Our Regulation Toolkit: The Items We Actually Use (Most from OT)

We didn't figure most of this out on our own. A lot of what's in our regulation toolkit came directly from Beckham's occupational therapist, things she introduced in sessions that worked so well we went home and ordered them that week. Some we found on our own through trial and error. A few I use just as much as he does.

If your kid is neurodivergent, sensory-seeking, anxious, or just struggling to come back down after a hard moment, this list is for you. And if you're a mom with ADHD trying to regulate yourself so you can help regulate your kids, also for you.

This is not a perfect list. It's our list. The things that actually live in our house and get used.

The New Ones We're Loving Right Now

We recently added two things that have genuinely changed our mornings.

Blackout Tent: Sensory Tent Pop-up Blackout Play Tent
When things get to be too much, Beckham goes in. Sometimes I go in. It's dark, it's quiet, and it creates an instant boundary between the chaos and the calm. We didn't expect it to work as well as it does.

Guided Breathing Lamp: Breathing Lamp Guided Visual Meditation Tool
The light expands and contracts to guide the breath. No one has to say "breathe in, breathe out", the lamp just does it. Beckham follows it without being prompted. That alone was worth every penny.

Tactile + Fidget Tools

These are the hands-busy items. For kids who need something to do with their body while their brain catches up.

The Putty + Beads Combo: Therapy Putty and Pony Beads
This one came straight from OT. You press the beads into the putty and then pick them back out. The repetitive motion is regulating for a lot of kids and adults. It's one of those things that sounds simple until you watch it actually work.

Sensory + Movement

For kids who regulate through their body jumping, spinning, pushing, pulling, crashing.

Calming + Wind-Down

These are the slower tools. The ones that help after the storm, not during it.

For Younger Kids

Some of these work better for the littles, Thea and Crew use these more than Beckham does now that he's 11.

A Note on All of This

You don't need everything on this list. We didn't start with all of it, we built it slowly, one thing at a time, usually after a hard week told us we needed something different.

Start with one or two. See what your kid reaches for. See what they ignore. The goal isn't a perfect sensory corner. The goal is having something to reach for when everything is too much.

If your OT hasn't already, ask them about the putty and beads. That one changed things for us.

And if you want to see how we pair these tools with our visual boards, the Zones Board and Spot the Feelings Board both work alongside this toolkit, you can find those at thefernco.com/collections/emotions-regulation.

♥️ Lisa

All links are affiliate links. Purchases support this small business at no extra cost to you. I only share products we actually use.

See all articles in fern family blog

Your cart is empty