Sensory equipment on a budget

Sensory Needs

My 4 year old is a major sensory seeker. Lately her sensory needs are very obviously not being met. She is only formally diagnosed with SPD, however the OT and I are pretty sure we’re looking at an autism/ADHD diagnosis as well.
The major thing I’ve realized especially in the last year is she just doesn’t play with toys. She doesn’t have the attention span for pretend play, and will not seek out toys unless someone is playing with her. Her body is always in need of constant motion. Climbing furniture, jumping, running, etc. I am trying to include as much input as I can for her- heavy work, piles of blankets and pillows for crashing. We have an indoor trampoline, balance beam, and stepping stones, but she does not seem to enjoy them much. Occasionally she will jump on the trampoline in passing while she runs through the room.

Any advice? I am desperate to find anything that can give her some kind of outlet independently, get her to stop climbing me and our furniture. Problem is our budget is LIMITED, as is space.
I’m looking at a Swedish ladder to satisfy those climbing needs, we have an open wall we could put it on. And I’d like to find a crash pad, she gets frustrated when the blankets and pillows spread out as she uses them. Any other suggestions of good equipment to have on hand in the mean time as we save for the bigger items? Bonus points if it’s affordable or can be DIY-ed. I just want to help my girl find the regulation she deserves.

Posted Jun 8, 2026, 4:46 PM UTC

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