Black Friday Deals on Must-Haves for Behavior Analysts, Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists

Learning Tools, Toys and Therapy Materials at a Discount During Cyber Week

One of the biggest perks of being a clinician in pediatric therapy is the fun we get to have on the job. Yes, our jobs have their challenges, but getting to spend time with kids – and playing alongside them as they learn new skills! – is part of why we love it so much.

To work on these goals in communication, socialization, motor play and functional living skills, having the support of specific toys, tools and materials can not only make therapy more exciting for our children, but also more effective for them. As such, we worked with our Hopebridge team to curate a Black Friday shopping list filled with deals on their must-haves for board certified behavior analysts (BCBA), speech-language pathologists (SLP) and occupational therapists.

Here is what our practitioners will be shopping for this week, in case you want to add them to your clinical toolbox, too:

Cyber Week Sales for ABA, Speech and OT Clinicians

Dymo LetraTag 200B Portable Thermal Bluetooth Label Maker
Deal: 25% off at Staples
Why we love it: Who doesn’t love a label maker? This option hooks up to Bluetooth so you can print straight from your phone for all your organizational needs.

Hero Arts mesh zipper pouches
Deal: 50% off paper-crafting stock doorbuster, plus other deals at Joann
Why we love it: We use mesh bags like these for everything, but one of our favorite uses is to store themed materials together, such as fall picture cards, fall comprehension task cards, mini colored pumpkins and more.

Owala Water Bottles
Deal: 20% off at Target
Why we love it: We know Stanley cups are all the rage right now, but hear us out: Owala bottles have a sipper and a straw, they keep drinks cool all day long, and we adore their interesting color combos. Stay hydrated!

Paper Mate Flair 36pk Flair Felt Tip Pens
Deal: 50% off at Target
Why we love it: Keep your notes colorful and organized with a fresh set of felt tip pens in a range of hues.

Fidget Toys Sensory Set
Deal: 20% off at Amazon
Why we love it: This sensory set is perfect to keep on hand when kids – or you – need a break or a pick-me-up.

Magnetic Dry Erase Board
Deal: Up to 70% off products at Michaels, including 30% off regular price purchases with the code 30HPPYTHKS through 11/26.
Why we love it: Individual dry erase boards are great for communication, working on handwriting skills and labeling, among other skills. Beyond the marker, we especially like to pair them with magnets for a whole new way to teach and play.

Chewy Necklaces
Deal: 40% off entire purchase with code BF2023 at The Pencil Grip site
Why we love it: Big chewy pieces with an easy break-away cord like these are safe and durable to use for kids who have oral sensory needs.

Best Black Friday Deals for ABA Therapy

Melissa & Doug Food Groups wooden food set
Deal: 55% off on Amazon
Why we love it: From building imaginative play skills and modeling mealtime to labeling colors and sorting food groups, the learning opportunities with play food are endless.

Bubble Machine
Deal: 20% off on Amazon
Why we love it: If you’ve worked with kids before, then no explanation is needed, but bubbles are a great reinforcer for many, plus they can work on skills like blowing and clapping as they chase the bubbles around the room.

Creatology Shimmer Washable Dot Markers
Deal: Up to 70% off products at Michaels, including 30% off regular price purchases with the code 30HPPYTHKS through 11/26.
Why we love it: Using dot markers can encourage visual attention and artistic expression. These tools help kids practice hand-eye coordination and build the foundations for writing and drawing, as they can use them to practice a grip and strengthen their hand and finger muscles.

I Can Do It Too! book
Deal: Buy 1 get 1 50% off featured board books from Barnes & Noble
Why we love it: Books are some of our favorite tools for learning. This simple board book covers independence and can help kids build their own confidence and they watch the girl learn to do the same things her family does, like pouring juice at breakfast and riding a bike.

Melissa & Doug Pull-Back Town Vehicles
Deal: 44% off on Amazon
Why we love it: This simple set of toys has so many uses. Model how the cars make noises like “vroom” and “beep beep” or pull them back to roll across the ground or down a slide to teach cause and effect. As kids grow, BCBAs and RBTs can use these cars to teach other skills, such as how to go, stop, and look both ways before crossing a street.

Scribble Scrubbies Pets Kit
Deal: 30% off Crayola doorbuster, plus other deals at Joann
Why we love it: Kids can work on fine motor skills, pretend play and communication all with one toy! It is also a great way to work on functional living skills as kids can practice scrubbing the animal to get it clean after they are finished decorating it. 

Best Black Friday Deals for Occupational Therapy

Pencil Grips
Deal: 40% off entire purchase with code BF2023
Why we love it: This ergonomic writing aid gives kids more control and reduces hand fatigue as they learn the proper grip for holding a pencil … and we love the sparkly colors!

Balance Stepping Stones
Deal: 35% off at Walmart
Why we love it: These stepping stones provide hours of fun as kids learn to balance and work on their motor skills. OTs can also work in turn-taking, color labeling, counting and more as kids put their bodies in motion.

Play Tunnel
Deal: 35% off at Amazon
Why we love it: In addition to gross motor skills like crawling, play tunnels engage the vestibular system through balance and rolling, whether through a simple game or incorporating it into a larger obstacle course. This space-saving option folds up tightly for easy storage.

Trideer Inflated Wobble Cushion
Deal: 39% off at Amazon
Why we love it: This is a great tool for kids preparing for school, mealtimes and more. The wobble seat helps kids absorb energy, improve core strength, maintain comfort and sit for longer periods of time to stay focused on other tasks.

Melissa & Doug First Shapes Jumbo Knob Wooden Puzzle
Deal: 25% off at Amazon
Why we love it: Jumbo knob puzzles are beneficial for beginners before they move onto more complex puzzles. Puzzles help kids build their visual-spatial process and tactile learning, as well as encourage problem-solving and promote communication. As a bonus, this puzzle also works in colors, shapes and labeling opportunities.

Crayola My First Washable Egg Crayons
Deal: 30% off Crayola doorbuster, plus other deals at Joann
Why we love it: Easy to grasp, these palm crayons are designed for little hands to explore their creativity while working on other key fine motor skills.

Best Black Friday Deals for Speech Therapy

Sequencing Cards
Deal: A range of specials during Cyber Week, including Buy 1 Get 1 50% off from Lakeshore Learning; check the website for details
Why we love it: Every SLP likes to have sets of sequencing cards on hand, and this six-scene set of simple picture stories.

Moo, Baa, La La La! Board Book
Deal: Buy 1 get 1 50% off featured board books from Barnes & Noble
Why we love it: We like books that use animal sounds and simple words, as reading them will build familiarity and may help them repeat sounds over time. 

Itsy Bitsy Spider touch and trace nursery rhymes book
Deal: Buy 1 get 1 50% off featured board books from Barnes & Noble
Why we love it: Nursery rhymes and songs as books support kids’ recognition of certain words and sounds. Use this book to build additional social and language opportunities by pointing at the various pictures or act out the songs to work on imitation and body awareness.

Learning Resources Rainbow Sorting Crayons
Deal: 41% off at Amazon
Why we love it: These cute learning “crayons” are anything but drawing tools. The crayon-shaped containers hold small color-coordinated items that encourage sorting, color identification, vocabulary, patterning and counting.

Fisher-Price Little People Caring for Animals Farm
Deal: 50% off at Target
Why we love it: This interactive toy can target imaginative play, fine motor skills, animal sounds, sharing and joint attention, depending on how you put it to work. The music and sounds encourage storytelling and tons of language opportunities.

Moods & Emotions Mirrors
Deal: A range of specials during Cyber Week, including Buy 1 Get 1 50% off from Lakeshore Learning; check the website for details
Why we love it: A handheld mirror can do wonders for helping kids learn about their own emotions and others’, as well as practice certain sounds and faces. These mirrors can help them boost their social-emotional awareness and confidence as they check out the expressive photos on one side and themselves on the other.

More Training and Resources for BCBAs, SLPs and OTs

These are just a few of our team’s picks that will be discounted this week. If you’re looking for more ideas, tools and resources, Hopebridge clinicians have access to these types of materials and more in our centers. If you are looking for a role filled with interdisciplinary collaboration, a wide range of training and growth opportunities, facilities filled with real-life settings and technology, and network of clinicians working together to provide compassionate, progressive care, then you’ve come to the right place. Check out the open positions we have available across the country to work in pediatric therapy for children with autism and other developmental delays.

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC.