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What Are The Most Popular Self-Regulation Toys/Products?

With all the amazing self-regulation toys and products available these days, I thought it would be useful to highlight some of my personal favourites, which could also fulfill the purpose of stocking stuffers!  Throughout the year, I also assist clients in creating “Calming Boxes”, as seen above, which can be made from an old shoe-box (self-decorated) filled with favourite fidgets, small toys and sensory items such as gum, bubble wrap (great for popping when you’re mad), a small musical box and a lavender pouch.  It’s also a good idea to create a calming box/bag for the car too to aid with boredom, restlessness and sibling rivalry.

#1 Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty!  By far, this is the most popular self-regulation tool/fidget used by kids and teens in my counselling sessions! I love the fact that there’s enough of it to really mold it, stretch it, snap it, etc.  I also love that this company had created such cool colours such as metallic silver, volcanic lava, glow-in-the-dark, neon etc.

#2 Hoberman Sphere!  This is another very popular toy which comes in different sizes.  I also call it a “breathing ball” as it expands as we pull it out and breathe in and contracts as we push it in and exhale.

#3 Tangle Toys!  These toys also come in different colours (see the silver tangle toy in the calming box picture above) and are fun to pull apart, twist and turn.

#4 Stress Ball!  The Squeeze stress ball is very satisfying (see the green peace sign stress ball in the calming box picture).  It’s a great tool for squeezing out tension, anger, frustration etc.

#5 Hairy Tangle!  I love these tangle toys because they have a great texture and are fun for squishing!

Another great self-regulation product:

The wobble cushion – for the child who has a difficult time sitting still at dinner, doing homework etc. this wobble cushion gives the body the sensory feedback that it’s looking for, by allowing one to rock back and forth, without being as disruptive or dangerous as rocking on the back legs of the chair or getting up and down out of one’s seat

Books!  Glorious Books!

I love books and use bibliotherapy (a type of therapy which uses literature to help solve problems and treat psychological concerns) a lot in my counselling sessions and groups.  Stories are particularly beneficial because, the reader can often identify with the character, but feel less threatened in discussing the content because it is focussed on a third person character.  Books make another wonderful present, and I have listed some of my favourites for various ages:

Primary Age:

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin – The moral:  No matter how big or small we are, with a positive attitude we can all help others and make a difference (I love all the Pete the Cat books as they all have great lessons and teach about resilience)

Unstoppable Me! by Wayne Dyer This great book teaches the following 10 life lessons: 1) You’re great no matter what 2) Persistence pays off 3) Welcome to the unknown 4) You have a choice 5) Farewell to worry 6) Peace begins with you 7) Enjoy the here-and-now 8) Healthy me 9) Creativity is the key 10)What can you give?

Incredible You! by Wayne Dyer  This book focuses on the 10 following principles:  1) Share the good 2) Find what you love 3) You are filled with love 4) Find a quiet place inside 5) Make today great 6) Change your thoughts to good 7) Take care of yourself 8) Picture what you want 9) Everyone is special, especially you 10) Good thoughts give you energy

Scaredy Squirrel books and puppet by Melanie Watt.  I love these books (and puppet) for teaching how all of our thoughts are not true and how things we are most scared to try, usually end up as being really positive.  (The Scaredy Squirrel guide books to Halloween and Christmas don’t teach these lessons as well, but all the other Scaredy Squirrel story books do!)

What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss *Glow-in-the-dark book*  This book is loved by all kids, especially with the glow-in-the-dark factor!  Read it in the dark, with a flashlight shining on the glow-in-the-dark characters, and then turn the flashlight off!  Your kids will love it!

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst This is beautiful book explaining that we’re always attached to the people we love, and who love us, no matter what and even if we’re not in the same room.  It’s also lovely for imagining that we’re still connected to people or pets who have passed on, or moved away.  When I read this book with children, I teach them to rub their hands together and feel the tingling energy.  I explain that we’re all made up of energy and this is the “invisible string”  that connects us.

(I have so many favourite books!  For more of my favourites, I’ve recently created a recommended resources page.  Please feel free to email me your favourites and I will check them out!)

Tweens:

Chicken Soup for the Pre-Teen Soul by Jack Canfield  As with all Chicken Soup books, these are true stories which inspire, encourage and foster compassion

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery As the Little Prince goes off exploring, he learns about human behaviour along the way

Wonder by R.J. Palacio  A powerful story about a boy who’s had many surgeries to his face, returns to school and has to endure all sorts of bullying but his resilience shines through

365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts  This great book, creates 365 moral precepts based on the important messages from the story Wonder.

The Julien Chapter by R.J. Palacio This book tells the story of the boy who bullies Auggie in Wonder. These three books should really be bought as a set as all the books share valuable perspectives and life-lessons.

School of Fear Trilogy by Gitty Daneshivari These books illustrate the irrationality of anxiety in a humorous way

Teens-Adults

Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn  (One of my favourite books and it involves a talking gorilla!)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho  An adventure story about following one’s heart

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff  This book takes the adorable character of Pooh and illustrates how Pooh teaches many lessons about finding happiness.  For example, “Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you’ve got.”
~ Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

I hope your preparations for the holidays are off to a good start, and this list helps to give you some more ideas for gift-giving,

Warmly,

 

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