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.

Heatable Hooty

The following info was originally published on my blog Diary Of An Alien.


At Marshalls, I found this really cool thing that I wanted to get for my nephew, which is a stuffed animal that can be microwaved to make it warm, and it has a calming scent in it. Only then I remembered that my brother and sister-in-law don't have a microwave! I thought maybe they could put it in the oven instead, but my mom said it would probably catch on fire that way, so I decided to forgo getting one for Squeak for the time being. But the stuffed animals were so adorable! And you know I have a soft place in my heart for stuffed animals. I also have a soft place in my heart for things that smell good. I am a very sensory-seeking person. So I ended up getting one for myself! Meet my new Heatable Hooty! 

Bringing Hooty home

Hooty warming up

I popped Hooty in the microwave for 90 seconds, as directed by the box. When I took him out, he was all warm and smelled pleasantly of lavender! It is really cold in my house, and even though I am wearing wool pants under my jeans and also a fleece sweatshirt, I was still really cold, so I was glad to have Hooty to warm me up! I am planning to heat him up again right before I go to bed, so I can put him on my pillow and he can help me fall asleep. I was thinking to myself that he'd probably also come in really handy whenever I have an earache, or a headache, because I can just lay right on him and let him relax my muscles.

Hooty comforts me and keeps me warm!

This is not a sponsored review... obviously, seeing as how I just told you I bought Hooty at Marshalls with my own money a few hours ago... but I thought I would post about him anyways because I like him, and some people might appreciate interesting ideas for holiday or birthday presents for kids. 

When I was looking at some of the Amazon reviews, a few people worried that this would be a really dangerous toy to give a kid. So I just wanted to point out, Hooty is not necessarily meant to be a toy. He's more of a comfort item. He'd make a nice stuffed animal even if you didn't heat him up. But definitely, if he's going to be heated, an adult should do the heating. If Hooty gets too hot, and your child cuddles him, obviously there is a burning risk. So make sure to follow the directions for microwaving, and don't put him in there for too long. I put him in for a minute and a half, and he was nice and toasty. If you're microwaving him for a child, make sure to test him to make sure he's not too hot. His stomach seems to get the hottest, so pay special attention to that area. I also shook him around a little to mix up the material inside so there wouldn't be any super "hot spots." 

Okay, now you can mock me for being like a little kid and getting a stuffed heatable animal! You know you would enjoy one too. He smells so nice, even now that he's cooled off, and he's so soft and squishy!

Another thing I just thought of... I like the smell of lavender, but not everyone does. I think the company chose lavender as the scent because it is a naturally calming aroma. A lot of baby lotions made with natural ingredients use lavender, especially those meant to help the baby fall asleep or be comforted. But if a child hates the smell, or is really sensitive to it and gets headaches or something, it won't work! So you might want to check before you get this as a gift for a child you don't know well.

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.

Raised Line and Braille Coloring/Paint Book

Raised Line And Braille Coloring and Paint Book
Ages: 2 and up
This is a coloring book that is great for blind children or children with visual impairments, because the raised lines show them where the picture is. It is also great for any children with sensory needs, and children who need to practice fine motor skills, because the raised lines can help them have more control over where they are coloring. The thick pages can be used with crayons, markers, water colors, Do-A-Dots, etc. There are only 12 pictures in the whole book, so you might want to buy Book 2 as well.

Mozart Magic Cube

Mozart Magic Cube
Ages: birth and up
This is marketed for infants and toddlers, but I can see how it would work well as a calming toy for older children as well. Each side of the cube has a large button. When pressed, it will play a classic Mozart song. (By the way, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is actually a Mozart tune.) Lights flash in rhythm to the music. After you've chosen a song, if you push any of the other sides of the cube, another instrument chimes in. Watch this video to see for yourself!

Buddha Board

Buddha Board
Ages: 3 and up
One of the things I struggle with is relaxation and mindfulness. Actually that is two things. Oh well. The point is, it is good for me to have things that can help me "actively relax." Some people might be able to relax by just sitting quietly and meditating. I, like many others with ADHD or autism, have a lot of trouble doing that. If I have something quiet and simple that I can concentrate on, it can really help me get centered.
Buddhist monks have, throughout history, painted with water on stone. They make a picture, and then watch it slowly disappear. The Buddha board is the same idea. Painting on the board, and then watching your picture fade away, can have a strangely calming effect. You could also use it to write or draw something you're worried or upset about, and then watch it fade away, symbolically sending the thought away. Or, just have children use it to practice their writing or fine motor skills!