Sensory Super Heroes in Newport | Occupational therapist

Sensory Super Heroes

Locality: Newport

Phone: +61 468 778 737

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25.01.2022 TIPS FOR NEW SCHOOL TERM, ANXIETY & SENSORY OVERLOAD Here in Queensland it was DAY ONE of a new school term yesterday. How did your little super hero cope?...Continue reading

25.01.2022 Does your little super hero struggle with shoelaces (or youre saving that hurdle for another day)? Are you looking for something that creates super cool slip-on shoes without messy cords or toggles hanging off? Have you tried other elastic or toggle shoelaces out there in shoelace land?... We certainly have and we now have our ultimate favourite Elastic No-tie Shoelaces available for you in black and white at just $13 a pair (sale price)! You simply weave them through like normal laces and then let the ends (specially designed toggles) secure in place! All of our customers love them and now we have an easier way of picking the right size! No more guessing based on shoe size, number of holes or type of shoe! Check out the photo below for instructions or click on the link below to view them in our online store. Jenna sensorysuperheroes.com/products/elastic-shoelaces You can choose to click-and-collect from North Brisbane or Sunshine Coast, OR enjoy our flat $5 shipping rate!!

24.01.2022 Do you know a 'little super hero' like my Chloe, that has started to feel their super power and confidently take their place in the world? It's something we chip away at slowly, consistently, a day at a time. When our Chloe receives pure love and compassion... ... when we show her we have her back and prove that we will listen to her... when we prove that she can trust us and trust her teachers... she reflects love and gratitude back to us multiplied by 100 AND suddenly there is no need for behaviour management in our house anymore as we have slowly adjusted our understanding of behaviour... and the concept of behaviour management simply dissolves. Showing her pure love and compassion goes against the parenting models that society has taught us. It's not always easy, and I often get frustrated and ask her to step up and help herself as well... but children honestly want to please the adults in their life... so we have to believe that their best IS their best, based on how much their brain is being cared for at the time. It's hard to not bring our own childhood into the mix, and automatically shame and blame them for their behaviour (even just saying "that's naughty"). I'm finally getting a whole new insight into 'brain care' from the beautiful Allison Davies through her eCourse, and I highly recommend popping it on your self education wish list for 2021. This week I've enjoyed the realisation that the methods and decisions I have made over the last 4 years based on my Mum intuition (often questioned and criticised - with the best intentions)... are validated by Allison's research and experience as both an autistic adult and as a neurological music therapist supporting hundreds of neurodivergent brains My biggest piece of advice based on this realisation is... "practice tuning into your Mum intuition and celebrate every little win when you do, because it's all the little wins that actually count". Please share the good news stories about your Little Super Hero. I think it's super important to share the little wins and give everyone hope. Jenna

23.01.2022 Thank you Bianca for your lovely review! Our customer's experience is super important to us, so this made our day We have shared this with our team as well... to thank them for their long hours and passion for helping our tribe ... Jenna

23.01.2022 DOUBLE BED SOCK NOW AVAILABLE! We're excited to announce our calming bed sock is now available in a double bed size Due to an overwhelming number of requests from our gorgeous community of Mums and Dads... we fast-tracked our Double Bed order ... Available in a lovely navy blue Just $89 each They are designed to provide lovely deep pressure input... which helps to calm an over stimulated nervous system and set your little super hero up for a long, restful, rejuvenating sleep We chose very soft yet breathable material and added a super wide and soft elastic band across the top end of the sock to ensure the pressure is perfectly even and doesn't cut into our little super hero's arms or upper body (the only one like this on the market, that we know of). Chloe loves her sample one that she has already been using for weeks... and best of all she now doesn't kick of the sheets or doona (that we put over top of the bed sock)... which is important for wriggly little sleepers like her in winter! Click here for more info: sensorysuperheroes.com/products/calming-bed-sock Jenna

23.01.2022 Allison Davies is a multi award winning Music Therapist based in Tasmania, Australia... and the lady that bought us the "every little cell in my body" song during the height of pandemic restrictions earlier this year. We love the way she shared (in the video linked below) her own Autism diagnosis about 3 years ago, and continues to bring more and more awareness to Australia and the world. I found this so beautiful and interesting!... Jenna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qGeK4oI0vA

23.01.2022 ORAL SENSORY PROCESSING Have you seen our range of Chewable things? sensorysuperheroes.com//produc/chewellery-necklace-pendant... We know how important these can be for little super heroes that prefer to calm and regulate their sensory systems by chewing and sucking on things! (Did you know our mouths are one of the BEST sensory regulators to help us organise our thoughts and concentrate? ... you know that feeling when you drink a really cold or hot drink?) We know how life changing it can be to find the 'chewy' option that a child LOVES... and also to save other things from being destroyed (like clothes or fingernails), and save random germ-covered objects from going into mouths. We have even had many customers with very reluctant little super heroes, who then successfully transitioned from the dummy to one of our chewy range instead! Jenna TIP: Other than a chewy necklace, another option that we have found really helpful for our Chloe, is letting her crunch on something like crackers when she really has to concentrate on school work. It really makes a big difference, and she now asks for this almost every morning! Check out our range here: sensorysuperheroes.com//produc/chewellery-necklace-pendant

22.01.2022 Happy Speech Pathology week! Here at Sensory Super Heroes we work closely with some amazing "Speechies" and are so impressed by the work they do and the way they change lives! Speaking from experience with my daughter... once she started working with her Speechie, we really saw a difference in the way she started speaking with more confidence, in particular in 'asking for help'. ... Thank you Beyond Words Therapy Centre for bringing our attention to the unseen 'communication disabilities'. Jenna

22.01.2022 SWING STANDS ARE BACK IN STOCK!!! A swing stand is a really simple and portable way to install a Calming Swing Wrap into your home, verandah, or break room at school without needing an exposed beam or having to secure bolts and plates into a ceiling. A Calming Swing Wrap is one of my absolute favourite tools for brain care! ... Whether it's to help with anxiety, hyperactivity, sensory overload / regulation issues or low muscle tone. It not only provides lovely strong movement and deep pressure sensory input, but it also provides a 'hide away' retreat as little super heroes can wrap themselves up and enjoy a break from the onslaught of sensory information coming at them. It can also be used as an alerting tool, and encourages exercise and movement. As children climb in, stretch out and move around inside the swing, they develop body awareness, balance, motor planning and spatial skills. Check out our video of Deb Bone (Paediatric OT) explaining the benefits of our Calming Swing Wrap here... https://youtu.be/F1FYtD_zuQU When assembled, the stand base measures 2m x 2m, and is 1.9m high. You can order a stand on it's own, or in a combo with a swing wrap. Stand Only $219: sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sensory-swing-stand-only Combo $329 (valued at $358): https://sensorysuperheroes.com/pro/sensory-swing-with-stand Jenna

21.01.2022 VIBRATION CUSHIONS ARE BACK IN STOCK! We now have our very own Sensory Super Heroes vibration cushions Jenna spent months doing design, testing, and waiting for samples... and the result is AWESOME!... We've rolled all our favourite features together... and made sure they are as quiet as possible sensorysuperheroes.com/products/vibration-cushion - - - Vibration Cusions are an easy, portable and low-cost addition to your child's sensory kit for home or school and can have an incredible calming effect! Did you know that vibration is a very calming sensation for those that are always on the move and are seeking more proprioceptive sensory input than their friends? Why? Because it floods the brain with that lovely calming sensory input they are craving... which can also help with: - anxiety (helps their racing mind focus on one sensation for a period of time) - falling asleep and getting back to sleep - attention and focus for a longer amount of time - introduce vibration to children with sensory processing sensitivities as well I love it when a child first tries a vibration cushion, and in that moment they actually stop moving for the first time since walking in the door... their whole body physically relaxes... and then you just wait for that gorgeous smile and the "I love this one Mum!!!" Our vibration cushions are pressure activated, which means they offer a gentle vibration when sat on, hugged or squeezed... encouraging your child to experience cause and affect as they learn to self-regulate and choose when they help their own system to relax Co-regulation (eg. seeking comfort from a parent) is SO much easier and feels WAY better than self-regulation every day of the week... but when a child starts to choose co-regulation exclusively it's not a good idea for anyone! So they can get a little taste of self-regulation success... try adding some little opportunities for it into their day: - have a vibration cushion waiting in the car at school pick-up or in the classroom for dodgy drop-offs... so they have easy access to a quick-win tool for calming themselves Jenna Check out our vibration cushions here... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/vibration-cushion Take advantage of our flat low shipping rate to anywhere in Australia ... or click-and-collect from the Sunshine Coast or Redcliffe Peninsula, QLD

20.01.2022 Large Sensory Swings are back in stock!!! They are one of my favourite sensory resources and tick a number of calming and sensory therapy boxes at the same time! That's why many of my Occupational Therapy friends agree... Sensory Swings are a must-have resource at home... and in every good sensory room at schools and therapy clinics!! ... Not only do they offer the much needed movement and rhythm combo... but the soft and stretchy material also has a natural calming effect as it provides the deep pressure that many super kids need... and a visual sensory retreat for overwhelmed or anxious brains to hide in. Check them out here... https://sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sensory-swing ... and our popular swing with stand combo https://sensorysuperheroes.com/pro/sensory-swing-with-stand Jenna Take advantage of our flat $10 shipping rate to anywhere in Australia ... or click-and-collect from the Sunshine Coast or Redcliffe Peninsula, QLD

19.01.2022 Thank you Amanda for your kind words and this gorgeous photo! This feedback means the world to us

19.01.2022 Happy Mental Health Month everyone!! This is such a valuable message for all Dads and Mums to understand The best thing we can do for our children is show emotional leadership, hold space for them, and teach them by example that it is ok to feel big emotions and express them freely...... In my opinion, it's so important to our health and wellbeing to be comfortable with our emotions, name them, let them be felt deeply, and then let them flow and be released. Our children need to be encouraged on a daily basis to freely express their emotions, with intention, in a loud and physical (but safe) way, and not feel shame or guilt for feeling angry or sad. James explains it in such a brilliant way. Jenna

18.01.2022 NATURE DAY CAMP I jump at any opportunity to get Chloe out into nature and playing amongst the trees and dirt. I know it's her happiest place and it really grounds and heals her.... I love seeing her move her body, navigate rugged land, rocks and logs... explore the textures of mud, sand, leaves and water... and be soothed by the sounds of birds, insects and rustling wind. A few days ago we were lucky enough to have Chloe go to her first 'nature day camp'. The Brisbane based organisation "The Experience Collectors QLD" whisked her away via bus on one of their school holidays programs offering a 1:4 ratio of trained and energetic carers with Autistic children. She had read the social story I made her many times over and was ready to make new friends and gain confidence. Chloe returned grubby, happy, and chatting away about the flying fox, campfire, creek exploring, horses and tie-dying fun she had (this is rare for her to actually talk about her day). I love that she was able to just PLAY for a day, and build using things she found. Feeding her natural curiosity and love of animals and plants. She told me that she felt like Trent and the other carers really "got her" and she can't wait to go again. As a Mum I am grateful that we have this service available where we live (well over an hour travel each way, but so worth it) As a passionate neuro-divergant advocate, I am curious how many other services there are like "The Experience Collectors QLD" and "Autism Camp Australia" and how we can support expansion to every region across Australia. Jenna

18.01.2022 Try this at home! Part of our morning routine on a school morning is our 'sensory diet' with lots of deep pressure, heavy work and crashing... until little brains have the sensory input they need to feel 'just right' and be able to focus and enjoy school for the first few hours of the day Most little super heroes will also need sensory and movement breaks throughout their day at school. They can use monkey bars, do wall push-ups, jump on a mini-tramp, bounce on a peanut ba...ll and many other things. Jenna Sensory Super Heroes CRASH BAG sensorysuperheroes.com/products/crash-bag "Heidi is loving her crash bag and weighted blanket. She hasn’t been off it since it arrived." - Rachel "The crash bag in particular is absolutely fantastic. The kids love it, for crashing into and lounging around on. Only wish I got the large one now!" - Holly "Thank you SSH. We have bought a few products from you now but the most favourite so far has definitely been the crash bag!! Excellent quality, delivered super quick & my son who is a deep pressure sensory seeker is obsessed! He loves that he now has the freedom to crash & jump to his hearts content without using the furniture (mummy’s a bit happy too! )." - Amanda We absolutely love our crash bag! Such amazing quality and the customer service is unbeatable. - Erina The crash mat is outstanding quality!!!! Our children love this item the best! - Angela sensorysuperheroes.com/products/crash-bag

17.01.2022 If you have ever considered getting a Crash Bag for your home... or thought about creating a little 'jump and crash' self regulation zone... NOW IS THE IDEAL TIME!! Our little super heroes are SO sensitive to anxiety... they literally soak it up!... If Mum or Dad are stressed, they will bounce off of that and you will notice the change in them... in many little (and big) ways. If your little super hero is anything like mine, they do NOT cope well with change... and geeze-louise there is a lot of change happening all at once right now! Back to school for a few weeks, then changing again to online learning from home again! If you're a bit like me and struggling with the meltdowns, the stubborn refusal, the mood swings, the hyperactivity... please know that you are not alone! I hear you... and I think you're doing an amazing job! I want to tell you about my special little girl... the MOVEMENT SEEKER and a SQUISH SEEKER. She will always be upside down, running around, jumping on a bed, or from my bed to my bedroom chair and back again over . and . over . and . over AND this is when she is happiest! The biggest game changer was getting to know what her brain needed to feel just right, and making sure she had the equipment at home available so she can do ALL the things in a SAFE WAY, but more importantly in a way where she wasnt getting into trouble constantly! One of the first things we added to Chloe's home environment was a CRASH BAG. I designed it myself as I wanted something uniquely perfect for Chloe, and I couldn't find anything similar in my online search within Australia. I now ship them Australia-wide to families just like mine, and they all say what I already knew... a crash bag can be a LIFE CHANGER!!! A crash bag is ideal for a movement zone in your home or covered outdoor area, and popular for schools, day care centres and therapy clinics. A crash bag provides a fun way for little super heroes to get their heavy work and deep pressure input needs met. It can be used for crashing into, rolling across, laying between two layers, or simply relaxing. So if your little one is constantly on the move, like our Chloe, or they need to crash into you or your furniture a lot, or they're always flipping upside down... they may be needing MORE movement input than others in order to feel "just right" and need a safe place to do this. Jenna The children are loving the Crash Bag! Its so soft and the fabric is beautiful. The perfect crash bag for providing proprioception and the deep pressure input our sensory kids need!" Annareth, Occupational Therapist Check out our crash bags here... https://sensorysuperheroes.com/products/crash-bag Take advantage of our flat low shipping rate to anywhere in Australia

17.01.2022 WEIGHTED LAP BLANKETS We've heard them described by little super heroes "like a nice firm huge that doesn't stop". Put simply... weighted lap blankets make kids happy! They provide the much needed 'deep touch pressure' AND can be used for 'heavy work' as well... both key treatments for sensory defensiveness.... Sensory defensiveness involves over-reacting to a sensory experience like touch. Associated behaviours look like physical withdrawal, blocking the stimuli, vocal outbursts or aggressive behaviour... all coming from the primitive part of the brain that protects the person from what it incorrectly believes to be a life or death threat. For little super heroes with Sensory Processing difficulities, anxiety, and/or hyperactivity, a weighted lap blanket is a super effective tool to incorporate opportunities for sensory regulation into everyday life. They can be used across the lap, folded and draped over the shoulders, or carried around the classroom for the 'heavy work' calming input, especially helpful during transitions from one activity to another. They can even be used for helping to fall asleep easier. OUR WEIGHTED LAP BLANKETS sensorysuperheroes.com/products/weighted-lap-blanket We have carefully designed ours to: - be a premium quality - be super soft and snuggly - be made with glass microbeads that almost feel like sand (so they're not lumpy, noisy or bulky) - be a large 55cm x 60cm so they can be used in a variety of ways - have textured plush dots on one side for tactile sensory input - come with a drawstring carry bag! Colours: Azurite Blue, Moss Green, Quartz Pink, Silver Stars. Weights: 2kg ($64), 2.5kg ($74)

17.01.2022 Feeling proud of our special Crash Bags... helping so many families with little super heroes that love to crash, jump or flop A huge shout out to my parents... and their years of hard work on this project of passion. Jenna ... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/crash-bag

17.01.2022 Busy day here at SSH headquarters... All of these Crash Bags have been lovingly bundled up and will be on their way to their new homes in NSW, VIC, SA, WA and QLD first thing tomorrow morning! I wonder which little super heroes will recieve one of our Crash Bags this week?... We would love to see happy snaps once you have yours set up Jenna

16.01.2022 Thank you Rachel for taking the time to post this review! Seeing your daughter's happy face completely makes my day Loving the matchy designs... the Animal Balloons print is one of my favourites!... Jenna

15.01.2022 Hey guys... LET ME JUST SAY sensory over-responsiveness is REAL and can have a lasting negative impact if someone's nervous system is in fight/flight too often.... TO THE PARENTS of the amazing and brave Little Super Heroes that experience this every day... please hear me when I say... "you're doing the ABSOLUTE BEST YOU CAN to support your child (that probably looks and sounds like their siblings, cousins and friends, and are therefore compared to them)... despite being judged for being too soft on them or too firm on them... despite things working one day then not working the next... despite the constant battles to get through basic daily care". PLEASE HEAR ME when I say "you're not alone even when it feels like you are", and "I KNOW it's hard, and tiring" and "if someone hasn't walked a day in YOUR shoes and sacrificed what you have, and stressed about every outing or holiday or first day of school like you have, then they really cannot judge you or your child". LET'S PREPARE THE WORLD FOR OUR CHILDREN (rather than the opposite): Now that we've got that out there and our hearts can be heard and honoured, let's take a deep breathe and realise that everyone's opinion has a right to exist, and they cannot know what they don't already know. They may have a narrow and fear-based opinion of behaviour and expectations. So let's gently start to educate as many people as we can. IT STARTS WITH EDUCATION I love this short video from STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. My favourite lines: Your ability to function and participate in your daily life depends a great deal on the capacity of your nervous system to self-regulate, or to regulate, to be calm and alert and available according to the demands of the world around you and the activity you're engaged in at any one time. If you’re over responsive to the sensory data from the world around you, and from your own body, everyday life can feel like a battle ground. Simple sounds, smells and touch sensations put your nervous system into a state of defensiveness and hypervigilance. That’s a lot of extra effort and a lot of long-term damage. Enjoy this video, share it to your family and friends if it speaks to you... and please feel free to reach out to me or comment here so that others in this SSH community can be there for each other. Much love Jenna https://youtu.be/eZWmuHnoZOQ

15.01.2022 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I've noticed that I keep getting asked some common questions over and over... so I thought I'd get a bit organised and create a 'Frequently Asked Questions' page on our website ... sensorysuperheroes.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions Please let me know what you think! It's a work in progress, so please let me know if I've missed anything, or if there's anything else you'd like to know Jenna

14.01.2022 WEIGHTED BLANKETS FOR BEDTIME In my opinion, investing in weighted blankets is one of the best things we did in our house... for not just our daughter's anxiety but also for our own (as parents we also needed help bringing our anxiety down and turning our fight/flight response off). WHY? I've heard that our brain is already wired to look for differences or changes so it can keep us safe. That it looks for patterns, and learns, and is constantly trying to predict outcomes and... loves it when it's prediction was right. It makes sense that parents' brains then have to scan for difference at a higher level, and make so many more predictions. Add to that being the parent to a child with special needs... and we are suddenly faced with a lot more predictions, and more instances when we have an outcome that our brain DID NOT predict Experts say that at a certain point this leads to our brain saying "I give up" and "I'm just going to pop you into fight/flight mode now, so that you can survive"... and that's when we say hello to ANXIETY! So speaking from experience... we end up with anxious little super heroes with brains searching for more predictability... and we are doing the same ourselves. (ever noticed you or someone you love can seem more controlling at times... trying to create predictability in extreme or unhelpful ways?) ADD IN SOME PREDICTABILITY My daughter's OT says that... when we are in flight/fight mode we can really benefit from "grounding" to help our brains feel SAFE. SO by grabbing one of our snuggly & soft weighted blankets at the same time every night, and listening to the same book or the same song (a favourite one that you've heard a thousand times)... not only are you making yourself feel good because your brain knows what's coming next... you are also experiencing deep pressure from the weighted blanket, which has a calming effect on the neurological system and the bodys fight or flight response This should then help with falling to sleep a little quicker and having a restful night's sleep Jenna OUR HIGH QUALITY WEIGHTED BLANKETS - generous single doona size - very soft cotton, high quality - padded insert, so feels like a snuggly doona, but heavy - glass microbeads... so not lumpy or noisy - available in 3kg, 5kg, 7kg - ties in the corners so doesn't move around inside cover Available as insert only... sensorysuperheroes.com/produ/weighted-blanket-insert-single OR as a combo with a plush cover... sensorysuperheroes.com//weighted-blanket-combo-plush-padded "First night under the weighted blanket last night was a MASSIVE hit!" - Marianne

14.01.2022 These school holidays are the perfect time to reflect on the first half of the school year and plan for the new semester ahead... - what worked well? - where does your little super hero need more support?... Don't be afraid to make some changes, or ask for more support for the hours they are required to sit in their classroom and focus on their work (amongst many other demands that a school day brings). - - - SLOPED WRITING BOARD Does your little one avoid doing writing or colouring tasks, take a long time to produce one line of writing, get a sore hand, tire easily or press very hard on the paper? One of my favourite classroom tools for our daughter is her Sloped Writing Board. She has accessed it in every classroom since prep. The difference in her confidence and eagerness to do writing is huge! At the start of each writing or drawing task, she independently goes a grabs it from the corner and sets herself up. Our daughter has always had a delayed pencil grip with a tight grasp, excessive pressure on the paper, limited intrinsic finger muscle development, and joint laxity. This comes with the territory... with her Autism Spectrum Disorder and significant Sensory Processing Condition. Whilst we have been working on these issues (and many others, like bilateral co-ordination and visual motor integration skills) for years, with some improvement, she is simply a more confident and faster writer with her sloped writing board as it raises the writing surface for her, and provides support for her wrist. In the last few years I have learnt so much about what is involved in our children's bodies and brains in order to do writing at school! I had NO IDEA how complex or important it all is. I'm so excited to share my interview with the lovely Annareth with you She is a passionate Paediatric Occupational Therapist based in Queensland, Australia. If you find this video helpful then please give it a like and share this post... you never know who might need to hear this message leading up to a new school year. Jenna Here is the youtube link if you need it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l1Y0YYaDnI We sell these in person at our home-based shops in Queensland and in our online shop with a flat $10 shipping rate to anywhere in Australia... https://sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sloped-writing-board

14.01.2022 "No matter who you are, you are experiencing OVERLOAD! Our brains simply were not designed to cater for the amount of information we are expecting them to process! And THIS is why we experience anxiety symptoms. Here a few tips on how to manage our environments to give our brains a break!!" - Allison Davies Allison is a Neurologic Music Therapist based in regional Tasmania. She has over 18 years experience working with children in clinical, community and education settings... and is a registered Helping Children With Autism service provider. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXZV2Q4CnIQ

13.01.2022 Thank you Kelly for sharing your experience! We're so happy to hear that your son loves his Crash Bag.

13.01.2022 SINGLE BED SOCKS ARE BACK IN STOCK! sensorysuperheroes.com/products/calming-bed-sock Our lycra bed sheets provide sensory feedback perfect for any child... as the full body compression input floods the brain with the simple message "I am safe". ... They are ideal if your child requires compression without having to use a weighted blanket. These perfectly soft, perfectly firm, perfectly calming, sensory bed sheets can help individuals with autism, ADHD, generalised anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), separation anxiety, insomnia and other sleep challenges. They provide deep pressure input that helps to calm an over stimulated nervous system and set our little super heroes up for a long, restful, rejuvenating sleep. Another benefit is they stay on all night, for even the most wriggly sleepers Jenna

12.01.2022 Celebrating our friends at 'The Experience Collectors Qld' for creating this... ... the very first ‘TEC Moreton Bay Region Autism Awards’.... Moreton Bay is home to so many organisations and individuals whose commitment to our Autistic community is outstanding. TEC Qld. would like to formally recognise these people in a small awards dinner ceremony in May 2021. There are several categories for nominations including: Individuals Organisations Youth LGBTIQ+ Nominations are formally open as of now and can be completed online via our website (link below). They will close March 31st 2021. Shortlisted nominees will be presented to a judging panel and winners notified May 2021. Please nominate or share.. https://www.theexperiencecollectorsqldasd.com/awards

10.01.2022 PEANUT BALLS A Peanut Ball is a gym ball / fit ball but in a peanut shape with two rounded ends. - more stable than a round gym ball... - supports more independence and safety - allows for fun bouncing with both feet flat on the ground - important addition to any home or clinic - can be a "sanity saver" for parents with kids that climb, bounce and flip upside down when watching television... as they can bounce and bounce for as long as they need... to get their movement (sensory input) needs met I knew how important this has been in our house... so I specifically sourced these new beautiful peanut balls that are a durable anti-burst design and really high quality sensorysuperheroes.com/products/gym-ball-peanut Jenna "The kids love our peanut ball. They sit on it, bounce, do roll outs to help strengthen their bodies, my daughter also rests her feet on it. It has become a welcomed member of our house!" - Zoe

10.01.2022 Little Super Fan of the week goes to Emilia... who LOVES her Crash Bag! Her Mum says that the first morning after it arrived she found Emilia lying on it, just relaxing, which usually never happens! Great work Emilia finding your special space where you can have a sensory break, and starting to work out when you need to use it ... Make sure you send in your Little Super Fan pic to [email protected] or via Facebook messenger for your chance to be featured and share your tips with other parents and teachers! Get a Crash Bag like Emilia's and much more at www.sensorysuperheroes.com Jenna

10.01.2022 GUESS WHAT!?! Azurite Blue plush covers are back in stock!!! We don't have very many at this stage, so I suggest getting in quick if you've been waiting for this colour.... They're available online now for our Crash Bags and our Weighted Blankets (combo with insert and cover). Visit www.sensorysuperheroes.com Please send us a message if you already own a Weighted Blanket or Crash Bag and want to buy a new cover on it's own - we can make this happen. Jenna

09.01.2022 Wishing our friends at Chatter-boxes Speech Pathology Services the very best with their journey into Occupational Therapy. We're excited to see their collection of sensory resources grow... so they can help many more lucky little super heroes

08.01.2022 I recently created these infographics as a lovely way of sharing some basic knowledge on the body's sensory systems, sensory integration... and how having a brain that struggles with this can affect behaviour and mental health in huge ways. I am so passionate about this topic because I personally have struggled with this my whole life and not realised it. In the background I was working hard to regulate my attention and emotions, and using little tools to 'stim' and calm d...own my brain that was in survival mode. I hope these infographics help a little, and start your journey into understanding your child's (and maybe your own) experience. The exciting part comes when we can re-frame things and change expectations... not be so afraid of 'different'... and just do the things that make our brain happy and calm Sending you all the sensory-different love... Jenna

08.01.2022 Have you seen my interview with Prof Tony Attwood? I had the privilege, on behalf of thousands of little super hero parents and carers just like me to ask him about: sensory sensitivities... Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Anxiety quality of life diagnosis & parents' fears Epilepsy My aim was to help us all understand these topics a little better so that we can better support and be better advocates for our neuro-diverse children. I hope this interview will open many hearts and expand many minds. Jenna Interview Length: 20 mins - - - We have refined our selection of gorgeous products, specifically to those that help reduce the sensory overwhelm and those that provide movement and deep pressure input. Please have a look through our online shop. Please reach out if you have any questions

08.01.2022 Sensory Super Heroes are back on board TODAY! We hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Year with family and friends We are busy bees catching up on messages and preparing your orders that came through during our little break.... Thank you so much for your patience We look forward to helping your 'Little Super Heroes' in 2021. Jenna

07.01.2022 CHRISTMAS CLOSURE: Just a reminder that we will be closing for a two week break from this Saturday 19th Dec... reopening on Monday 4th Jan. We will be checking for urgent queries during our break however our response time will be a little longer. All orders received after midday this Friday 18th December will be processed on Mon 4th January. SHIPPING CUT-OFF - MIDNIGHT: Our cut-off date for guaranteed arrival by Christmas Day, for all orders that require shipping in t...he greater Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas is midnight tonight. The cut-off date for all other areas of Australia was last Thursday 10th December, however we are still shipping all orders as fast as possible so fingers crossed they reach you soon COURIER DELAYS: Despite our best efforts, and our conservative cut-off dates for Christmas Day delivery... we have been receiving updates from couriers that they are experiencing longer delays than expected... so if we have shipped your order but it's taking a long time to reach you, please know that this is out of our control and is common across all courier networks right now. CLICK-AND-COLLECT: Our cut-off date for 'local collection' orders is midday this Friday 18th December. LOCAL APPOINTMENTS: We only have one appointment spot left available at both our Sunshine Coast and Redcliffe Peninsula shops, for locals to try out and buy products in person this week. Please send us a message if you have any questions or special requests. We're very friendly and will do everything we can to help your Little Super Hero! Jenna

07.01.2022 Thank you Bonnie for you kind words Hearing that your son loves his Crash Bag has really made my day... and I passed your message on to our hard working team Jenna

06.01.2022 Just like some people need to wear glasses, or hearing aids, or use a wheelchair... others need sensory equipment in order to function and enjoy a good quality of life. Imagine a world where quiet sensory retreats in shopping centres, schools, universities, hospitals and office buildings are THE NORM... ... where all classrooms and homes (as needed) have the sensory equipment available for someone to access the exact thing they need in that moment to help their own body fe...el "just right"... be it swinging, being squished, wobbling, rolling along, crashing, squeezing something, chewing something, or escaping for a moment somewhere quiet with noise cancelling headphones and a weighted blanket! In the perfect world it would be no big deal, and having a different brain would be celebrated, and understood by everyone Have you ever experienced that feeling for a moment? Where you or your child with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder or ADHD is in an environment that makes them feel SO accepted and supported? I have, and in that moment I realised my daughter is only as disabled as the barriers she faces in the environment she is in! If you or your child is living with a disability, then you will know what I am talking about. In my experience, this neuro-diverse life can make you feel judged, isolated, and separate. BUT you are not separate. I am not separate. We are all SO connected. If you really feel into that, take a deep breathe and know that to be true... how do you feel? So, TOGETHER let's keep speaking up for ourselves and our children that genuinely experience the world differently. We deserve more than having our pain dismissed or ridiculed. Let's build that world together, one brick of LOVE at a time! Jenna #inclusionisforeverybody

05.01.2022 EOFY CLEARANCE We are clearing the last of our Calming Shirts for just $39 each (usually $59)... so get in quick to get the size you want because once they're gone - they're gone! Available in Navy or White. ... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/calming-shirt Check out our other clearance items: sensorysuperheroes.com/collections/clearance-items

05.01.2022 Some clarity around the differences between ADHD and Autism. Thank you Tony and Michelle as always for helping our community so much by sharing your insights

05.01.2022 Here at SSH, we enjoy sending our customers a little bit of gratitude and love with every order Our new batch of cards just arrived with a fresh bunch of happy little super heroes faces on them My little helper this morning took her job very seriously... getting a whole bunch ready in advance. I kept getting in trouble for being too slow in our production line ... Jenna

05.01.2022 Sensory Swings are back in stock!!! They are one of my favourite sensory resources and tick a number of calming and sensory therapy boxes at the same time! That's why many of my Occupational Therapy friends agree... Sensory Swings are a must-have resource at home... and in every good sensory room at schools and therapy clinics!! ... Not only do they offer the much needed movement and rhythm combo... but the soft and stretchy material also has a natural calming effect as it provides the deep pressure that many super kids need... and a visual sensory retreat for overwhelmed or anxious brains to hide in. Check them out here... https://sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sensory-swing ... and our popular swing with stand combo https://sensorysuperheroes.com/pro/sensory-swing-with-stand Jenna Take advantage of our flat shipping rate to anywhere in Australia ... or click-and-collect from the Sunshine Coast or Redcliffe Peninsula, QLD

05.01.2022 In our house these days, we REALLY embrace the idea of "just be your beautiful, quirky self" I love that we have come so far and healed so much in the last few years... and we are now at a point where we can REALLY get creative with how we live and learn. Who says things have to be done a certain way just because it's the 'done thing', or what everyone else does?... What if we can imagine and write down our OWN IDEAL family lifestyle and ideal schooling experience? It may take time, research, work and lots of 'why not just ask the question'... 'what's the harm in trying something new'? But it is possible... and so worth it! Can I share a secret with you... my fellow parents of special little super heroes? YOU are the EXACT kind of parent that YOUR CHILD needs. You are on the exact parenting path that your child was meant to experience for their soul's journey and growth. You already have the wisdom and energy within you (and the resourcefulness to get help from others) to be an amazing advocate for your beautiful child! So you get to relax now! Take a breath! You have not done anything to damage them... not your tone of voice... not any wrong decisions... it has all been exactly as it was meant to be. Your child was meant to experience exactly what they have experienced Please let go of the need to protect them. Just love them and love yourself, and the rest CAN be easy for you. How does that feel when you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and really feel into that belief? "Things can be easy for me" Jenna - - - This photo of Chloe is her during school time. Every day she gets to play the role of whatever character she wants to... because she knows that's what her brain needs to overcome anxiety and 'outsmart her Pathological Demand Avoidance' autism wiring... so she can concentrate and enjoy her school work. On this day she was a 'professor of science' and was teaching her stuffed animals in her professor voice. Her favourite place to learn is lying down on her soft 'classroom' rug, or sometimes outside in the garden, surrounded by nature. - - -

04.01.2022 Authentic equality centralizes LOVE... and when LOVE is centralized (rather than other things like MALE, or NEUROTYPICAL, or WHITE, or ABLE-BODIED, or STRAIGHT)... then every door opens for everybody ... I reject the myth of my own unworthiness. I don't have to be treated as less in order for someone else to feel like more. Nerodiverse does not orbit around neurotypical. This myth is wrong. Jenna

04.01.2022 Our padded weighted blankets (single bed size) are ideal for snuggling up on the couch, or falling to sleep quickly and having a restful night's sleep For a person living with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD or Anxiety, the positive effects of weighted items like blankets are huge! They provide the much needed "deep pressure" which has a calming effect on the neurological system and the bodys fight or flight response, aiding in falling to sleep and getting a res...tful nights sleep The affect of a peaceful bedtime routine then helps the whole family... and a good night's sleep of course helps with behaviour and sensory issues the next day! - high quality material which feels very soft - they're a generous single bed size - padded insert, so feels like a snuggly doona, but heavy - glass microbeads... so not lumpy or noisy - available in 3kg, 5kg, 7kg Available as insert only... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/weighted-blanket-single-bed OR as a combo with a plush cover... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/weighted-blanket-plush Jenna "First night under the weighted blanket last night was a MASSIVE hit!" - Marianne "The weighted blanket I purchased from SSH has been an absolute miricle to our little man. It has literally made such a difference to his sleep and afternoon melt downs. He loves not only the weight but the beautiful fabric as he loves soft textures. Thank you!!!!!" - Calley

04.01.2022 All around Australia right now we have many super heroes still doing online learning from home due to the COVID-19 restrictions... AND we also have many that will continue doing home schooling or distance education by choice. Either way, parents may have noticed that sitting still in one spot and staying focused... for our little 'movement seekers'... can be a challenge!... Here at Sensory Super Heroes, we have spoken to the experts and also trialled many different tools to help all sorts of little super heroes. The mighty Round Air Cushion may look simple, but it's packed-full of benefits for your little super hero that struggles to sit still for more than a few minutes (just like my little monkey, they may be craving movement in order to self regulate and feel 'just right'). According to the many Occupational Therapists I have spoken to over the years... despite what family or friends might say... please know that it's OKAY for our little super heroes to wriggle at the dinner table! It's not just okay... it's actually a really good thing for them (if supported in an appropriate way). By using a tool like our Round Air Cushion, we can encourage the constant movement that they need in a way that's less distracting for everyone. Please enjoy this free interview we have released... with the lovely Annareth - specialist kids Occupational Therapist... speaking about the ROUND AIR CUSHION and how it may be helpful for you. Jenna Click here to browse them in our online store... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/air-cushion-round

04.01.2022 SLOPED WRITING BOARDS sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sloped-writing-board Term 4 is well under way here in Australia, and I know our daughter and many Little Super Heroes need all the help they can get at this time of year.... How is your child's hand writing and reading going? What supports do they have in place in the classroom? One of my favourite classroom tools for our daughter is her Sloped Writing Board. She has accessed it in every classroom since prep. The difference in her confidence and eagerness to do writing is huge! At the start of each writing or drawing task, she independently goes a grabs it from the corner and sets herself up. Our daughter has always had a delayed pencil grip with a tight grasp, excessive pressure on the paper, limited intrinsic finger muscle development, and joint laxity. This comes with the territory... with her Autism Spectrum Disorder and significant Sensory Processing Condition. Whilst we have been working on these issues (and many others, like bilateral co-ordination and visual motor integration skills) for years, with some improvement, she is simply a more confident and faster writer with her sloped writing board as it raises the writing surface for her, and provides support for her wrist. In the last few years I have learnt so much about what is involved in our children's bodies and brains in order to do writing at school! I had NO IDEA how complex or important it all is. Our Sloped Writing Board is sloped at the ideal 20 degree angle to create the perfect writing surface as it assists your child to: - maintain a correct pencil grasp - maintain the ideal wrist position for writing - maintain the ideal sitting posture, and - track words across the page when reading I'm so excited to share my interview with the lovely Annareth She is a passionate Paediatric Occupational Therapist based in Queensland, Australia. If you find this video helpful then please give it a like and share this post... you never know who might need to hear this message leading up to a new school year. Jenna Here is the youtube link if you need it... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l1Y0YYaDnI We sell these in person at our home-based shops in Queensland and in our online shop with a flat $14 shipping rate to anywhere in Australia... sensorysuperheroes.com/products/sloped-writing-board

03.01.2022 We love hearing from our gorgeous community of parents, teachers and therapists... that are all striving towards the same goal with so much passion and love in their hearts Thank you Mila for sharing the good news about your little super hero! Jenna

03.01.2022 When you're trying to do a product photo shoot but someone wants attention sensorysuperheroes.com/products/scooter-board sensorysuperheroes.com/products/weighted-lap-blanket

03.01.2022 Ever wondered how our famous 'Crash Bags' started? I wrote this poem in honour of my hard working parents (Nanny & Poppy) - and the incredible ripple affect they are having in homes all around Australia

02.01.2022 Little Super Fan of the week goes to Kynan... who has been acing his 'brain care' lately using a bunch of tools from us! His Mum says Kynan uses his tools daily and goes to the tool he needs depending on how he is feeling. Since its been wet weather days lately he uses his scooter board which helps heaps. Awesome work Kynan ... Make sure you send in your Little Super Fan pic to [email protected] or via Facebook messenger for your chance to be featured and share your tips with other parents and teachers! Get a scooter board like Kynan's and much more at www.sensorysuperheroes.com Jenna

02.01.2022 I just did a little happy dance So excited to click the button to make the two most popular Crash Bag / Weighted Blanket designs available again in our online store!!! - Azurite Blue... - Grey Stars & Dark Grey As of TODAY we have just a small batch ready to go, after a long delay in these strange times. More will be ready soon, but I recommend getting in quick as they always sell fast! Jenna - - - They're available on our Regular or Large CRASH BAGS: sensorysuperheroes.com/products/crash-bag - - - Or as a cover on our single bed WEIGHTED BLANKETS: NON-PADDED option (like a soft thick sheet, but heavy): sensorysuperheroes.com//non-padded-weighted-blanket-insert PADDED option (like a snuggly summer doona, but heavy): sensorysuperheroes.com/products/weighted-blanket-plush - - -

02.01.2022 SINGLE BED SOCKS ARE BACK IN STOCK! $79 sensorysuperheroes.com/products/calming-bed-sock Our lycra bed sheets provide sensory feedback perfect for any child... as the full body compression input floods the brain with the simple message "I am safe". ... They are ideal if your child requires compression without having to use a weighted blanket. These perfectly soft, perfectly firm, perfectly calming, sensory bed sheets can help individuals with autism, ADHD, generalised anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), separation anxiety, insomnia and other sleep challenges. They provide deep pressure input that helps to calm an over stimulated nervous system and set our little super heroes up for a long, restful, rejuvenating sleep. Another benefit is they stay on all night, for even the most wriggly sleepers Jenna

02.01.2022 We love to support other small business doing amazing things to help little super heroes. Our friends at Wild at Heart Learning are running this school holidays program on the Sunshine Coast, QLD... for kids aged 4-8 yrs. It includes many super fun activities to help children: ... - connect in with their own superpowers and see their magnificence, talents and strengths - understand that superheroes have heavy emotions too and learn how to zap them - build super resilient ways of seeing their world - learn to redirect the power of their minds - get to experience and love their super strong bodies - learn the incredible powers that lie within kindness and appreciation - build their superhero stance to feel confident Visit their website for more information and to book www.wildatheartlearning.com.au Jenna

01.01.2022 Sharing this video again for a few parents that I have been speaking to lately Tony & Michelle give us some clarity around the differences between ADHD and Autism. - 70% to 75% of those with Autism will also have ADHD... - new research is showing us that both kids with Autism AND kids with ADHD have Sensory Processing Difficulties... so it's not a distinguishing feature - - - I will add that, based on my lived experience, my research and based on the many little super heroes I have met... other common traits seem to be "defiant behavior" and "problems with regulating emotions". The key difference is that... ... a person with AUTISM is more likely to: - not know what to do or say in social situations - be far more rigid in their thinking (likely to be single-track minded & hyper-focused) ... a person with ADHD is more likely to: - frequently jump from one task to another or quickly grow bored with tasks - interrupt conversations or activities, & blurt things out - be hyperactive and have trouble sitting still People who have traits that stretch across both autism and ADHD diagnoses often face more serious challenges than people with either diagnosis alone... ... for example, they can have greater impairments in adaptive functioning, a term that refers to self-care and daily living skills. I would encourage you to seek further assessments if you believe your child (that has already been diagnosed with one or the other) could have both conditions (like our Chloe) Jenna

01.01.2022 THERAPUTTY Therapy Putty (aka Theraputty) is a must have item at school and at home for little super heroes that enjoy the calming effect of squeezing hard with their hands, that need to improve their finger strength and dexterity, that suffer from anxiety, or that love to fidget in order to focus Therapy Putty is one of our Chloe's favourite 'Sensory Kit' items and for three years in a row it has consistently been her first choice when working with her Occupational Therapi...st. She loves stretching it out and cutting it with scissors into little dumplings and finding then digging out marbles (that we have hid in there). It still makes me smile when I see the calm wash over her as soon as she starts squeezing the putty and the joint compression signals flood to her brain OUR THERAPY PUTTY sensorysuperheroes.com/products/therapy-putty Our customers love the silky way our putty feels and parents love that it's made of a clean, non-toxic, non-oily, silicon based putty that won't harden, dry out or go slimy... and won't leave colour or residue on little hands. Our putty comes in a generous 100g tub (usually 80g). We also have bulk 300g tubs, ideal for schools or therapy clinics. Every tub comes with free activity cards on a litle metal ring. Our Therapy Putty is the perfect size to go anywhere with you... but could make a big impact on happiness! It's not just popular and fun (and therefore more likely to actually be used), but it also: - sneakily adds a bit of tactile sensory input to your Little Super Hero's day - is perfectly resistive for hand and finger strengthening - can improve grasping skills for little ones with special needs - and makes a very satisfying fidget If you want to learn more, then watch this 6 minute interview with our friend Annareth (Occupational Therapist). Jenna "Theraputty is still used almost EVERY day in our house! My Autistic/ADHD/ADD 8yr old superhero daughter absolutely loves it. The best thing is that is helps her from a sensory point of view while at the same time helping to develop her strength. I find myself playing with it too. BUY IT! You won't regret it!" Zoe Browse Therapy Putty in our online store: sensorysuperheroes.com/products/therapy-putty Share this YouTube version of our interview with Annareth: https://youtu.be/mBSKmZyKzpE