When it comes to sensory processing and even emotional regulation, the right sensory tools can make all the difference. 
Sensory Tools to Help Your Child:
Weighted Blankets
Weighted blankets serve many purposes. Here are some of the potential benefits for adults and children:
- firm, gentle pressure provides proprioceptive sensory feedback
- eases insomnia
- produces a calming effect for some who have sensory processing disorder
- lowers stress
- reduces anxiety
- improves focus in those with ADHD
- better overall quality of sleep
- helps with emotional regulation and mood
- can be used for other physical and mental health concerns such as restless leg syndrome, PTSD, autism, OCD, and fibromyalgia
A good night’s sleep is so important for us to function the next day, not to mention our overall physical and mental health. Using a weighted blanket can help you fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and wake up feeling more rested.
Weighted blankets are scientifically proven to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.
It accomplishes all of these impressive things through something called deep touch pressure stimulation therapy. 
What is deep touch pressure stimulation therapy?
Deep touch pressure stimulation therapy is firm but gentle pressure applied through squeezing, hugs, or holding techniques that relax the nervous system. This produces a calming, soothing effect that can lower anxiety.
This pressure can be applied with an actual hug or through the hands such as a massage or through tools or products such as weighted blankets, neck wraps, compression sheets, or specialized clothing.
Deep touch pressure stimulation increases serotonin and dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitters and lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.
The pressure of a weighted blanket in some ways recreates the feeling of a hug. Now more than ever, that is so needed. This can be so reassuring for kids who may feel anxious at night without their parent.
When it comes to weighted sensory tools, it’s important that you get the right weight. Weighted blankets should not be used with infants and toddlers or those with certain health conditions. Consult your doctor before beginning to use a weighted blanket for yourself or your child.
Compression Sheets
Compression sheets work in much the same way as weighted blankets do. They provide firm, constant pressure in a gentle way.
They also offer essentially the same benefits because they provide deep touch pressure stimulation.
It’s a bit like swaddling a baby. Of course, it isn’t safe to use these sheets with infants or toddlers. You want to ensure that your child can safely crawl out of the sheet themselves.
While the obvious benefits are improved sleep, lowered anxiety, and sensory needs being met, these can also be used during the day to calm your child if you sense that a sensory meltdown is coming on.
The Huggaroo Pouch compression sheet fits your child’s bed like a sock, open on both top and bottom but snug around. It’s smooth and stretchy, offering tactile and proprioceptive sensory feedback. 
It’s a great alternative to a weighted blanket for those that don’t want the heavy weight or heat of a weighted blanket.
Neck Wraps
The benefits of weighted neck wraps are again similar to those of weighted blankets. One of the nice things about neck wraps is that they are more portable, and can therefore be used at home, in school, or in other settings.
Some of my kids with sensory processing disorder have found that neck wraps help them when they need focus and concentration such as when they are writing an exam. 
Weighted neck wraps can be particularly beneficial for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, or ADHD. They can help reduce excessive movement and provide more focus and calming.
I like the Huggaroo Weighted Neck Wraps. They are microwavable so they can be warmed. The combination of the proprioceptive pressure and the warmth is particularly soothing.
These are available in unscented or a subtle lavender scent which adds to the calming effect.
You can also set them in your child’s lap so they can double as a lap pad!
My son loves hugs and when I rub his back.
My favorite sensory tool are sensory bottles. They’re fun to make with kids and even have a soothing effect on adults. 🙂
One of my students has a weighted lap mat that works very well for them.
As a teacher, I love wiggle seats for my students.
The weighted neck wrap
I actually love the shoulder wrap. This could be so beneficial for the elderly as well as they tend to get chills through the shoulder area. I also love the microwaveable heating pads.
This stuff looks awesome! Thank you for providing such great items for sensory uses.
This is awesome! My 2 year old grandson has sensory processing. This would be a great gift for him. Thank you for sharing
I have severe anxieties when it comes to dentists and having a weighted blanket during the procedure helps a lot!
I am a special education teacher and love the use of weighted blankets, fidgets, and alternative forms of seating to help them feel calm and more focused!
The neck wrap would be a great tool for some of the kids in my class who have sensory processing needs. Most weighted blankets are too large to really work well in our classroom setting, but the neck wrap would be just the right size. Thanks for the inspiration!
My students crave a lot of sensory input and it is so difficult and expensive to be able to supply my caseload with everything they need. I try inexpensive things like weighing down a child’s backpack and having them run an “errand” for me or unstacking and stacking chairs. Now virtually it makes it even more difficult. These items would all be so useful!!
My favorite sensory tools are sensory bottles.
I love my weighted blanket at home! I love the wiggle seats for my kids and the sand!
I love weighted blankets or pillows for my students laps
We are learning so much about sensory processing. One of my kids is very sensitive (and has Adhd) and it is a constant learning curve to help him with tasks he finds physically uncomfortable especially when transitions are already difficult.
These look so cozy. My students love their weighted blankets but this would be good for sitting at the desks as well
Love the idea of a weighted neck wrap. Other items on the website look equally interesting–puppy or lamb weighted lap pad for kids and eye compress for those horrible migraines.
I love having sensory bottles and having sensory toys that use other senses too – I currently have sound eggs in my sensory area in my preschool classroom! My students have to shake the eggs and find the matching sounds!
My favorite tools are weighted blankets and body socks. This is an awesome package that you are giving away.
Huggaroo has a cute weighted puppy I think we’ll have to get!! Wonderful tools!
So interesting! My daughter wears her baby blanket around her neck all day during virtual school. I thought it was just because it’s cozy but I’ve long maintained that she has some small sensory issues. My sister is also gifted and they both have the same responses to certain textures.
Sensory tools are a game changer in the classroom! So far my favorite sensory tool in the classroom has been a tall bubble coloring changing lamp light (goodness I have no idea what they are called). All of my sensory seekers cling to that during break time.
Thank you for providing such great items for sensory uses.
My favorite is the weighted blanket. I use one, myself.
So many options to help the kiddos we work with and their families…including my niece
I love sensory bins and play dough and slime, mindless and calming. Feel calm at the end.
A current student if mine benefits from a weighted vest. We’ve been experimenting with anything from sand bins to ice to chewing gum to find what fits our students.
I love the weighted lap blankets and use them at my circle time for ‘focus tools’. We also use sensory bottles of different sizes in our calm down chair. Sometimes I ask my big wigglers to bring me the bigger bottles as a heavy load to carry. Then they feel like a helper and receive sensory input.
This is right up my alley and so needed right now. Two people I had who would sew for me both have broken machines right now- what horrible timing! I soooo need this!
I have 2 grandchildren that love their weighted blankets. One of my grandchildren likes it when she is awake but says it is to hot at night. I love the huggaroo pouch option. Thanks for sharing this.
legos
I’ve learned so much from you about how to help my kids with their sensory needs!! Thank you
Water is my favorite sensory tool. There are so many ways to manipulate it and most children love the feel of it, as well as the opportunity to get wet!
Playdough!
love this. I have 2 sensory kids and I have never tried the neck wrap. This would be amazing.
Love the weighted blanket, the eye cover, the shoulder wrap that can be heated and the wonderful nobby small throw…
i love sensory bins. I also love using lycra body socks
This is such an amazing give away! My students love our sensory items and we can never have enough!!!
I have a shoulder wrap – love it!
would be incredible for my son who has anxiety.
I have always wanted to try a weighted blanket for myself!
Squishy toys, monkey noodles
I think we have tried most of them! My son seemed to prefer weighted blankets or any blanket he can wrap up tight in, fidgets to keep his hands busy, anything you can chew on and a bar that he could kick quietly that attached to his desk. He is currently a huge fan a foot pedal that he can use while playing games or studying.
This would be a great tool for my son, who is struggling with understanding his emotions.
My favorite sensory tools are shaving cream, kinetic sand and water beads to help children with self-regulation.
I have so many kids on my caseload with sensory needs and not nearly enough supplies to go around. One year I got all my teachers to make weighted snake neck wraps so each classroom had at least two.
I like using pom poms!
Wow great giveaway items! We all need to use sensory tools of some sort, some of us more than others. Our students love these items.
I have used weighted neck wraps and weighted bags for laps. They help so much. Now that I have a son (diagnosed ADHD) weighted/sensory has become a must.
We are new to exploring sensory tools but we have bought silicone chew necklaces for our children.
weighted neck wraps!!!! I never even thought about that, this would be great for my middle school remote learners who have high anxiety being on camera.
I would love to share these items with the students I serve.
Love a little weighted blanket/wrap
Love Hugaroo
I love Weighted Blankets. They are a life saver.
I love weighted blankets and lap pads.
Noise cancellation head phones, sensory chewies necklace, silly putty (all these in combination work great for long drives, doctor appointments, dentist appointments — minus the necklace), maze books or I spy books with crayons or color pencils, light bright, legos, hot wheels, bubbles.
My 4 year old likes sand and tiny trucks. These compression sheets are intriguing.
I would love to have this kit as a way to help my students, allowing them to try it before their parents buy it.
Weighted blankets are great sensory tools.
These products look amazing!
I’m an OT and I’m always looking for great sensory materials to add the classrooms! You’re ideas are always great!