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Recommended Autism Products
Guide to autism products and books related sensory processing disorder (SPD) symptoms. I have decided to put together a page dedicated to giving information about recommended products and autism books. Feel free to add your own recommended items in the form at the very bottom of this page as well!
Starting Sensory Therapy: Fun Activities for the Home and Classroom!
This is such an easy to read book for parents and teachers! The activities it provides use ingredients and items that are easily found already at home that exercise the seven sensory "muscles." These activities will also help your child with skill development and learning. My personal favorites are the edible finger paint and some toilet paper dancing!!
Special Diets for Special Kids
I am all too familiar with the gluten free casein free diet. Not only has my son been on this, but I too temporarily while nursing my second son after it appeared he was sensitive to these in my diet. Many of these recipes are very easy to make with a short list of ingredients! The Yeast-Free White Bread is not only easy to make, but also better than any yeast free GF bread you can buy. The book contains over 200 recipes, including many you would have never thought possible on a GFCF diet.
Songames for Sensory Processing
There's no better way to work with children that have sensory issues than to include some music! This book comes with two CD's and a description of each song/activity on the CD. A really great song is one to help children wake up in the morning. It helps them start their day and can be used with a CD alarm clock. Your child will love these!
No Longer A SECRET: Unique Common Sense Strategies for Children with Sensory or Motor Challenges
This book is great for parents that are looking for sensory techniques that do not require purchasing expensive equipment. Many of the ideas allow the use of common every day objects. I especially thought that using a rolled up jacket on a chair in place of an expensive inflatible disk. The book can be a bit detailed to read, but for children that are not able to get the occupational therapy they desperately need in the classroom or at home, it is definitely a good replacement tool.
Developing Leisure Time Skills for Persons with Autism
Sometimes children with autism have a difficult time structuring their free time. Parents can often turn to the use of electronics - TV and videogames, to help fill those times. This book helps to teach leisure activities that do not involve the use of electronics. I think this is an important aspect for children with autism to learn. Not only can electronic devices be overstimulating at times, they also limit social involvement, which is what children with autism need! It is very easy to follow and has step by step instructions on how to faciliate the activities. A great read!!
What I Wish I'd Known about Raising a Child with Autism
This is a great book for parents of children that have been recently diagnosed with autism. It provides help in a non-judgemental way for issues such as picky eating, speech delays, early intervention, bedtime battles, sibling rivalry and more! The author speaks with experience from her own daughter having autism and provides insight on how to look at your own child in a unique perspective.
Chewy Charms Chewable Tube Necklace by Chew Stixx
This necklace was great for helping my son stop chewing on his shirt! After so many days of finding his shirts were basically ruined from a day of shirt chewing, I looked for a good replacement behavior and found these. I was able to fade the use of it over time and now he doesn't need to wear the necklace and doesn't chew his shirt anymore either.
Learn to Have Fun with Your Senses!: The Sensory Avoider's Survival Guide
This is a great book for older children that are able to read and/or parents to use with children that tend to have difficulty with sensory stimulation. It provides a helpful quiz for each sense that allows you to easily decide whether your child is having difficulties with that particular sense. Then it lists fun activities for children to do that help with sensory integration related to that sense. My son loves doing them as a daily part of his sensory diet!
The Way I See It, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's
Autism & Asperger's Syndrome Books)
Temple Grandin is an accomplished writer, speaker and doctor of animal science. She is also an adult female with autism. Her books provide parents with a deeper look into the mind of a child with autism. I really enjoyed reading this book and if you get a chance you should also check out the movie Temple Grandin
based on her life.
Audible 12-inch Time Timer
Honestly, I have to say I think this is the greatest invention since sliced bread!! It can easily be used as an ADHD, SPD, autism product or for any child. I use it with my son along with other transition strategies and it is absolutely wonderful! In fact sometimes he will put it on himself if I say “Give me 5 more minutes” before I am able to help him with something. I use it to say when an activity will be over or when one will begin. If your child has a difficult time ending or starting certain activities this works very well in eliminating those struggles.
Ellie Bean the Drama Queen: A Children's Book about Sensory Processing Disorder
Ellie Bean the drama queen is an illustrated children’s book about a little girl with sensory issues. It does a great job of describing how different sensations affect her and explaining reasons for what others may view as difficult behavior.
I think this is not only a good book to read to children with sensory challenges to show they are not alone, but to also have for grandparents and family members to read to a child that helps aid in their understanding as well. I found this to be especially good when you have family members that think your are just trying to ‘justify’ a child’s behavior by saying they have sensory processing disorder.
My Friend with Autism: Enhanced Edition with FREE CD of Coloring Pages!
Autism & Asperger's Syndrome Books)
I love this book! With autism statistics increasing substantially every year, I think this book is a must have for teachers and educators to explain they symptoms of children with autism to his/her classmates.
As a parent of a child with autism you may even consider getting this autism product to have your child’s teacher read to a class when your child is transitioned into a mainstream classroom. It does a great job of explaining different behaviors children with autism may exhibit and appropriate ways to respond to those scenarios. It also comes with a CD of coloring pictures that can be printed off!
Active Imagination Activity Book: 50 Sensorimotor Activities for Children to Improve Focus, Attention, Strength, and Coordination
This is a wonderful book that I think can be used with any child. It’s divided into activities that are energizing, upper-body strengthening, core strengthening, calming or a combination of these. There are bright colored illustrations for the child to see that helps facilitate the activity and each one is also fun for the child! The book also can stand in an upright manner to allow it to be easily seen while engaged in the movements. Parents, teachers and occupational therapists will find this autism product very beneficial.
The Child with Autism Learns about Faith: 15 Ready-to-Use Scripture Lessons, from the Garden of Eden to the Parting of the Red Sea
For a family that is part of a church community, I think that it is very important for there to be support within their congregation about teaching their child about God. Children with autism symptoms learn differently than other children and religious education services do not always account for those differences. This autism product provides 15 ready to use scripture lessons that are based on visual and tactual activities aiding in their learning.
It also allows instructors to be trained on how to teach effectively by explaining how children with autism learn. Definitely a must have for any congregation that is serving children with autism. One important note – some of the lessons involve snacks/treats, but some children with autism signs may be on gluten free casein free diets. So, be sure to always check with parents first.
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders
Child Care Books)
You may have seen this book on other pages of my site because I think that healing internal health problems is extremely important to incorporate in autism treatments. This book guides parents on how to do this through integrative medicine. Many of the listed treatments I have done with my son, who has issues with sensory seeking and have seen positive results. It also talks about vaccines and their role, as well as different types of diets that can help heal a child.
If you haven't already, be sure to download my eBook with the best tips and techniques for helping all children by clicking the image below!
