Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details
What a treat! It was like Christmas for me!
I love a good stationery shop! There is something about office supplies and equipment to help keep me organised that is so exciting! OK before you think... what a sad woman... hear me out! Together with my children, I recently attended Officework's Sydney launch of their new "Learn and Grow" range and it is more than you would expect in terms of office supplies and equipment! What an exciting range of products on offer at Officeworks for children to help them to Learn and Grow. There are over 4000 products in the range and include puzzles, games, chore charts, stickers, posters as well as arts and craft supplies. The Learn and Grow range includes trusted brands such as Ravensburger puzzles, Playdoh, Orchard games, Melissa and Doug, Crayola and more! It also includes a range of Officeworks home brand supplies. One of the best things is the affordability of the products. 
We received an awesome "goodie box" from Officeworks to introduce us to the Learn and Grow range. It is wonderful to see children dive straight into their creative ideas when they get their hands on supplies. At the launch Mr 7 made a "bow", lots of "feathered arrows" and a holster to hold those arrows (see the photos above as he began crafting the "bow"). Miss 11 years was keen to get crafting as soon as we got home with our "goodie box". Her choice picks were the large pad of paper, textas fluoro dough and modelling clay.
The only problem with the "goodie box" was keeping some of the supplies for myself and my OT kids! Here is one way that we put some of the Officework's supplies into action. Using spice jars, I added some googly eyes, a foam nose and foam mouth (one is actually the letter "G" on the side). My little OT friend helped to unscrew the lid and add "feathers" as hair by poking them into the holes. Whilst a fun colourful activity, there were lots of therapeutic benefits that we were addressing too! We worked on crossing the midline and bilateral coordination (read more about this here), fine motor skills and a pincer grasp. 
This vibrant number peg puzzle (by Melissa and Doug) was another way we worked on a pincer grasp. Hiding under the numbers were pictures to help with number identification and counting. We used pom poms to continue working on a pincer grasp and crossing the midline too.
Later I added an extra level of difficulty by asking this child to hold onto a pom pom with his third/fourth and fifth fingers whilst using his thumb and index finger to pick up the pom poms. This skill is called the separation (or disassociation) of the two sides of the hand is an important fine motor skill for handwriting, scissors, buttoning and other functional tasks (read more about this here). 
Playdoh and any other "dough" materials are such a wonderful sensory tool for hands on learning. It is so versatile and can be used for forming into shapes, letters and in pretend play. You can use playdough to encourage hand strength, fine motor skill development, sensory exploration, finger isolation, bilateral coordination and more! Find more ways to use "play dough" here.
I was truly impressed with the range of products available in the Officeworks Learn and Grow range. I've been a long time fan of the Officework's "smelly" stickers and my OT kids expect these each time I see them (unfortunately none of these in my goodie box). The scent is really strong and brings back memories of "scratch and sniff" stickers that I remember receiving as a child. Find the "Learn and Grow" range in stores or online atOfficeworks (delivery within Australia only). There are so many opportunities for "hands on learning" waiting for your kids. What is your child's favourite way to learn? Am I the only one who likes browsing an office supply store? 
Disclosure: I was gifted products from the Officeworks Learn and Grow range for the purposes of a review. Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand.
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 Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. We live in a world full of sensory information and some kids have difficulty coping with the sensory information they receive in their daily lives (visual, auditory, vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, taste, etc). Some kids can seek sensory information and others will avoid it. This can change for a child depending on their environment or time of day. Navigating what is best for your child can be really difficult. If you have concerns with your child's ability to process sensory information, then seek professional advice from an occupational therapist. A sensory lifestyle is a look at how to meet the sensory needs of your child through their every day life so that they can reach their potential. We all want our children to be the best versions of themselves, to learn and grow. We want them to be happy and we want them to be safe. We don't want our child's sensory needs to interfere with their ability to "do life well". A "sensory diet" is a planned and scheduled activity program designed to meet a child's individual sensory needs (Wilbarger, and Wilbarger, 1991). It is related to activities that a child performs through their day to help them to "modulate" their bodies. The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook by Colleen Beck (from the OT Toolbox) is a new strategy guide for sensory processing needs. This book provides valuable insight into the sensory system and the whole child. It details how sensory diets can be incorporated into a child's lifestyle to meet the sensory needs of each individual child. The tips and tools in the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook uses child-led interests and daily life interactions so that kids WANT to participate in sensory diet activities their bodies need... because it is part of play! To celebrate the release of the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook, there are bonus items that address needs like self-regulation and self-reflection, school screening tools, sensory diet cards, sensory planning calendars, play-based sensory activities and so much more! These bonus items are sent with the purchase of the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook! The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is available as a digital e-book for $16 US or you can also order a soft cover printed book for $26US! This introductory price with bonus items are available until April 16th 2018!  Don't forget to download these amazing freebie offers that were created to also support your child's sensory needs! 1. The Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. The printable packet includes 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards and 6 sensory challenge cards. Get your copy of the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards HERE. 2. The Classroom Sensory Strategy Toolkit contains these amazing resources:
3. The Attention and Sensory Connection Workbook is a one-stop spot for information on the basics of how attention is related to sensory processing. It provides tips to boost attention through the senses so that kids can learn, focus and pay attention when they need to. The workbook covers information about how impaired sensory processing relates to attention issues in a variety of ways and provides movement and sensory-motor activities that can help boost attention. There are specific activity ideas and tactics to address attentiveness. You'll also find workbook pages that can be used to identify underlying sensory-related areas that impact attention and tools for addressing those needs. Get your copy of the Attention and Sensory Connection Workbook HERE.
SPECIAL BONUS FOR YOUR KIDS OT READERS! I only endorse products that I recommend without hesitation! Colleen Beck is a respected occupational therapist whom I have had the privileged to collaborate with in the past. Read more about Colleen and the OT Toolbox HERE and read an article she wrote for Your Kids OT HERE. The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a unique resource that will help you navigate "sensory diets". Whether you are an occupational therapist, parent or teacher; this resource is user-friendly and very practical! Take the opportunity to purchase this book at the introductory price and receive the bonus items (because they are also awesome)! The free resources listed above are truly brilliant (and could very easily been paid products) and you should grab them now! For YOUR KIDS OT readers; thank you for your ongoing support! When you purchase the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook during the promotional week, email me at [email protected] with a copy of your receipt and I will give you a 50% BONUS discount to the Your Kids OT shop! (note: you will need proof of purchase that you used one of my links for this bonus discount) What are you favourite resources supporting your child's sensory needs? These new resources are sure to make this list once you get your copy!   Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia. She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning. Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT. Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. You may also like:
Reference:
Wilbarger, P. & wilbarger, J. (1991) Sensory Defensiveness in Children Aged 2-12:An Intervention Guide for Parents and Other Caretakers. Stillwater:PDP Press. |
AuthorHi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here. 
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Disclaimer: The information on this site is general in nature and should be used for educational and entertainment purposes. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. This blog does not replace formal therapeutic professional advice given by a health professional or medical practitioner. Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand. Content, advertising space or posts will be clearly identified if paid, affiliated or sponsored. Affiliate links may be found throughout this website in advertising. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. Your Kids OT undertakes to meet the requirements of the "Social Media Policy" as published by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Further information about this policy can be found here.
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AuthorHi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here. 
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