Fun and Function Sens-ational Tees Review

As a mom of a sweet boy who has some challenges because of Autism, I am always on the lookout for services and products to help him on his journey. Fun and Function is a wonderful resource for families who have children with special needs.   They not only sell great products, but offer resources, information and actually listen to us to help them decide what to offer.

They are now offering Sen sational Hug Tees that give children with sensory processing disorder, all-day sensory input by providing deep reassuring pressure that feels like a hug.  Every child is different, some children on the spectrum don’t like to be touched at all, while others, like our son Nolan, are just fine with hugs and touching.   Either way, children with sensory processing disorder can feel calmer by feeling that pressure(just like a hug).   This is obviously a challenge for those children who don’t like to be touched.   Temple Grandin was a pioneer in developing and advocating about this and developed a “hug” machine.   The movie about her on HBO told the story about how she came to develop it. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it.   She is an inspiration.   Sensory shirts are supposed to give children that same feeling and it is a great idea.

We reviewed the blue dinosaur T shirt.   First, it passed the test from the washer and didn’t shrink.   It is a tighter fit shirt, obviously, and Nolan was happy to try it on.   No tags was another plus.   Nolan’s comments were” I’m like Spiderman” and when I asked him how it feels, he said “good, like fuzzy.”   He has worn the shirt around the house several times.   I asked him if it made him feel good, and his response was yes.   Because of the “tighter look”, I would have him wear it under another shirt if he were to wear it to school or somewhere else.   I am grateful for the innovative ideas and products that are developed to help children with sensory needs and I would definitely recommend these shirts.   I also wanted to share the latest research news about sensory processing disorder and Autism with this article.  Also, here is the link to advocate for getting sensory processing disorder added to the DSM-5.

About Sen Sational Hug Tees

Organic Cotton-spandex blend is seamless and tag less too! Wide neck for ultimate comfort. Can be worn as a tee or underneath a looser shirt as a tight undergarment. Machine washable. Sizes by age. You can purchase the tees for $19.99 at their website www.funandfunction.com.  I would recommend their facebook page and twitter, where you can interact with them and share your needs. 

Fun and Function Weighted Vest Review

I didn’t know anything about using Weighted Vests to help children with Autism until I was asked to review one for Fun and Function. I was happy to have the opportunity to learn about them and hopefully help parents learn about interventions for their children.  I posted below some statements I found about using weighted vest.  I can say that our five year old told me it “makes him feel better,” so I am thrilled with it.  I did some research on the internet for different kinds of weighted vests and I can certainly say that Fun and Function provides the cutest looking one.  The vest is also well made with Fleece, and comes with two pounds of bean bag weights.  You can use whatever amount recommended  and there are pockets in the back to place them.  Our son doesn’t even know they are there and no one else would notice either.  The only downfall, it picks up a lot of lint, but that is easy to brush off.
These vests come in the color Navy Blue in Small, Medium and Large.  We haven’t used it at school yet, but I wouldn’t have any problem with him wearing it because his peers wouldn’t notice there was anything different about his clothes.  I also found out if we and his IEP team felt he needed one, the school would pay for one for him to wear.  If your child would benefit from using a weighted vest, I would definitely utilize your IEP team. Remember this is a non-invasive therapeutic opportunity. Weighted vest research is in its infancy. Parents and therapists should try using the vest in many situations to determine what will and won’t work for each individual child. If your child is diagnosed with Autism, ADD, ADHD, or Hyperactivity, it’s worth researching. NOTE: Weighted vests are best used and “prescribed” under the direction of a trained Occupational Therapist. If you do not already have one and think your child may benefit from one, check to see if a local clinic, rehab facility, or school has an occupational therapist you can talk to and express your concerns. They will then determine if your child would benefit from an OT evaluation. They are doing some studies and below is some more information I found and linked below.

Many children with sensory processing disorders, autism, or ADHD show dramatic improvement in their ability to sit still and concentrate on tasks. These vests can be used before or during gross motor, heavy work, table top, classroom, or at-home activities, when their bodies need that extra input in order to perform tasks with sustained concentration

You can purchase the Vests as well as many other great resources at www.funandfunction.com

Have you checked out www.bykidsonly.com yet?  Here is what it all about as described from the website:

By Kids Only is committed to helping all children express their ides, and feel good about themselves. But first you have to get dressed, right? Of course.

Many children are sensitive to certain fabrics and styling, especially children with sensory processing disorder or autism. It can be tough to find clothes that are comfortable, easy to put on, and look good too.  Now your child can be part of the solution, and participate in the design process at By Kids Only

I love this idea!  Right now there are over 20 designs displayed that were conceived and drawn by kids.  Coming in June the clothes with the most votes will be for sale.  I picked a couple of my favorites below and posted them just to show you how imaginative the designs are.  The one on the right was designed by Fiona, with a Velcro closure for children who have a difficult time with fine motor skills.  You can have your child design a shirt and you never know, it may be selected!

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.