Finding Balance With Asperger's: Wipe-Clean Weighted Blankets are Perfect for Homes with Young Children and Pets

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

Weighted Blankets are a must for some children on the Autism Spectrum and my son, Quinn, is one of those kids. Weighted products really help give Quinn proprioceptive input and ground him physically which usually helps him when he’s having a meltdown or is on the verge of one and really improves his sleep. We’ve had a homemade weighted blanket for years, but it recently got ruined and was not washable, so I had to throw it out. The Therapy Shoppe kindly offered me one of their wipe-clean weighted blankets and it could not have come at a better time.



When our old blanket got ruined, it really disrupted Quinn’s daily life. He really needs a weighted blanket at night to help him calm down and get to sleep and when he’s in “meltdown mode”, the weighted blanket is even more vital. Our new blanket is the Wipe-Clean Weighted Blanket and we really love this blanket. It weighs 7 pounds, which is perfect for 45-pound Quinn. It is a great size too because it covers him all the way up when our old one only covered his legs. It is a very cute, gender-neutral print so it would be great for boys or girls and I absolutely love that it doesn’t matter what gets spilled on it, what kind of animal hair gets on it, or any accidents that happen because it can just be wiped off and it’s like new again. It is also a very durable material, so it can take a normal amount of “abuse” that kids dish out. The quilted pattern of it is great because it holds the inner poly pellets in place so the weight is evenly distributed to provide a perfect amount of calming pressure.

I was devastated when our old weighted blanket got ruined, but now I am glad because this one is so much better! It has saved us so many tears and other problems and it is really better suited for Quinn. I don’t have to worry about him not having what he needs and he really loves his weighted blanket. Its weight helps him calm down when he needs it, soothes him when he’s upset, gives him body awareness, and overall makes our lives so much smoother. We are so grateful to the Therapy Shoppe for introducing us to this amazing therapy tool and it will be very loved by us for a long time.

You can purchase this Wipe-Clean Weighted Blanket at www.therapyshoppe.com. It comes in a 5 lbs. blanket or 7 lbs. and they retail for $118.99 and $133.99, respectively.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: 6 in 1 Webber Portable Therapy Center

I am always on the lookout for products that make my life easier, and the 6 in 1 Webber Portable Therapy Center is just such an item. This incredible therapy tool was designed to make a therapists life easier by having many tools they’d need right at their fingertips. I have found it to be a very useful tool in my homeschool as well.

This portable therapy center contains a magnetic dry erase board, pocket chart, Velcro receptive panel, acrylic mirror, and two removable pouches as well as pockets to store pens and everything else. It measures 13 ¾” x 12 ½” x 2 ¼” so it’s roomy enough for everything without being too bulky to transport. Plus it’s made of durable and easy-to-clean vinyl, so it can withstand minimal abuse and still come out looking nice. This genius setup is so handy and contains all the things I need right at my fingertips for teaching as well as doing at-home therapy for my 6 year old who has Asperger’s.


I keep this with my teacher supplies on a shelf so it’s right at hand when I need it. Inside the portable therapy center, I keep dry erase markers and eraser, pens/pencils, magnets, various felt items (for use on the Velcro board), and exercise cards to use with the pocket chart. Quinn can practice writing to improve his fine motor skills or just draw with the dry erase markers for fun. We have various sets of magnets for math or just pretend play that he uses when he’s done writing. Sometimes he even draws his own scenery then plays with magnets on top of his creations.


In addition to the above, we have felt and Velcro-backed items that we use similarly to the magnets. We have multiples of various items (such as bunnies, snowmen, frogs, etc.) which we use either for counting or making up stories with and I have themed ones that correspond to stories, like the Monkeys Jumping on the Bed set (pictured below). Felt board items are so fun and Quinn loves having stories illustrated in a different way. Plus, it’s always fun to get to make your own variations on books.

We utilize the mirror for practicing facial movements, which is especially beneficial for Quinn as he doesn’t always understand expressions.  We also use our hands for sensory experiences with shaving cream which provides excellent tactile input for both kids.

I really love how this therapy center is constructed and have thoroughly enjoyed using it for my kids. It is lightweight so it is easily moved, but the setup is obviously well thought out by people who know what they’re doing. I have no criticism for it at all; it’s a truly great product. This would be a handy tool for any teacher, home educator, or therapist.

You can purchase the 6 in 1 Webber Portable Therapy Center on Super Duper, Inc.’s website at www.superduperinc.com. It retails for $79.95.

Thank you to Super Duper, Inc. for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Weighted Compression Vests

My son, Quinn, uses a therapy vest recommended by his doctor and occupational therapist to calm him and provide proprioceptive input. Many children on the autism spectrum require such therapy devices because they lack the self awareness and ability to calm themselves at times. We were given a pressure vest by a friend to use, but the therapist also wanted to try a weighted vest to use in combination but they are very expensive so we hadn’t had a chance. When Fun and Function graciously offered to send me a weighted compression vest, I was thrilled to get the opportunity. This vest combines the pressure function of a compression vest but also includes weights. These two functions can be used individually or together, depending on your child’s needs.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Made of neoprene with mesh material on the sides, this vest fits snugly, but also stays cool because it allowed air to flow through. Quinn likes this vest much more than the other because it doesn’t make him as sweaty and he loves the way the weights feel. He says the weighted vest makes him feel calmer as well. The vest is also very well made and fully adjustable because of its hook and loop closures. We got the extra small size, which comes with 2 pounds worth of weights, that is perfect for his size and age. As an added feature, you may purchase more weights if needed. This vest is also machine washable in cold water with the weights removed.

We are very thrilled with this vest. Its quality is amazing and it works so well for treating Quinn’s problems associated with Asperger’s. Sometimes he asks for me to put the vest on him because he likes how it feels, even if he can’t put into words why. If you are in the market for a therapy vest, I highly recommend these weighted compression vests from Fun and Function. You can buy these and many other amazing therapy products on their website, www.funandfunction.com. This type of vest retails from $47.99-$57.99, depending on the size.


Thank you to Fun and Function for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Therapeutic Tactile Sensory Activity

Guidecraft has many amazing products for children of all ages and developmental levels, as I’ve outlined before in my recent reviews. Among the things Guidecraft was kind enough to send me for my son, Quinn, who has Asperger’s, was the 3D Feel & Find sets, one of which I wrote about last week. They were also generous enough to send me their World Icons version, which features the same puzzle-type activity but has more recognizable characters, like sun, moon, fish, rabbit, and more. Made from eco-friendly rubber wood, this set includes the handy carrying bag, so storing is a breeze.

For a great therapeutic activity, we like to line up all the tiles so they are easy for Quinn to view, and then have him reach in to the bag (no peeking allowed) and guess what the tile is before he pulls it out. This gives him a great tactile concept to grasp plus helps him develop his self awareness because he has to be very aware of what his body is doing and feeling to accomplish this activity. Sometimes we switch things up and ask him to find a specific shape by touch only to force his brain to think in another fashion. We also make it a game with his friends or brother to see who can identify the most pieces from the bag in a certain amount of time.





When we first got the set, Quinn had real difficulty figuring out which pieces was which by touch only. As time has went on, he is doing much better at it. Simple things like finding squared off pieces did not come naturally for Quinn initially, which just shows how out of sorts his sensory inputs are. He really enjoys doing this activity, though we usually make it marginally easier for him by eliminating some of the pieces and boards to start with. He is only four-years-old, after all.

Like all Guidecraft’s products, the 3D Feel & Find World Icons toy is available on their website, www.guidecraft.com. This set retails for $30.


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

Finding Balance With Asperger's: Textured Dominoes for Sensory Development

Most children on the autism spectrum have sensory integration problems and, as I’ve said before, my son, Quinn’s diagnosis of Asperger’s includes these issues. Because of this, anything that helps develop his tactile senses is a must-have. The Texture Dominoes that Guidecraft sells on their site is a great way to give Quinn a very sensory-developing activity that is also fun to do. Texture Dominoes are dominoes played in the same traditional way that classic dominoes are played, but with a fun twist: they include textures to match instead of simply matching pictures or dots. The dominoes have foam, ridges, carpet, sandpaper, wood, felt, and more textures to make playing dominoes a complete sensory experience. In addition to developing tactile concepts, it also helps with intellectual skills and problem solving to play the game, social skills because of playing with a partner, and fine motor because the pieces are small. Texture Dominoes are great for any child, but especially great when used as a therapy tool for ASD diagnoses.

Quinn really loved playing with the dominoes and had to be pushed out of his comfort zone with some of the textures, like the sandpaper. Sometimes we play just by matching the colors of the textures and other times we play only by texture matching. We’ve even played blindfolded, though it was difficult. As with all Guidecraft’s products, they are well made and will last for years to come. The dominoes are made of solid wood and the textures are made from high quality materials that I named above. I have had a couple of the round textures pop out, but I just glued them back in and they were fine.

You can purchase Texture Dominoes on Guidecraft.com, Amazon.com, and other major retailers of developmental toys. This set retails for $18.


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

Review: "The Dog Who Healed a Family" by Jo Coudert

The Dog Who Healed a Family is a heartwarming compilation of stories about amazing animals that did extraordinary things for the humans they were around. From a dog who traveled the country to get back to his owners to a friendly deer, these stories have a variety of animals who are sweet, smart, courageous, and funny.

I really enjoyed reading the short stories in the book and my kids enjoyed the ones I shared with them. Our personal favorite was one about a wise-cracking parrot who said the funniest things at the most perfect moments, embarrassing and delighting it’s owner.

This book is truly a great, fast little read that is sure to make you smile a time or two. Jo Coudert, the author, has a way with words and tells the stories in ways that are compelling and interesting. She is the author of nine books including Seven Cats and the Art of Living. She is a lifelong animal-lover herself. This book would make a great gift for a person dealing with tough times or illness, for an animal lover, or for a pre-teen.

You can find The Dog Who Healed a Family at the eHarlequin Bookstore, as well as from other online and local book retailers. To learn more about the author, visit JoCoudert.com .

Thank you to Harlequin for sending us a sample copy of this book free of charge to base this review upon.