Finding Balance With Asperger's: Multi-Use Premium Activity Hoops for OT, Homeschool, and More

Thank you to the Therapy Shoppe for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Finding ways to keep my 6 ½ year old Aspie, Quinn, interested while doing his home Occupational Therapy can be a challenge, so we are always looking for fun products to keep him engaged. The Premium Activity Hoops from the Therapy Shoppe are a great way to do just that. These six, sturdy hoops measure 15 inches in diameter and are flat, so they can be used in many different ways. They help improve his gross motor skills, proprioceptive input (body awareness), balance, stability, and more. The set also included 5 clips so we can even snap the hoops together for even more possibilities.

We like to use these hoops during OT, homeschool, and even playtime. Quinn’s favorite activity is to pattern them out and he plays a jumping game similar to hopscotch with them. We also use them for spinning on his arms and legs like you would a hoola hoop, throwing like a frisbee and then retrieving them. We even use them during our kid yoga sessions as a marker for staying in our space. For younger kids, they could be used for counting and color recognition as well. The possibilities are endless with these brightly colored hoops and they have made our OT, as well as other times, much more entertaining and even challenging sometimes.

These hoops are made of plastic, but are very durable and have not shown any wear even though we use them frequently. You can purchase these and all the Therapy Shoppe’s amazing products on their website, www.therapyshoppe.com. The Premium Activity Hoops retail for $24.99.

JumpSport iBounce Kids Trampoline with Tablet Mount

As part of his occupational therapy, Quinn uses a trampoline frequently and I’ve been wanting to get him one to use at home for over a year. When I learned about JumpSport’s kid’s trampoline, the iBounce, I was very excited to get one for Quinn.  This award-winning toy has won 8 awards in 2012, including the 2012 Creative Child - Kids Product Of The Year.

Quinn lacks proprioceptive input (body awareness) and has problems regulating his energy output, so indoor trampolines are perfect for him. This one has the added benefit of having exercise videos that comes with it featuring an adorable kangaroo, RompyRoo, and it has a tablet mount so he can watch his RompyRoo videos right on the trampoline’s handle bar via his iPad. Rompy is a little “babyish” (as he’d say), but he still enjoys the videos.  Take a look for yourself . . .


The JumpSport iBounce Trampoline is a fun and engaging way for toddlers and preschoolers to get exercise. This personal-sized trampoline provides hours of fun, develops coordination and balance, builds muscles and stamina, is a great outlet for pent-up energy, and, for kids on the spectrum, really helps improve their body awareness. It is made of very sturdy steel, sure to hold up with recommended use, easy to assemble, safe, stable, and fun. It is recommended for kids ages 2-6 and up to 75 pounds. The tablet mount fits any tablet up to 10” and is great for tech savvy parents and children. The mount is very secure and has not given me any reason to worry it will drop the iPad.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

We really love this trampoline and it’s improved Quinn’s behavior and endurance so much since having it. I see him heading over to jump many, many times a day; sometimes for just a few minutes and other times for the length of the video. He loves following RompyRoo’s instructions and doing the fun moves he does. It has proven most useful for when Quinn starts to enter “meltdown mode” because it really helps release all the anger and frustration that builds up. I am very grateful we got this and look forward to Quinn getting many hours of daily use in the future.

To learn more about the JumpSport iBounce Trampoline complete with tablet mount and RompyRoo videos, visit www.jumpsport.com and JumpSport on Facebook.  The iBounce is currently on promotion for $129.95.

Thank you to JumpSport for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.

NOTE TO 3G2S READERS:  Keeping with the spirit of the Holidays, I have included an extra entry into this contest for liking a small charitable organization on Facebook.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

Finding Balance With Asperger's: A Balance Beam Builds Proprioception

For kids on the autism spectrum, knowing their own bodies and being aware of what they’re doing with them is a struggle. This is called proprioception and it’s something that my 4 year old son, Quinn, struggles with as well. Guidecraft was generous enough to send me their Balance Beam to help Quinn learn to build proprioceptive responses. Anything that works on balance is great for children like Quinn because it truly takes a lot of mind and body control to be able to stay on without falling off.

This balance beam is awesome for many reasons. For one, it’s made of solid wood so it’s very sturdy and sure to last. Second, it’s not too high off the ground, so little ones don’t fear trying it out. Third, it actually has an easy and difficult way to use it simply by turning the long beam onto its short side. This is great for older children or once younger ones have mastered it the traditional way. The harder way is still too difficult for Quinn, but he’ll get there someday.

Initially, Quinn could not keep his balance when walking heel-to-toe on the beam, he just side walked it. After much prompting and even holding his hands to help, he has finally figured out the heel-toe way and does very well. We usually keep it in our hallway, so sometimes he still steadies himself on the wall, but he can do most of it on his own. He’s had a great time playing with it and is very proud of himself for being able to do it. I love that he’s building so many skills but in a way that’s fun. Plus, as with all Guidecraft’s products, this will be around for a very long time.

You can buy the Balance Beam and all Guidecraft’s developmental products on their website, www.guidecraft.com. This item retails for $90.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Building Proprioception with Marble Maze Balance Bases

In my most recent review of Guidecraft’s Balance Base, I described the benefits of using balance-building activities with children on the Autism spectrum. In addition to the Balance Base, Guidecraft generously sent us their Marble Maze Balance Bases, which are a fun twist on a regular balance base. This set of three bases features a marble maze in the center of each one, to make the balance-building into an activity.

Quinn has to really be aware of his body and concentrate on controlling it to get the marbles from one side of the maze to the other. This is so fantastic for building his gross motor muscles, but really helps build his lacking proprioceptive (one’s own perception of themselves) feedback. Many children with Autism struggle with their proprioception, so this activity is perfect for them. These bases are different from the other Guidecraft Balance Base I reviewed, not only because of the marble maze, but these bases pivot all directions, not just side-to-side, for an added measure of difficulty and fun.




With these bases, we tend to do “races”. Three children line up with the bases and see who can finish their maze first. Everyone gets encouragement for finishing and we never have “losers”.  It’s all in good fun and they know that, but competing really kicks their minds into overdrive and helps them to accomplish the tasks much quicker. I’ve noticed that Quinn does much better when he’s being pushed to finish quickly rather than taking his time and getting frustrated with it and eventually quitting. This activity is so good for him, I’ll do anything to make sure he practices frequently.

As will all Guidecraft’s products, these are extremely well made and sturdy. The bases are solid wood with the maze etched out of the wood and covered by clear plastic. Ours did crack a little on the sides when a teenager over 100 lbs. was on them, but they are by no means broken. To be safe, I wouldn’t let anyone bigger than that on them to increase their life. This Set of 3 Marble Maze Balance Bases come in a set of three and retail for $150 on www.Guidecraft.com.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Balance Base for Gross Motor Development

Though Quinn’s delay is in fine motor skills, it’s never a bad idea to strengthen gross motor skills. Guidecraft’s Balance Base is one way to enhance those large motor skills and keep them above par. The Balance Base is made of solid wood, so it’s very sturdy and will last for many years, and it’s double sided, for two different balancing experiences.

The solid side is a more simple balance builder, made for kids with a gross motor delay or younger children who are still developing those large motor muscles. On this side, children can space their feet all the way apart or very close together so they can practice at their comfort level.

If you flip the base over, the center is “hollow” and there are two places designed for their feet. This side of the base rocks significantly more, so it really helps strengthen the muscles and teaches children on the Autism spectrum about being aware of their bodies and learning to control them, something Quinn struggles with a lot. On the plus side though, the base never rocks enough on either side for children to fall or even feel like they’ll fall. It has a very strong center, so even though it teaches balance, it does so in a way that makes them feel secure. I am very thrilled with this base and know it will be well-loved in our home for many years.

You can purchase this and all Guidecraft’s products on their website, www.guidecraft.com. It retails for $60, which is a suitable price because it will truly last for many years.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Guidecraft Sensory Stepping Stones

Sensory problems plague many children these days, whether they are on the autism spectrum or not. When Guidecraft sent us their Sensory Stepping Stones, I was very excited because it was one of the many things on my list for therapy tools for my son, Quinn, who has Asperger’s. The six Sensory Stepping Stones help aid with balance and gross motor use, as well as self-awareness, and of course are a very tactile activity because the stones each have textures. Each of the six wood stones has a different texture on it. From sandpaper to foam to smooth wood, each one is a sensory delight for children.

We started using these by feeling with our hands and talking about how each felt to touch. Then we moved onto standing on them and talking about how it feels under our feet. Quinn loves the stepping stones and frequently moves them from his room to the living room to get to walk on them more.

Some of the textures, like the corkboard-feel one, really bother him and he doesn’t like them, but others like the ridged foam one, he loves. Sometimes he walks on them with his eyes open, picking his favorites and jumping around and other times he closes his eyes and talks about how they feel under his bare feet. Regardless of how he plays with them, they are giving him the tactile awareness that he needs.

Sensory Stepping Stones, like all Guidecraft’s products, are very well made and sturdy and will last for a long time with good care. This set of six stones retails at $55 on Guidecraft’s website, www.guidecraft.com.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.