Beyond the Basics: School Supplies That Support Every Learner

Getting ready for a new school year often includes a trip to the store to stock up on the staples - freshly sharpened pencils, unbroken crayons, crisp new folders, a Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper (< those were the days!). For many families, it also means thinking beyond the basics.

Our clinicians are often asked, "Are there any special supplies I can get to help with things like regulation, handwriting, or social communication?" The answer: yes!

At the Boston Ability Center, we know that the right tools can make all the difference in helping kids feel confident, comfortable, and ready to learn, so we've created a back-to-school supply guide that goes beyond the standard list.

Regulation + Calming Tools

Creating a calming corner at home? These items can help kids tune into their bodies and emotions throughout the day:

• Visual timers (like the Time Timer) – help kids pace activities and navigate transitions

• Fidget tools – think putty, stress balls, tangles, pop-its

• Headphones – Can help to reduce overwhelm in noisy settings (school assemblies, cafeteria, etc) - don't underestimate the power of music, too!

• Emotion check-in posters, breathing printable visuals – support physical / emotional awareness and regulation, as well as interoception

• Weighted lap pads or stuffed animals – offer calming proprioceptive input

• Soft lighting – touch-activated nightlights or color-changing lamps (like the Hatch or a lava lamp) can make a space seem safer and help to decrease visual overstimulation

• Books with social-emotional themes or a flip-book of regulating strategies

Fine Motor & Writing Supports

These tools build hand strength, promote an efficient grasp, and can make writing feel a little less stressful:

• Golf pencils – shorter length naturally promotes a more refined tripod grasp

• Pencil grips – available in different styles to meet kids where they are developmentally

• Loop or spring-loaded scissors – great for kids working on fine motor strength & control

• Dry erase boards, Magnadoodles, sidewalk chalk – a lower-stakes (aka more fun than just paper and pencil!) way to practice writing or drawing

• Three-lined paper – can help with letter sizing and spacing

• Mini tongs or tweezers – swap traditional mealtime utensils for these guys one night - a fun way to build strength and dexterity!

Language & Social Communication Tools

For kids working on speech-language goals, these supplies can offer a low-pressure way to practice:

• Conversation starter or “Would You Rather?” / “This or That?” cards – encourage perspective-taking, spark connection

• Story dice or picture cards – support sequencing, vocabulary, and imagination

• Sticker scenes or reusable sticker books – promote sentence generation and thematic vocabulary

• Mini mirrors – can give visual feedback for articulation placement

• Pinwheels or bubbles – for breath control

  
  

Organization & Executive Function Tools

Help your child stay focused and prepared with tools that support the initiation, planning, and execution of tasks - in order to promote overall independence:

• First/Then boards or visual schedules – help with sequencing and following through with multi-step tasks & routines

• Color-coded folders / notebooks, sticky note tabs – begin to teach children to self-manage their materials

• Magnetic whiteboard calendars – great for family/home use to preview the week/month ahead

• Desk / drawer organizers – can reduce visual clutter and frustration

• Visual checklists or "Get Ready, Do, Done" boards – support independent task completion

• Watches, clocks, timers – to increase awareness of the passage of time

Movement Tools

These tools can help kids regulate their physical energy, strengthen gross motor skills, and improve body-in-space awareness:

• Yoga ball, balance disc, wobble cushion – promotes core strength, balance, and can be alternative seating options for tabletop work

• Resistance bands – great for strengthening, or can tie around the bottom of a chair for a child to kick (serving as resistive heavy work input)

• Painter’s tape or floor spots – perfect for indoor obstacle courses or movement games

• Yoga cards or movement dice – fun prompts for brain-body breaks

  
  
  
  

Don't Forget...

Sometimes the best "school supplies" are the ones that feel most like play:

• Play dough, modeling clay, theraputty – strengthen little hands and pretend play skills at the same time

• Lacing cards, beading, craft kits – promote fine motor skills and bilateral coordination

• Stickers, stamps, washi tape – decorating a journal / scrapbook can make practicing drawing & writing more enticing

• Board games – fine motor, communication, executive functioning, self-regulation...they truly target it ALL

Learning looks different for everyone, and every child deserves tools that support how they learn best. These kinds of supports send the message:"We see how your body & brain work, and we're here for it."

If you're looking for personalized guidance on which specific tools are best for your child, the team at the Boston Ability Center is here to help. Our pediatric therapists love collaborating with kids, families, and classroom teams to make school feel like a place where kids can feel equipped and empowered. Contact us today!