Spring Loaded Rocking Horse

When I was a little kid, I had a rocking horse. It wasn't just a little, ordinary horse on rockers though. It was on springs! I would climb aboard, and I could rock back and forth, with the horse's nose and tail almost touching the ground each time I rocked. I could also bounce on it. It was my favorite toy and I can remember rocking wildly on it, feeling so happy, my pig tails flying behind me.
My horse looked kind of like this.

They still make horses similar to this, although now of course they are full of safety precautions, like seatbelts and spring covers. Plus, they do extra things like make noise and talk and stuff. Here are two that I found.




Radio Flyer Blaze Interactive Riding Horse
Ages: 2 to 6 (up to 60 pounds)
This horse has a realistic mane, a brush to care for the mane, and pretend carrots to feed him. When you feed him the carrots, Blaze makes eating sounds. It has an X-frame with a step on it, so children can easily get on the horse without having to clamor and slide onto it the way I had to when I was young. You can walk, trot and gallop, and the horse makes different sounds depending on how fast you are going. Blaze is made by our old favorite, Radio Flyer!




Rockin' Rider Maverick Plush Spring Horse
Ages: 2 and up (up to 65 pounds)
Made by a company that specializes in rocking horses, Maverick has soft fur that makes him feel like a giant stuffed animal. His stirrups can be adjusted to three lengths, so that the child can continue to ride as she grows taller. If you press one of his ears, he sings a song called "I'm A Little Pony." When you press his other ear, he makes a variety of horse sounds. This horse also has volume control that parents can set if they are easily annoyed by noisy toys. (Both of these horses would also work perfectly well without any batteries in them... they just wouldn't make the noises. That might be preferable to some parents!)

Any kid who enjoys rocking toys will love to have one of these horses!

Dizzy Disc Jr.

Dizzy Disc
Ages: 2 and up
Do you know someone who loves to spin?
For years I have wanted one of these for myself, ever since I first saw it at a therapeutic preschool program where I worked. A lot of people with young children with sensory processing issues buy a Sit ;n' Spin, which is a toy that requires you to sit on a disk, and use a wheel in the middle to pull themselves in a circle. I have not seen many kids actually use a Sit 'n' Spin... i think you have to be pretty small (probably under 2 years old) to be able to use it right.

Now, the Dizzy Disc Jr.... this is something else entirely! It is a disk which you can either sit criss-cross on, kneel on, lie across, or even stand on! If you sit criss-cross on it (or maybe with your legs sticking out) you can make it spin by leaning in one direction or another. Gravity will get you spinning like crazy. You can also adjust the angle of the disk, for even faster spinning power. I love this thing! Also, it supports up to 150 pounds, and probably more, so it can safely be used by older kids. I used to sit on this thing and spin on it quite often when I worked at a place that had it. Another way to use it is to lie across it, and use your arms to spin yourself. I've seen occupational therapists have children use it this way. I have never tried it standing up, but probably people with better coordination than e can do it

I want one! Buy one and send it to me, okay? Right now!

Another version is the Spin Disc, aka Gym Spin. This is a disk that is a little wider than the Dizzy Disc, and has handles on the sides for you to hang onto.  It does pretty much all the same things as a Dizzy Disc, plus you can apparently put something like a feeder seat or seat pad on it for kids who need assistance or more sensory input. I have never seen one of these in person, but I have watched several video reviews on it. It looks sturdy, but says it only accommodates up to 125 pounds. The bad news is, a lot of reviews I've read on it report that it broke after a month or so, and that the company would not replace it. So, do your own research... I wouldn't recommend this one as strongly as I would the Dizzy Disc.

Somewhere in the world is the original Dizzy Disc (not Jr) that can accommodate even more weight than the Dizzy Disc Jr. I have never seen it. It might just be a legend.

See It And Sign It Game

See It And Sign It Game
Ages: 5 and up
This is a game that helps people to learn American Sign Language. This would be a great game for any child who is interested in learning ASL. Classmates and siblings of deaf children will have a fun way to learn to communicate. It could also be especially beneficial for children who have trouble with verbal communication, or children who are nonverbal. First of all, unlike with most games, a nonverbal person will not be at a disadvantage... everyone will be using their hands and bodies. Second of all, it can give the person a new way to communicate, as they begin learning simple ASL words that they can use in their everyday lives. I want to learn ASL, and I'd love to try this game, even though it is marketed to children! It also comes with a DVD to help you learn.

Hide And Seek Safari

Hide And Seek Safari
Ages: 4 and up
Number of players: 2 or more
I first came across this game several years ago when I was a full time caregiver to three children under the age of 7. They had a blast with this game, and it entertained them for quite a while! It is sort of like the game of "hotter-colder," but more high tech. The way you play is, one person hides the animal somewhere in the house or yard or whatever area you're playing in. Then someone else uses the wand to find the tiger. The wand has five lights on it. When you start getting a little closer to the tiger, one light will turn green. The closer you get, the more lights will turn green. When you get really, really close to the tiger, it will start beeping!
The only annoying thing is that it only comes with one wand, so really only two people can play at a time,,, the one hiding the object, and the one looking for it. Of course, you could take turns. You can also buy an extra wand or two.

They also have a version for littler kids, or those who have trouble understanding the lights on the wands for the first game. In Hide And Seek Safari JR, one person hides an animal, and the other person tries to find it using a wand. But instead of using a light system, this game uses sound. When the wand starts to get close to the stuffed animal, the animal "hears" it and starts to make noise. The player then follows the noise in order to find the stuffed animal! This version could probably be understood and played by children as young as 2 years old.



Watch this video to see the Hide and Seek Safari game reviewed by a 6-year-old named Hayden!

Crazy Legs Game

Crazy Legs
Ages: 4 and up
Number of Players: 2 to 4
No more sitting around being lazy while you play a board game! This game involves using your whole body! Like most board games, you move your pawn around the board and try to be the first one to get to FINISH. Unlike most board games, many of the spaces will require either the player whose turn it is, or everyone playing the game, to do some sort of action. The actions may be exercises, yoga poses, or goofy things like "Crazy Dance" or "Do the wave."
One way to play is that, when it is your turn and you get assigned an exercise or yoga pose, you have to keep doing that action until the next time it is your turn. This keeps all of the players in motion for most of the game!
The winner is still the person who makes it to FINISH first. But when kids get this much exercise, everyone wins!

Giant 40" Spider Web Swing

Giant 40" Spider Web Swing
Ages: 5 to adult
Little kids love to swing. But so do adults... especially those with autism or sensory processing needs! While there are plenty of swings available for children, this one is cool because it will support up to 250 pounds.

Super Spinner Swing

Super Spinner Swing
Age: 3 to 12
Here is a different kind of swing! This platform swing is a flat disk that can hold one or two children at a time (up to 15o pounds.) Children can use it to swing or spin. (Many people with autism love to spin and can spin for long amounts of time without feeling dizzy, so if you know a spinner, this would be a great gift for them!)  They can upright on it, or lie across it. It can be hung from a swing set or a tree. It is probably possible to hang it indoors, as well, if you have a sensory room or play room. It is easy to keep clean, and has a hole in the middle for drainage so it won't hold rain.

PlasmaCar

PlasmaCar
Ages:
This is another riding toy that doesn't use pedals or foot power. It runs on "kid power," centrifugal force, and gravity. It drives around smoothly, and can support up to 220 pounds. It is very safe, and meets or exceeds all international product safety standards. Want to see it in motion? You're going to want to try it yourself! Make sure to give your kids a turn.

Magic Moves Electronic Wand

Magic Moves Electronic Wand
Ages: 3 to 10
When a child picks up this wand, you never know what they're going to end up doing! Accompanied by music and lights, this wand gives out directions for movements that will get kids exercising without realizing it! They'll also be enriching their vocabularies and practicing their listening skills. One child can play alone, or a leader can hold the wand while a group of children follow the directions. Watch a little boy named Max try his out!

Diggin Wobble Deck

Diggin Wobble Deck
Ages: 3 and up (100 pound limit)
Here is a balance board with another twist! This is an electronic balance board that has three fun games. The first is a game of memory and sequence. The board calls out a color, and you lean towards that color. The next time, you will have to lean towards two different colors in the correct sequence... and it gets more and more challenging! For Speed Play, the board calls out colors for you to lean towards, and calls them more and more quickly until you are wobbling like crazy! Finally, the Freestyle game lets you play songs by leaning in different directions to hear different instruments and tunes. According to Dr. Ron Savage, President of North American Brain Injury Society, "The Wobble Deck develops attention and processing skills for children with special needs, including children with traumatic brain disorders (TBI). The Wobble Deck improves visual motor coordination so children develop the ability to match their physical/motor output with visual input."

Labrynth Balance Boards

Labrynth Balance Board
Ages: 4 and up
Many children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders, and other special needs have trouble with their coordination and sense of balance. Practicing on a balance board can be helpful... and some people even claim it can help children with their ability to focus and their behavior! To make balancing on a board fun and motivating for children, this balance board is also a labrynth. You have to stand on the board (weight limit is 275, so teens and adults can use this too) and move your body gently from side to side or forward and backward, in order to make the little ball roll through the maze. This is a great way to challenge your mind and your body at the same time!

But if the child you know is 5 years old or under and needs something a little less challenging to start with, try this...


Labrynth Balance Board, Jr.
Ages: 3-5
This one has the same objective as the first one, but is easier. The balls are larger, the maze is impler, and there are shoe prints to show children where to stand.

Yo Baby Kick Flipper

Yo Baby Kick Flipper
Ages: 4 and up
Have you always wanted to learn skateboard tricks, but weren't quite ready to try them on a board that has wheels? Try a Kick Flipper! Using the DVD that comes with it, children can learn cool skateboarding moves in the safety of their living room or back yard! Watch this little boy show off some of the tricks he's mastered.

Master Pogo Stick

Master Pogo Stick
Ages: 8 and up
Do you know a child who needs something more advanced than the GoGo Pogo? The kind of child who likes to challenge himself physically and take risks? They might like a Master Pogo Stick. This is more like the original pogo stick. It supports up to 160 pounds, and can go higher than the GoGo Pogo. They recommend you use helmets and other protective gear, just in case you bounce a little too high!

GoGo Pogo

 GoGo Pogo
Ages: 5 and up (110 pound limit)
Did you ever have a pogo stick? I did, when I was a kid... and I would spend hours all alone on my driveway, bouncing like a kangaroo. I had dreams of joining the Pogo Olympics... I had read that such a thing existed.
The PogoGogo takes pogoing to a whole new level. It is an electronic pogo stick that includes 5 interactive games:
1. It will count how many times you bounce in a row, and tell you your score when you stop. (I used to count my own bounces, but what happens if you lose count at 159? You have to start all over!)
2. Test your speed by trying to jump a certain number of times in a certain amount of time.
3. Bounce to the rhythm of a song.
4. It can make silly, random sounds on each bounce.
5. Freeze Dance! Bounce as the music is playing, and then freeze when it stops! Be careful, because the GoGo Pogo knows if you're cheating!


The rubber ball base and nonslip foot rest makes it a little safer than the traditional pogo stick. This pogo is for kids up to 110 pounds.

Spring Swings Zip Line

Spring Swings Fun Ride

Age:  5 and up (up to 100 pounds)

Have you ever seen kids playing on those zip line things at the playground? Usually you climb up onto the play structure, hang onto a handle bar, jump off the play structure, and zoom across to the other side of the structure! I remember how much my brother and I played on those things when we were little. Now you can actually own one in your own backyard! All you need is two spots to attach it to, such as two trees that are a little ways apart, or a house wall and a garage wall. You'll probably also need something for the children to jump off of. A picnic table would work well! 

You want to play to? Or, you have children who are over 100 pounds? You can buy the Spring Swings Super Z Fun Ride, which supports up to 250 pounds...

...or the Deluxe Fun Ride, which supports up to 225 pounds.


Sounds like a fun ride to me!
In this video, the kids are just grabbing on and lifting their legs up, instead of jumping off of something... so I guess depending on the age and height of your child, and which version you get, you could hang it low enough for them to grab from the ground or high enough for them to need to jump off of something.

Flying Turtle Scooter

Flying Turtle Ride-On Scooter
Ages: 3 and up
I saw this being used by children at a preschool program, and they loved it so much, they were all clamoring for turns with the four scooters that were there! You sit on the seat and put your feet up,,, no feet needed for this ride! To move, you just turn the handle bars back and forth. It may take a few minutes for children to get used to the action, but once they get going, they really cruise around!
This is recommended for children ages 3 to 10. But, the weight limit is 150, so some teenagers and adults could also get use out of it!
Even better, it comes already put together, so you won't have to get out any tools or directions or anything.
Do not use them on steep hills or (I hope I don't have to tell you this) stairs. It may seem fun to try that, but its all fun and games until someone gets hurt!
It comes in green, magenta, purple or teal.
Watch these turtles fly!

Teeter Popper

Teeter Popper
Ages: 2 to teen (up to 110 pounds)
Some children are soothed and calmed by the feeling of rocking. Others have a hard time sitting still, and sitting on a rocking chair can help them stay in motion and keep themselves regulated. For still other children, the Teeter Popper is just a really cool toy! When you sit in it, it rocks forwards, backwards, and side to side. You can even spin around in it! It also has suction cups on the bottom. As you rock, the suction cups suck down onto the floor and unsuck themselves, making a great "popping" sound! This is an awesome item to have as a choice for children who need sensory breaks. When I become a teacher, I want this in my classroom! Here is a video showing children using it. I couldn't find one in English... apparently this toy was popular in other countries before it became available in the USA!





It also comes in other colors: Green or Pink!