Fun and Function with Foam Scooter Boards

We have an active little boy and when we received the Foam Scooter Board for review from Fun and Function, I was thrilled! The Foam Scooter is a softer surface that is much more comfortable for children. In turn, the softer surface encourages longer playtime. The scooters are made of comfortable high-density foam with non-marring rubber casters that swivel 360 degrees and are equally safe for gliding indoors and out. They can support up to 160 lbs. and come in a variety of colors and models so riders of various ages and abilities can easily find their favorites.

Scootering on the stomach, or while sitting or kneeling helps children exercise, develop coordination and refine gross motor skills, advises Aviva Weiss, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Fun and Function. It can also strengthen extremities, improve posture, and provide vestibular stimulation (giving a greater sense of balance and equilibrium). Encouraging these movement-based activities can improve overall attention and function and enhance motor planning (the ability to start, perform and complete a series of movements automatically to achieve a functional outcome), which is often a challenge for children with sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and autism.

“Scooter play is great for all children and can especially help those with a variety of special needs,” says Weiss. “For children with poor lower extremity function and orthopedic conditions, our larger scooters provide increased support and require little or no lower extremity use. For children with hemiplegia (weakness on one side of the body) caused by conditions like CP, they provide welcome support and comfort during therapeutic weight-bearing activities such as propelling forward with upper extremities.”

About Company

Launched in 2005 by pediatric occupational therapist Aviva Weiss and her husband, Haskel, Fun and Function LLC offers engaging, durable and functional play and therapy products at affordable prices, including an exclusive line of scooters and portable writing kits. When she identified sensory processing disorder in her own infant daughter, Aviva Weiss was frustrated by the lack of kid-friendly styling and high prices of existing special-needs products. She set out with a passion for eliciting the potential of all children, and began designing products that help kids feel good and achieve their best. Today, the company offers hundreds of innovative products marked by affordability and durability, scoring increasing points with parents, pediatric therapists and educators. For more information or a free catalog, visit www.funandfunction.com or call 1-800-231-6329.

REVIEW

This is a well made and sturdy scooter. The surface is comfortable and he didn’t have any trouble maneuvering at all. The wheels swiveled in any direction he went. Since it is snowy here, we first used it inside and once the snow melted we tested it outside. Either way, he had a blast and used it with his knees, tummy and bottom. What I really like about the Fun and Function website is they not only sell great products but they have links with tips on how to use the product. Here is the link they provided about activities you can do with your child to improve skill coordination and muscle tone. Finally, this review wouldn’t be complete without hearing from the little man himself. “I like that it goes in circles.”  He is having a lot of fun doing them! Mommy likes that the scooter is a fun way to help him strengthen his sensory processing skills.  The Scooters would be a fun gift for any child.  They have a fun video about the scooters here. You can purchase the scooters and many other great products at www.funandfunction.com

• Foam Scooter Boards ($29.99, for ages 3 and up), small (12” x 12”) , soft, smooth gliders that can be used in sitting or prone (on the stomach) positions;
• Tummy Scooters ($44.99, for ages 3 and up), ultra comfortable oversized (17”X14”X2.5”) scooters crafted to give plenty of soft but sturdy trunk support;
• Saddle Scooters ($44.99, for ages 2 to 6), close-to-the-ground, U-shaped scooters (11.4”X6.7”X12.2”) that support three riding positions and allow children as young as 2 to ride fearlessly; and
• Tactile Tummy Scooters ($69.99, for ages 3 and up), featuring a gentle incline and a broad, textured surface (27’’x15’x5.5’) that offers abundant body support and gives children with lower tone greater awareness of where their bodies are in space.

Recommended Books On Autism

TOP TEN TIPS BY TERESA A. CARDON M.A.

I get by with a little help … Do you ever feel like you’re in this parenting thing alone? Like no one understands what you’re going through? Parenting children on the autism spectrum is an adventure with countless twists and turns. However, with a little help from 44 fellow parents and professionals your daily journey can be a little less bumpy.

Top Ten Tips offers 520 practical, tried-and-true tips. The book is organized so that you don’t have to read through theories or lengthy descriptions – it is all practical; short and sweet. The stuff you want to know NOW! The book is broken down into nine chapters with topics ranging from family outings, holidays, and frequent activities (bath time, meal time, etc.).

This at-your-fingertips tool will help families with a child on the autism spectrum navigate their way through everyday activities and occurrences in. Contributors include speech language therapists, occupational therapists, autism experts, parents, and individuals on the spectrum.

I immediately was impressed by all the topics Top Ten Tips covers.  Everything is covered, from the everyday topics such as eating and bed time, to the infrequent such as Disney World.  In fact, we just happened to be going to Florida for Christmas and the travel tips and theme park tips saved me.  The tips are practical and cover the Autism Spectrum.  I found Top Ten Tips easy to read and will be referencing it for years.  The appendix guide and reference guide at the end of the book are worth the price alone too.  I already found an amazing documentary to send to my family from the tips that has helped tremendously.  I highly recommend this book to parents, family and care givers to learn more about how to help the amazing child with Autism in their life.   You can read an excerpt here and buy Top Ten Tips for $19.99 at  AAPC Publishing Company.

WHAT’S THAT LOOK ON YOUR FACE BY CATHERINE S. SNODGRASS

Recognizing and interpreting facial expressions and the feelings they represent poses great challenges for children with language and communication difficulties, including those with an autism spectrum disorder. This strikingly illustrated book helps young readers link faces to feelings by presenting situations they can all relate to. Each page spread is devoted to a feeling expressed through an exaggerated facial expression accompanied by a short poem that further elaborates on the expression to reinforce its meaning.

The Foreword by Diane Twatchman-Cullen includes activities designed to help children develop the skills necessary to recognize common facial expressions using the accompanying poster-size chart of the twelve basic feelings covered.

What’s That Look On Your Face  is recommended for grades 3-5th but my five year old and I enjoyed reading it tremendously!  I adapted it more for his age by having him act out the facial expressions.  The words are definitely for older children.  I absolutely adore the illustrations!  My son really responded to them.  They are unique and impressive.  Twelve feelings are covered and with each one is a rhyming poem of other words for those feelings. The activities in the beginning of the book are a great additional resource. What’s That Look is available for $18.95 at AAPC PUBLISHING COMPANY.  Below is an example of the adorable illustrations.  You can read an excerpt here.

MY SENSORY BOOK BY LAUREN H. KERSTEIN L.C.S.W.

*   This text is set up for adults to use with children and older children to use on their own (although adult facilitation may be quite useful).

Children struggling with sensory integration issues have limited, sometimes even no, ability to do anything else. My Sensory Book: The More I Know About My World, The Better I Will Feel is a workbook designed to assist children with establishing a clearer understanding of their sensory systems and the impact sensory input may have on their emotions. The book provides clear descriptions and specific information about sensory systems and illustrates the link that can exist between sensory input and emotions.

This relationship can be useful in children and adults establishing and understanding the triggers for their strong emotions, which helps make it easier to put strategies in place that may mitigate these feelings and ultimately help them cope more effectively with the world around them. The workbook includes activity opportunities for self exploration in the areas of sensory systems, arousal levels, and emotions and walks children (and their adults) through determining a personal plan for difficult situations.

My Sensory Book is laid out effectively and simply to understand more about sensory issues that some children may struggle with.  Each chapter covers each sensory and describes symptoms, strategies and resources for the parent and the child to utilize.  It includes effective worksheets and activities parents can work on with their child to help them understand their triggers and how to effectively manage them.  I think My Sensory Book is a wonderful resource for parents and children struggling with this topic.  You can read an excerpt here and My Sensory Book is available for    $21.95 at AAPC Publishing Company.