The Best TEFA Purchases for Your Child's Development (From an OT's Perspective)
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The Best TEFA Purchases for Your Child's Development (From an OT's Perspective)
By Samantha Russell, OT | SkillSprouts OT | Published 2026
Your TEFA funds are approved and your Odyssey wallet opens July 1. Now the real question: what do you actually buy? As a licensed occupational therapist, here's how I'd think through spending TEFA funds to get the most developmental impact for your child.
One of the most common things we hear from families who just enrolled in TEFA is some version of: "I have the money — I just don't know where to start."
That's completely understandable. The Odyssey marketplace has a lot of options, and it's not always obvious which ones are actually going to move the needle for your child. As an OT, I think about this differently than a typical shopper — I'm looking at what builds foundational skills, what fills genuine gaps, and what gives families the most return on their investment in terms of their child's development.
Here's how I'd approach it.
Start With What Your Child Actually Needs
Before you open the Odyssey marketplace, spend five minutes thinking about where your child struggles most. Is it sitting and focusing? Handwriting? Emotional regulation? Reading? Sensory overwhelm? Social skills?
TEFA funds are flexible — that's the whole point. But flexible money spent without a plan tends to get spread thin. The families who get the most out of TEFA are the ones who identify two or three priority areas and build their purchases around those.
With that in mind, here are my top recommendations from an OT's perspective — organized by what they're best for.
Top TEFA Purchases by Developmental Need
OT Activity Boxes (SkillSprouts OT)
If your child is between 4–10 and you're not sure where to start, an OT activity box is one of the highest-value purchases on the Odyssey marketplace. Each box is designed by a licensed occupational therapist and targets the foundational skills that underpin everything else — fine motor strength, sensory regulation, bilateral coordination, pre-writing, and body awareness.
These aren't generic craft boxes. Every activity has a developmental purpose, and the play-based format means children actually want to do them. A monthly subscription gives your child consistent, therapist-designed developmental support delivered to your door.
We're an approved TEFA vendor on Odyssey. Search "SkillSprouts OT" when your wallet opens.
Occupational Therapy, Speech, or ABA Services
If your child has a waitlist for OT or speech therapy, or if your insurance limits how many sessions they can receive per year, TEFA funds are a powerful way to fill that gap. Therapeutic services are an approved expense, and with up to $30,000 available for children with qualifying disabilities, families can fund a significant amount of private therapy.
Look for approved therapy providers on the Odyssey marketplace. If your current private OT or speech therapist isn't listed yet, ask them — many providers are in the process of becoming approved vendors.
Structured Curriculum
For families homeschooling with TEFA funds, a solid curriculum is usually the first purchase. Look for programs that match your child's learning style — visual, hands-on, auditory — rather than defaulting to the most popular option. Children with sensory processing differences or learning disabilities often thrive with multisensory approaches like Orton-Gillingham for reading or manipulative-based math programs.
Sensory and Fine Motor Tools
Fidget tools, resistance bands for chair legs, weighted lap pads, sensory bins, and fine motor kits are all approved instructional materials under TEFA. For children who struggle to sit, focus, or regulate their emotions during learning, the right sensory tools can make a dramatic difference — and they're relatively low cost, leaving more funds for curriculum and therapy.
Specialized Tutoring or Intervention Programs
If your child has dyslexia, dyscalculia, or another learning difference, targeted intervention from a specialist can accelerate progress in ways that general curriculum can't. Educational therapists, reading specialists, and structured literacy tutors are approved under TEFA's tutoring and educational services category.
Educational Technology
Tablets, laptops, and educational software are covered when they're used for your child's educational program. For children who learn better through interactive, visual, or game-based formats, the right educational technology can open up a whole range of curriculum options. AAC devices for children with communication needs are also covered here.
How to Get the Most Out of Your TEFA Funds
Layer purchases strategically
The families I see get the most out of their TEFA funds are the ones who layer their purchases: a foundational curriculum or therapy service as the anchor, supplemented by hands-on materials that reinforce what's being taught. An OT activity box alongside a fine motor-focused curriculum, for example, hits the same skills from two angles — structured instruction plus daily hands-on practice.
Prioritize ongoing support over one-time purchases
A subscription (to a curriculum, an activity box, or a tutoring service) gives your child consistent exposure over time. Developmental skills are built through repetition and practice, not one-off experiences. If you're choosing between a one-time purchase and an ongoing subscription of similar value, the subscription often delivers more developmental return.
Don't wait for everything to be perfect
When funds release July 1, you don't need to have a perfectly planned purchasing strategy. Start with one or two high-confidence purchases — the things you already know your child needs — and give yourself time to explore the marketplace for the rest. Funds roll over, so there's no pressure to spend everything immediately.
The best TEFA purchase is the one that meets your child where they are. I know it's tempting to look at a list like this and want to buy everything — but the families I've worked with who see the most progress are the ones who go deep on a few things rather than wide on many. Pick the area your child needs the most support in, invest there first, and build from there.
What to Look for When Browsing the Odyssey Marketplace
A few things to keep in mind as you shop:
- Vendor approval matters. You can only spend TEFA funds with approved vendors on the Odyssey marketplace. A product being educational doesn't automatically make it eligible — it has to come from an approved vendor.
- Read the product description carefully. Look for products that clearly describe their educational or developmental purpose. The more specific, the better — both for your own confidence in the purchase and for program compliance.
- Check subscription options. Many vendors offer monthly, quarterly, or annual subscriptions. Annual subscriptions often offer the best value if you're confident in the product.
- Look for OT-designed or therapist-backed materials. Anyone can put "educational" on a product. Materials designed by licensed therapists or educators have a clear developmental rationale behind every activity.
Ready to Use Your TEFA Funds?
SkillSprouts OT is an approved TEFA vendor on the Odyssey marketplace. Our therapist-designed Activity Boxes build the foundational skills your child needs — fine motor, sensory regulation, pre-writing, and more. Search "SkillSprouts OT" when your wallet opens July 1.
Learn About Our Activity Box →