Why I $ Stores

I love shopping at the "dollar stores." Depending on where you live, they might be Dollar General, Everything's a $1, Dollar
Tree, and in Canada I've frequented Giant Tiger and A Buck or Two stores. These are the modern equivalent of the old-fashioned "5 & Dime"
stores like Woolworth's or Ben Franklin.You can find an amazing array of items from toys, household supplies, dishes, batteries, toiletries, knick-knacks, books, cards, party supplies - you get the idea.
But the toy section is where I always check every time I go in. You never know what you're going to find (and what I find may or may not be available in your local store) but I want to show some of the items I've picked up lately.
I always buy with the idea of therapy: how can the kids use this to have fun while practicing something that is beneficial for them. Here are a few of the gems I've found recently:

A variation on the old buuble wand. This is a flexible air tube so you can twist it into many odd turns and angles. They call it the Flexi-Wand. It's great to build up the lip and cheek muscles for blowing, but the tube is like what occupational therapists call "wrapper-snappers" that you can manipulate, stretch, and condense. Great for fine-motor finger movements and gripping.

I'm always on the lookout for new toys and games that can be used in therapy, and every once in a while I run into an oldie but a goodie! They call it Follow The Trail -- it's the old magnet game where you have to guide the metal train through the maze of tracks. This is great for fine motor grasp as they hold and manipulate the magnet to guide the train. They had other variations of this magnet game at the store: one was a maze through a grocery store produce section, so they had pictures (with their names) of Carrots, Tomatoes, Corn, etc -- a great tool for teaching vocabulary while having fun!

I've never seen this before, but I bet the kids will go wild over these. They're called Lightning Bugs and they are gummi candy with a pair of tongs. The fun part for kids is that the tongs have a battery and light built in so that when the tong ends come together, a little red LED lights up, throwing a glow onto the gummi -- Lightning Bugs. You're really paying the dollar for the tongs, but they'll work with any similar sized gummi (they have to be small enough to let the tongs connect). The package is labelled as 3+ which, as always, is a good warning.

Here are a couple of fun toys to get those fingers working. I call 'em FlipFrogs (but I guess everyone has their own name). Push down on the little flange on the frog's back, then pull your finger back and watch the frog flip. Use these as part of a therapy game -- before you take your turn, flip the fog into a circle or hat. They sell them six to a pack as Party Favors.

Just found these great straws in the shape of bunnies for Easter fun -- they seem to come up with a new shape for every holiday! Straws are great for improving lip closure. Tone up those buccinator muscles.

Here are a couple of fun toys to get those fingers working. A rocket set -- you launch the rocket with the bulb squeezer, good for building up finger strength.

An Easter party favor (sold in packages of 4) that is a top and launcher. Attach the top to the launcher and give it a twist, then hold the launcher using the first and middle fingers to hold the "wings" and depress the plunger with the thumb to launch the top and send it spinning. Great finger manipulation!

Just found these great straws in the shape of shamrocks for St Patrick's Day fun. Straws are great for improving lip closure. (Straws are typically used for drinking and sucking; don't forget they can be used for blowing: blow bubbles, blow cotton balls across the table top. This is a great activity for improving breath control!)

Little party noisemakers, good for the lip closure and pucker, sold in a pack of six. The flat, circular design means they won't roll places you don't want them, like under the sofa.

Beads & Laces. These are great for helping younger children with the fine-motor manipulation and the pincer grasp they need to thread the lace through the hole in the bead. As they gain proficiency, you can go to smaller beads and thread.

Crazy Straws are good for the pucker and for improving breath control. Pinwheels can also be used to help a child develop and maintain a steady flow of air.

I look for all kinds of whistles. Look in the party supplies for those party noise-makers that you blow and the paper tube unrolls.


Squeeze toys are good for toddlers to build up their grip or hand strength. They sell a lot of different types of "stress balls" filled with some sort of liquid. They give more pressure than a sponge ball when you squeeze them.