I am a BCBA and in my clinical practice, I work with autistic children with sensory needs daily. The Special Supplies Inflatable Compression Boat Lounger has been a must-have item for me in both my in-home and in-clinic therapy. Kids love the gentle squeeze the boat provides -- it helps them feel safe and protected.
One of my clients often needs a break in the middle of our therapy sessions. Having him jump in the canoe with a book or a tablet even just for 5 minutes, completely recharges him and allows him to be ready to focus on our lessons.
My own boys love using the boat for pretend play, too. The other day I walked into our playroom to find my 4 and 6-year-old sons both in the boat pretending to be on a voyage to an island in the middle of the sea. I loved listening to them excitedly “row the boat” faster and through “waves” so they could get to the island.
Best of all, I love that the boat is easy to inflate using the included pump so I don’t have to leave it inflated taking up the limited space I have in my clinic or playroom. Just a warning -- it is big; it fits an adult comfortably -- so the fact that it also folds down quickly for easy storage when you want to free up space or rotate toys is key.
*All opinions expressed are our own. This post contains affiliate links, so if you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission, which helps to support our content creation.