Christmas Countdown - Product of the Day 2

Day 2 - how's the shopping going?

We've had one of these sturdy wooden Tower Slopes out on display for a wee while, and it is one of those toys that attracts nearly every child (and adult!) who comes into the shop! The wooden cars come in a variety of sizes and click-clack down the track with a very satisfying sound.

Tower Slope

At £59.99, it's a great price for a very solid, sturdy piece of kit that will last for years! 

New Product! - Oh Plah Chewy Wristband

Oh Plah Chewy Wristband

We've sourced this fabulous, award winning new product in response to several requests for functional, practical but also fashionable chewy jewellry.

Oh Plah

These fab bracelets will fit almost any wrist. If you are using them with a teething baby, then mum or dad can wear them. If it is for an older child, adolescent or adult with Sensory Processing issues, they can wear it themselves, as a subtle, practical way to protect clothes and other objects from chewing! 

The bracelets are practically indestructible, they can be bent, twisted, chewed and bitten to provide that sensory input that the child needs. 

Made of an anti-microbial thermoplastic, free from  BPA, phthalates, cadmium. lead and latex.  No small parts or paint on the product, making Oh Plah! completely safe to handle and chew.

Completely recyclable

Easily cleaned with soap and water, and dries quickly so that it can be worn again right away.

Size:  18cm long and 5.5cm at the widest part and 3cm at the thinnest part of the wristband.

Dr Toy Best Green Product Award.

Also in store, and perfect for anyone who needs oral sensory input, we have Chewy Tubes. These come in 3 varieties, all priced at £8.99. Extremely practical, long lasting, easy to clean and small enough to be subtle. They are also more age appropriate for older children than many regular teething toys. 

Green Knobby PQ 2-pack Red Chewy Tube

STOP PRESS!! NEW PRODUCT JUST IN!

Tangle Ball

A brand new fiddle/ chewy toy from the makers of the Tangle

More about this, and our many other fiddle/ sensory toys, next week!

Learning SPACE @ the NASEN Annual Conference!

Learning SPACE will be supporting this year's conference, on the 22nd October 2011, at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

It's very exciting! 

The conference is aimed at parents and professionals working with young people who have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. 

"A very knowledgeable group of speakers from various parts of the province will be sharing 

their knowledge and expertise of Autism Spectrum Disorders with us in a range of ASD 

specific seminar topics. Individual speakers will also consider what is already ‘good practice’ 

here in Northern Ireland, and as a part of the Conference programme, we also plan to share 

learning resource possibilities, presently available through the use of C2K in schools. "

NASEN Conference PDF link

At Learning SPACE we have a special interest in Autism. We have a catalogue of products specifically selected with people with ASD in mind  - click on the link for the Autism Catalogue

Our staff are knowledgeable and experienced, and able to support parents and professionals in the sourcing and use of our products. 

We will be attending with a range of exciting new things, including Sensory Direct weighted items and Sensory Room equipment, to show off the brilliant new range!  Learning Space is working with Fred Storey Ltd to  design and fit SpaceKraft Sensory Rooms.

Here are Lorraine, Owner of Learning SPACE, and Ciara, our Rep, trying out one of the new products that we'll be demonstrating! 

Here's what Lorraine had to say about the LED Musical Light Wall: 

I could have played with this all day! I was absolutely mesmerised. Simply by touching the screen, I could control the music, lights and movement. Amazing! 

See it in action in the video below! 

So, whether you are a student teachers,  an NQT,  an experienced teacher, 

 a  Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCO), a classroom assistant,  

a professional working with young people with an ASD, or a parent - we're looking forward to seeing you there! 

Learning SPACE launch new product range for children with Autism.

Learning SPACE are excited to announce the launch of our new catalogue, full to bursting with products specifically selected for children and young adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. 

Learning SPACE is a vibrant, exciting independent toy shop right in the heart of Belfast. Founded and staffed by teachers and childcare workers, Learning Space specialises in educational resources, providing an exciting range of toys, games, books - in fact any product that captivates, inspires and educates children! 

All children learn in different ways, and at their own speed. Children with additional needs can require more support and specifically tailored equipment and products.  This is not always easy to source - in fact, one of the reasons Learning SPACE came into being was the owner’s frustration at being unable to find the products that were needed. 

Our new product range is specifically designed for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It offers solutions for many of the challenges facing children with an ASD and their families. The catalogue covers sensory toys and equipment - from light shows to weighted blankets - toys and games, timers and incentive charts and much more. Everything in one place, so no need to spend hours scouring websites; at competitive prices, and of the highest quality.

Have a look - Autism

Our well trained and experienced staff can help you with any queries you might have - come down and have a chat! 

See our Autism Catalogue , call into the shop, phone or email,  “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! 

A bit about me a bit about Learning SPACE, and a bit about Autism.

Hey blogsters.

So, here I am working for Learning SPACE as an Educational Product Advisor, and every day I talk to parents whose children have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  I do my best to help with practicalities (as far as I can!) but sometimes I think the best help of all is just talking to people who understand!

Here at Learning SPACE, we have a real interest in supporting families affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder, as well as other Additional Needs. We have developed a list of product ideas through the help of parents, therapists, teachers and, of course, kids.

I have a particular interest in ASD - my five (nearly six, where does the time go?) year old son was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism just over a year ago.

We knew, of course we did, that our quirky little person wasn’t your average wee lad. But it still came as a massive shock. I remember saying to the diagnosing Paediatrician, “do you mean he’s borderline? Like a bit Autistic?”

And her reply that, no, it was quite clear, my perfect little boy was on the spectrum, and has this inexplicable, poorly understood disorder.

I went in to denial for a few weeks – but in order to get the support on offer, we had to accept the diagnosis, so accept it we did. Then I spent time being really angry – why did nobody help 2 years previously, when I was looked at like a madwoman for suggesting that my 2 year old was not developing normally, why was there no support then?

Eventually, I came to accept the diagnosis, and we dragged him from appointment to appointment to appointment, but the initial flurry has died down, and life is pretty good for us now, with good routines and structures in place.

If you are a parent of a child with additional needs, it can feel pretty isolating. There are lots of great support groups out there though, either online or in the real world – here are some wee links for you to try out.

Mumsnet Special Needs support forum 
National Autistic Society forum 
Autism NI 
Learning SPACE's ASD tailored products 

And please, call in to Learning SPACE, or give us a call – we have lots of ideas, books and products that can help to make life a little easier for you and your child.

Gail Pascoe, Qualified teacher of Special Needs and Music, and mum to 3 completely brilliant goblins, one of whom happens to have Autism.