100%
OF THE PROFITS FROM YOUR PURCHASE GO TOWARDS SUBSIDISING THERAPY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN
Our mission is to transform the lives of children through therapy, toys and training.. Every purchase from our Play, Develop and Learn Store helps us to continue to offer vital therapy supports to the children that need it most.
ABOUT US
Sensational Kids is a social enterprise and charity dedicated to making vital therapy services accessible and affordable for children with additional needs across Ireland.
We provide vital front-line therapeutic supports for children ensuring that they have access to this support when and where they need it.
We currently have four regional therapy centres in Kildare, Cork, Mayo and Monaghan and are in the process of building Ireland’s New National Child Development Centre
To date, Sensational Kids has changed the lives of over 10,000 children and saved families over €3 million in therapy fees
Every purchase you make from our store goes towards making vital services available to those who need them most.
Speedy delivery on in stock items with our courier partner DPD Free click & collect available from our Child Development Centres.
Rated excellent on Trustpilot
BODY SOCK
Designed for spatial awareness and interaction through balance and resistance
Experience your body in a new way with Body Sock by increasing body awareness, strength and creativity
The main effects are:
Self-regulation – The proprioceptive sensations that the child can independently regulate help him/her calm down
Endurance – Due to the resistance of the stocking, the child develops strength and endurance by moving in it With it, you can do sports exercises, yoga, daily things, as well as, for example, reading.
Awareness of one ’ s own body – The sensations that the child receives in the stocking help him understand where his arms and legs are relative to him Even just crawling or walking in a stocking will help the child examine his body
SCOOTER BOARD
Scooter boards are an excellent tool for promoting a range of developmental skills in children, particularly in enhancing upper extremity strength, movement skills, and motor planning, all while engaging in fun vestibular activities With built-in contoured handles, these boards are designed to assist children in securely grasping the scooter, providing improved stability and balance. This added security helps boost their confidence as they engage in a variety of movements Children can use the scooter board in various positions whether sitting, kneeling, or lying in a prone position giving them the freedom to explore different ways of moving their bodies, further encouraging motor planning and coordination
The versatility of the scooter board also supports the development of core strength, aiding children with muscle tone weaknesses and helping to improve overall physical endurance By using the scooter board in play, children can work on estimating speed and distance, enhancing their spatial awareness and judgement This dynamic tool not only provides physical benefits but also fosters a sense of achievement and confidence as children gain control over their movements and navigate their environment with greater ease.
BIG FEELINGS PINEAPPLE
Use the 26 unique pieces to construct expressions on the Big Feelings Pineapple, aiding preschool children in comprehending how emotions and facial expressions convey people's feelings This enjoyable social and emotional learning (SEL) toy is perfect for enabling children to recognise and discuss expressions and emotions through interactive play.
GOKI BALL TRACK
€37.50
PIN A SHAPE
€12.50
CONSTRUCTION SET –NUTS AND BOLTS
€33.00
SQUIGZ STARTER – 22 PC SET
€32.00
WISE OWL TEACHING BANK
€25.00
JUMBO BALL TRACK WITH XYLOPHONE
€85.00
MINI RIVER STEPPING STONES
€77.50
RETRO SPACE HOPPER
€19.00
BEAN BAG BULLSEYE
€20.00
JACK IN THE BOX
The Jack in the Box is a timeless childhood classic that never fails to captivate and amuse As children turn the handle, the instantly recognisable tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" begins to play, building anticipation with every note After a few turns, the surprise moment arrives when a cheerful animal figure pops out of the box, arm outstretched, to the delight of little ones Once the fun is over, resetting the toy is simple just push the figure back down and close the lid, ready for the next round of excitement This beloved toy has been entertaining children for generations and continues to charm today's youngsters, offering endless moments of joy and wonder
JACK IN THE BOX €30.00
€8.00
WEIGHTED
Weighted toys are a lovely way to promote regulation allowing a child to feel calm and may support focus and concentration
These toys can promote regulation in 2 ways:
The deep touch pressure provided by the toy when it lies on your lap or over your shoulders is calming and grounding, like receiving a tight hug
The heavy work involved in carrying the toy around and playing with it is also calming
Here the child is able to tap inot their proprioceptive system (muscles and joints) and this ‘heavy work’ helps the nervous system to regulate and can help a child to settle
Research indicates that deep touch pressure and proprioception can help the nervous system to move into a more regulated state by releasing feel good hormones
As a transitional object, they are also helpful in supporting transitions to table top activities or sedentary activities. The little bit of extra weight can help to settle child when they move from active play to a quiet task. Their animal friend can then sit on their lap whilst they work.
CHOOSING DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS: AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST’S GUIDE
As Christmas approaches, parents and caregivers often find themselves searching for the perfect gifts for their children. At Sensational Kids, we understand that toys are not only a source of fun but also a powerful tool for supporting children’s development As an Occupational Therapist, I am passionate about helping children grow through play. Here’s how you can choose toys that are both enjoyable and beneficial to their growth and development
Our carefully curated range of toys is designed to promote essential developmental skills. For example, many of our toys help to improve fine and gross motor skills. Toys that involve grasping, manipulating objects, or using larger muscle groups, such as our construction sets or active play equipment, provide excellent opportunities for children to strengthen coordination and motor control.
For those looking to support sensory-motor development, we offer toys that target proprioceptive and vestibular input Our swings and body socks provide deep pressure and movement-based input, helping children better understand where their bodies are in space a key aspect of sensory integration. Similarly, weighted toys can offer calming deep touch input, providing deep pressure that helps children feel more grounded and regulated.
When it comes to early learning and the development of perceptual skills, our turntaking games, colour-matching activities, puzzles and imaginative playsets encourage children to develop social skills, creativity, and cognitive abilities, all while enjoying quality playtime. These toys foster a sense of cooperation, patience, and problemsolving, vital for their overall development
This Christmas, why not unleash the power of play with Sensational Kids? Each toy in our range has been thoughtfully chosen to support children’s development while ensuring they have a joyful and exciting play experience By selecting toys that work on vital skills, you're giving more than just a gift you ’ re giving your child the tools they need to thrive
Let’s make playtime this Christmas both fun and meaningful!
Discover our full range of developmental toys at Sensational Kids and give your child the gift of growth this holiday season!
Dana Katz Murphy, Clinical Manager and Senior Occupational Therapist
GIFT IDEAS FROM AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
THE GINGERBREAD MAN
€24.50
Puppets are a fantastic tool that can be used with a variety of age groups They are especially useful when interacting with small babies. The bright, attractive colors of the puppets can be used to motivate and engage babies during tummy time, as well as encourage visual tracking
KIDS HANGING NEST
€135.00
The hanging nest is a very beneficial piece of equipment mainly used for self-regulation and calming in children The enclosed space provides whole body support and pressure to the muscles and joints which can help the child feel secure and relaxed.
LASER SPHERE PROJECTOR
€45.00
This versatile laser pod functions both as a calming, color-changing mood light and a captivating light show projector When the iridescent semi-sphere top is attached, stunning patterns are displayed within the Sphere. Remove the top, and a dazzling light show projects onto your ceiling, creating a mesmerizing visual experience
GIFT IDEAS FROM AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
WILD ANIMAL TUB
€21.00
Enhance your child's imitation skills, memory, imagination, and matching skills
Simply hold up an animal and make the sound it produces, ask your child to; repeat the sound, find a matching animal, show you how the animal moves, or hide it away and ask your child to remember which one you had
WIKKI STIX RAINBOW PAK
€7.50
THERAPUTTY
€12.00
Theraputty is a great alternative to Play-doh or slime for those looking to improve their fine motor skills Not only does Theraputty offer sensory benefits, but it also strengthens your grip
The Wikki Stix Rainbow Pak is a fun and versatile tool that offers endless creative possibilities for children Made from a unique wax-coated yarn, they are easy to mould and manipulate, making them ideal for building fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination From an occupational therapy perspective, Wikki Stix are excellent for strengthening finger and hand muscles, enhancing dexterity, and promoting bilateral coordination. They also support sensory play, encouraging focus and concentration while giving children a tactile, mess-free experience
Perfect for all ages and abilities, Wikki Stix offer developmental benefits while sparking imagination!
SMALL STOCKING FILLERS WITH BIG IMPACT
FLIP CRAYONS MINI PACK
€1.50
Occupational Therapists love using turn over pencils/crayons as they engage so many of the muscles in the child’s hand and fingers whilst they draw, write or colour in and encourage isolated movement of the fingers Turning the pencil/crayon over in one hand can help to develop in-hand manipulation by encouraging the refined movements of rotation and shift. These movements are important in developing the ability to move objects around efficiently within one hand and thus to develop more refined fine motor control.
BUBBLE TUBE
€1.00
Bubbles feature in most therapist s bag 24/7 as they are a versatile, portable and fun resource
Not only is bubble play an easy way to have fun with your child, it is also a fun way to work on a host of developmental skills, such as oral motor skills to blow the bubbles as well as fine motor skills to open, hold the bubble wand and to pop the bubbles
Other skills you can work on using bubbles include hand-eye coordination to track and pop the bubbles as well as visual tracking skills to follow the path of the bubbles smoothly and accurately Using touchable bubbles is a great way of stimulating the senses and working on sensory processing skills Gross motor skills such as walking, jumping and running can also be integrated into bubble play in order to pop the bubbles
inmuJOY - a friend for life ExclusiveIrishStock
inmuJOY is a beautifully designed sensory tool that appeals to children of all ages. Many form a strong emotional bond with their inmuJOY It becomes a friend that accompanies you in your everyday life and for many years to come This is why we have focused on designing inmuJOY to be timeless and to be made of robust, high-quality materials A non-stigmatising teddy bear
inmuJOY is like a teddy bear or small pet – it is soft and feels alive It is great to cuddle and hold close to your body Like a purring cat, inmuJOY starts to vibrate gently when you touch it inmuJOY fits in naturally everywhere With the inmuJOY strap, you can take inmuJOY with you wherever you go Whether you are 8 or 38 years old, it just looks like you are carrying a bag. It gives you a sense of security to have your inmuJOY with you when you go out among other people inmuJOY has two small loops In one of them hangs an inmu pendant that can also be used as a teething plate You can also attach your own gadgets or a name tag to the loops
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