Tag Archives: sensory

weighted Puppy Shoulder Wrap

Everyday Sensory Solutions: Sensory Breaks

Sensory breaks are an essential component of therapeutic strategies for children, particularly those with sensory processing difficulties. Creating a designated space where children can take breaks when feeling overwhelmed can greatly support their regulation and emotional well-being. This area should be quiet with reduced distractions, providing a calming environment that allows children to self-regulate. Equally important is the inclusion of sensory tools that cater to their specific preferences, helping them find comfort and manage overload effectively.

In a break space for children, various tools may include items such as weighted blankets, compression wear or stuffed animals for deep pressure and proprioceptive input, sensory tools like soothing hand fidgets, visual aids like lava lamps or calming images, and noise-canceling headphones to reduce auditory input. By personalizing the break area and offering a range of tools, children can engage in activities that support their needs and help them regain a sense of calm. This dedicated space acts as a sanctuary where children can take a break, recharge, and regain their focus, ultimately facilitating their overall well-being and promoting a more positive experience.

It is important to note that all occupational therapists are trained in sensory processing and many have extensive experience and deep understanding in this area. Whenever possible, seek guidance from an occupational therapist for individualized sensory recommendations.

Stay tuned for our next installment of Everyday Sensory Solutions by Sommerfly.
For more information about Sommerfly Products visit Therapro.com.

Guest Blogger: Kristi Langslet, OTR/L

Kristi Langslet, OTR/L is the proud owner of Sommerfly, a company dedicated to providing individuals of all ages with sensory needs unique product designs that are meticulously crafted in the USA for optimal quality and construction. Most importantly, Sommerfly’s passion is to serve those who use our products.



the alert seat a large round ball inside a metal base with wheels for sitting

Flexible Seating Spotlight: AlertSeats

Could your class or sensory room benefit from a versatile seat that will absorb user energy, enhance posture, encourage time on task, moderate repetitive motion, all with a positive sensory input? 

If you’ve just answered ”Yes” then the AlertSeats® are right for you.

Therapro has them. Available is five sizes, AlertSeats® will fit every one of your students. Choose from 5 stock sizes to provide comfortable active movement seating for pre-K students to the tallest teens or adults.

AlertSeats® have seated thousands of active learners in hundreds of schools and therapy settings throughout the US and Canada since 2009.  Made in the US, they offer guaranteed durability, versatility and comfort in a proven design.

Just three sturdy components make up the AlertSeat — Base, Ball and Cover.  They ship compactly and assembly easily with adjustable firmness.

Here’s what teachers and therapists using AlertSeat are saying:

“I absolutely love your (AlertSeat) ball chairs, and have been using them in my classroom for over 6 years.” 

Jessica- New Hampshire elementary school.

“Students seem to flourish with the use of the (Alert)seats, as they are better able to focus on the work at hand.”

Indiana Life Skills teacher, students ages 7 to 12

  “We’re all about data. We’ve seen results with AlertSeats in students with a range of disabilities” 

Kate, a Pennsylvania large district school-based OT

AlertSeats® steel bases feature six or eight legs and rubber feet.  They’re warranted for 10 years.  Every assembled AlertSeats® will support up to 300 lbs. Bases nest for efficient shipping and storage, and are color matched by size.  Color coded interior balls are correctly positioned inside their cover before shipment, with a manual pump included and full instructions.

AlertSeat® covers, with double zipper pulls, go on and off easily, and include strong Velcro attaching straps and a handle for a totally secure and stable but readily removable attachment to their base.  Covers are sewn from an abrasion resistant laminated woven nylon fabric that is cold water washable and stain resistant.

Interior balls are heavy duty ABS molded to fit correctly and adjustable to provide the level of seating comfort that best suits each student.  Ball covers and balls are warranted for 2 years in classroom service.

Optional removable mobility dollies with lockable swivel casters can be added to any AlertSeat® in all sizes except the smallest.

AlertSeats® in use will never roll around the room or create a hazard. They can easily be placed on top of the desk to facilitate after school cleaning.  Other great features of AlertSeats® include:

  • No flimsy plastic parts or bolted connections to crack or fail in service.  
  • Safety and total stability combined with stimulating, energy absorbing motion define AlertSeats® wherever they are in use.

Put a correctly sized AlertSeat® into your classroom, therapy or sensory room soon. 

Guest Author: Howard Newman. Howard Newman of Newman Adaptive, introduced his unique concept of fitness and nutrition in the work place in 1991. Howard is the engineer of AlertSeat and AlertDesk.

better hearing and speech month banner

Celebrating Therapro’s Speech Language Pathology Authors & Creators

Therapro is celebrating its speech language pathology authors and creators during Better Hearing and Speech Month 2023. Read on to learn more about these great speech language pathologists and their creations!

Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum

Deborah Fortin, MSPA,CCC-Speech is the author of Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum.   Deborah’s knowledge for this particular skill area derived from her many years working in an integrated preschool program. Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum is a unique program that can be used to present highly interactive lessons to preschoolers. It was designed to be a collaborative approach between SLPs and classroom educators in order to encourage follow-up and carryover for incidental teaching all day long.



Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Evaluation and Treatment

Kelly VanDahm, MS, CCC-SLP is the editor of the book Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Evaluation and Treatment. Kelly has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for many years, serving patients of all ages. She has also authored articles, book chapters, learning modules, and textbooks. Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Evaluation and Treatment brings together 14 leading clinicians, the latest research, and interdisciplinary perspectives on pediatric feeding disorders.

Red Sensory Spoon

Mary Schiavoni, MS, CCC-SLP worked with Therapro’s Karen Conrad Weihrauch and Filomena Connor to create the Sensory Spoon. Mary Schiavoni is the creator of Chewy Tubes, a noted author and Pediatric Feeding Specialist. The Sensory Spoon is a unique tool that focuses on the development of self-feeding with infants as young as 7 months old. Its unique characteristics include a short, textured handle that offers sensory input to the palm for grasping, a natural “stop” that prevents gagging or deep insertion into the mouth, and a flexible, smooth texture.

Therapro is proud to support and promote the work of the many great professionals involved in the diagnosing and treatment of communication disorders, including speech language pathologist and audiologists.  We wish you all a very happy Better Hearing and Speech Month!