 shipping from Hart Sport, but can often find them on Ebay for $20ish including postage.

Science-themed shops

These two shops aren’t specifically sensory/fidget toy shops, but they do have heaps of interesting bits’n’bobs worth checking out:

Prof Bunsen Science (Vic, shipping $9+) and MadAboutScience (Vic, shipping $7.95+).

Another sensory/fidget shop

Theraquatics (shipping $11.50+) – great range of sensory and fidget toys, plus a heap of other therapy toys/tools that OT’s might recommend.  Located in the same premises as Peppertown (who sell outdoor and playground equipment) and Gemworld, in Brisbane.

Specific sensory items

Ikea sells the very-popular egg chairs that children can spin around in, and hide behind the cover.

Bed Tents – character tents available through Fishpond, but Ikea has a simple patterned one for $20.

Peanut ball – Hart Sports (Brisbane) and EMP Industrial (Melbourne) have the cheapest prices I’ve found for these.

Vibrating hairbrush

Vibrating Hairbrush – changed hairbrushing from tolerable-at-best to enjoyment.  Can also buy from Ebay for $4.

Autism Sensory/Fidget toy shops

My best buys for sensory and fidget toys are usually in the $2 shops – but for more specific items, here are some more (mostly) Australian shops.

Here is a good list of fidget toys.

Australian Geographic – lots of interesting little bits’n’bobs.  Browsing the stores are better than navigating their website (no “sensory” category).

Autism Advisory and Support shop (NSW, shipping $12).

Educational Experience (NSW, shipping $14.20+). No specific “Sensory” category, but a search returns many sensory products.

Foss education (NSW, shipping $12.50).

Indigo Toys (Qld, shipping calculated at checkout).

iQtoys (Qld, shipping $7.99).

Modern Teaching Aids (NSW, shipping $12.90 – though orders can be phoned through and picked up at the Brisbane outlet store). No specific “Sensory” category, but a search returns many sensory products.

My Diffability (Vic, shipping $8.25+).

One Stop Sensory Shop (NSW, shipping calculated at checkout).

Psylutions for Learning (Qld, shipping calculated at checkout).

Resources at hand (Qld, shipping calculated at checkout).

Senseabilities (Vic, shipping $8+).

SensoryTools (NSW, shipping calculated at checkout).

Sensory Wonders (Vic, shipping calculated at checkout).

Skillbuilders (WA, shipping $8.25+).

Special needs 4 special needs (Qld, shipping calculated at checkout).

Special Needs Toys (NSW, shippingcalculated at checkout).

Sue Larkey’s Online Shop (NSW, shipping $12.50+).

Therapy Toy Shop (Vic, shipping $12+).

The Teaching Toy Box (Ebay store) – my only non-Australian source!  Seller will provide combined shipping on request, which makes it more affordable.

The Toy Bug (Qld, shipping $12.90).

Windmill (Vic/SA/Tas, shipping $10+).

And if you prefer to try before you buy – check out Noah’s Ark Toy Library (Brisbane).  Membership fees can be paid using FaHCSIA funding.