Rummage sales, yard sales, garage sales, estate sales, thrift shops, consignment stores, Craig’s List, and eBay: All are great sources for saving money on used household items, but there’s another reason to check them out. They are great places to find items for sensory kids that you can’t easily find elsewhere. What’s more, the prices are great, so you can take some risks with your purchases.

A bargain is always a good thing, but sensory kids can be so particular about clothing and anxious about trying something new that spending far below retail costs on the snow pants he may balk at come winter makes sense. It can be very frustrating to find out that your child won’t wear those cute, designer brand rain boots after all, but if they were only $2 at a yard sale, it’s easier to let it go and offer her other options (such as avoiding the puddles and bringing along an extra pair of dry shoes to school).

Also, many children with tactile sensitivity prefer very soft clothing. Used clothes, washed many times, are often far softer than new clothes, and may have tags removed or laundered so often that they don’t bother the child. However, if your child is sensitive to strong laundry detergent and fabric softener smells, you may need to rewash the clothing a few times to take out the perfumes. When it comes to sleepwear for small children, multiple washings may remove the fire retardant treatment (chemicals which can irritate sensitive skin anyway), so you may want to stick with all-cotton, soft pajamas that fit snugly, perhaps a size smaller than her real size. When buying used shoes, choose one that have almost no wear on the inside or the soles.

Low cost, used Halloween costumes are excellent for encouraging imaginative play (rather than just cause-and-effect play). The fun of playing may encourage the tactile sensitive child to stretch out of her comfort zone and try on a scratchy tutu made of net, a stiff plastic construction worker’s hat, or fuzzy animal ears. You can also purchase scarves, costume jewelry, and fun shoes for dress up.

Sports equipment should be checked carefully to be sure all the parts are in good working condition—and try to buy bike helmets and safety seats new, because if they were involved in an accident, their safety features may be compromised. A used bike store can help you get a tricycle or bicycle into working condition.

Used items may have been recalled, so be very careful to check recall websites before buying a play yard, crib, or baby slings and swings, and baby furniture, which are the most commonly recalled items. Toys that will be mouthed or that are made in China and have bright paint should be avoided because of possible lead hazards, so use discretion. However, often vintage items are better made or less distracting than the newer versions. Older Sit ‘n’ Spin toys are made of sturdier plastic and don’t have the light and music chip which a toddler or preschooler with sensory issues might find distressing. Older or even vintage versions of games like Kerplunk or Lite Brite may be easier to work with because of better quality materials. Older models of the Radio Flyer sled have the same steering mechanism and solid support that makes sledding a little less scary for some kids, but feature steel rather than aluminum rivets, making the sled more sturdy. Again, check recall lists, but also look at reviews of newer items (such as on Amazon.com) to determine whether the vintage version available at low cost through a rummage sale, eBay, or Craig’s list might work better for your purposes.

Rummage sales and especially estate sales often have low-priced office, school, and craft supplies that you can use to practice handwriting, tolerate tactile sensations such as working with glue, feathers, and stickers to create fun crafts.

Finally, while you’re at a yard sale, encourage your child to work on his or her math skills when you’re getting ready to check out. What is the total of your purchases? If the seller were to round down to the nearest dollar amount, what would the price be? What would you pay if you received a 10 percent discount?

Rummage sales are also a great, low-pressure way to practice simple social skills like greeting a stranger, making small talk, and engaging in a transaction. Who knows? Being able to purchase a cool t-shirt with her own money may be just enough incentive to encourage her to make eye contact and say a shy “thank you.”

Copyright © 2010 Nancy Peske