As we realized that we couldn’t keep letting our little guy use the couch as a trampoline or the people who sat on our couch as a jungle gym, I started to look for “appropriate alternative behavior” outlets for when he joined us for movies or family time. I loaded up a small basket with some “noiseless” sensory hand fidgets. This was a special basket I would give to him when we were sitting on the couch together or I needed him to sit still for longer than usual. He could reach in, find things and play with them quietly, then move on to the next item in the basket as he was ready for a change without anyone prompting him. As I found something new or interesting, I would change out some of the items so it was always a surprise what he would pull out. I liked the idea of a small closed/drawstring top basket, so the 5-6 items needed to be hand-held size. They also needed to be special, not things he used all the time. It kept the clutter out of our living room and could easily be stored within reach or taken with us as needed. Each person reacts to different sensory stimuli so there is no need to buy expensive items to put in your basket. Most of our items were already around our house or from the Dollar Store. Here are a few examples:
Hope this gives you some ideas for your own sensory basket. If you found something not on this lost that worked well, please share in the comments below! - Andrea Smit, 5/14/17
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Many children have trouble sitting still. When watching a movie or talking with the family, they constantly want to move, bounce, or fidget. If your kid is one one of them, you have probably struggled for a solution. The secret? If the situation permits, let them move! There are great products out there that allow your child to sit and still move. Here are a few: The Bounce Ball: One easy way to give your kid a chance to wiggle and bounce is an inflatable ball. Yoga balls are good, but they are often too big for smaller kids. I found that Mega Bounce inflatable balls are just the right size (about 55 inches around.) They are inexpensive (under $15) and come with a foot pump to inflate and deflate. They are great for sitting or lying on. Get this one made by Duncan Toys on Amazon.com by clicking the link below. The Bungee Chair: Another great alternative seat for kids who do better if they can wiggle or bounce is a chair made of bungee cords. Sounds fun, right? In a way, it is like a trampoline that you sit in and bounce. It is also quick and easy for kids to pull out and set up. The best part is that this chair folds up and can be stored behind a door when not needed. Get this one made by Room Essentials at Target by clicking the link below. Do you know of any other great products to let kids both sit and move? Let us know in the comments below!
-Gillian Smit, 5/3/17 I loved family movie nights as a child. The idea of snuggling up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate on a Friday night helped me get through many long weeks of school.
Having a family member with disabilities made family movie night a little more challenging. My brother had trouble sitting still and often had to move around or bounce while watching the movie. When something got too intense, or if something went terribly wrong in the movie, he grew quite anxious. He wanted to participate in the fun family activity of watching movies, but struggled with the commitment of being quiet and sitting still for nearly two hours straight. If your child is similar, here are a few tips you can try to make family movie night more enjoyable. They will require some patience and tolerance from the other family members present but hopefully help everyone enjoy themselves a little more on movie nights. Find a way for them to move. If your child struggles with sitting still, forcing them to stop moving may not be the right solution. Instead, get an inflatable exercise ball for them to bounce on while watching the movie. If they need to do something with their hands, give them a stress ball to squeeze or a stuffed animal to hold. Two LEGO bricks to click together and pull apart would work too, as long as the sound is not distracting. If it is necessary for your child to sit still, consider purchasing or making a weighted blanket or lap pad. Tell them it is okay to leave the room. Let your child know before the movie starts that, if the movie becomes too intense for them, it is okay to leave the room and take a break for a while. The movie can keep running so the rest of the family can enjoy, and you can let your child know when the intense moment is over. Take a break. If your child simply needs a break from the action and the rest of the family is okay with it, pause the movie for a few minutes. Let everyone get up and stretch, make some popcorn, or discuss their favorite part of the movie so far. If you have any other tips, please share them in the comments section below! -Gillian Smit, 4/3/17 A website with stories and articles from and about the disabilities community. The Mighty shares stories of those who have disabilities and those who are affected by them. A wonderful source of encouragement for anyone impacted by or experiencing the struggles of disabilities, it features personal, real-life stories told by a variety of people. It appears nothing is too big or too small to be discussed on the site. An "A-Z Conditions" tab located in the upper left corner of the website takes you to an extensive list where you can find posts specifically relating to a certain condition. If you would like to receive a personalized feed of stories, you can sign up by clicking the submit tab (also located in the upper left corner of the website) or click "My Personal Feed" on the red bar across the top. Once you have created an account, you can submit your story to The Mighty. Let us know if your story is published on The Mighty, and we might feature it on our blog! -Gillian Smit, 4/3/17
Inviting women affected by disability to a monthly support group Joni and Friends is a faith-based support group for moms of kids with special needs. They meet the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Olive Ranch Elementary School at 5280 Stirling Street (Room #103) in Granite Bay. The small group setting gives a chance for women to fellowship while relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea and a few snacks. It is a great opportunity to ask questions of other moms and mentors, sharing stories and struggles, listening to helpful advice, and just knowing you are not going through this unique and amazing journey alone. Some members have family, friends, or caregivers to help with day to day struggles. Others come seeking help and friendship. Each "friends club" meeting on the first Tuesday of every month is open to any women who would like to stop by between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. There is no obligation and no cost. For more information contact Laurie Newton at (916) 213-1439 or Galina Lyashenko at (916) 474-9958 - Andrea Smit, 3/30/17
Special Kids Day is an amazing FREE family event put on by the Lions Club (District 4-C5 Lions) for children with special needs. It takes place once a year on the grounds of Ride to Walk in Lincoln, located at 1630 HWY 193. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community groups such as Boy Scouts and Leo Club along with caring & experienced Lions help by volunteering their services in this safe, family-friendly outdoor location, to set up craft booths and carnival games, and play with/guide/mentor the kids. Through these interactions, volunteers help the kids build and grow so they feel great about being accepted for who they are. This event is FREE for children (ages 0-99) and families of those with emotional, developmental, and physical disabilities. There are no expectations, lots of helping hands, and something for everyone to participate in. Food and drinks are provided and there is no cost to participate. The outdoor event will include music, entertainment, special rides, service personnel and animal demonstrations, and a variety of activities for all ages. Two moms shared about their experience taking their kids to last year's event. "I'm beyond grateful for wonderful, caring organizations like the Lions Club for hosting such an amazing event for kids with special needs." "Everyone was so great with my twin boys. We were able to spend three hours there without tantrums and I could eat without issues with them!" A simple online registration and more information as well as pictures of last year’s event can be found here: -Andrea Smit, 3/30/17
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud with illustrations by David Messing. “All day long, we are either filling up or dipping into each other’s buckets by what we say and do.”
– Carol McCloud We each carry around an invisible bucket. Everything we say and do either fills or dips into someone else’s bucket. When we fill another person’s bucket, are gets filled as well. When we dip into someone’s bucket, however, we find that ours becomes empty. Through easy-to-understand language and simple concepts, McCloud has created a beautiful book to teach children about kindness. Personally, I think this book’s title is somewhat misleading. Yes, it is a guide to happiness, but it is also a tool for teaching so much more: generosity, appreciation, kindness, affirmation, and gratitude. Most importantly, it encourages children to think about the positive and negative consequences of what they say and do. The book gives concrete examples of how they can implement the concept of “bucket filling” in their lives. Charming illustrations by David Messing help these situations come life and keep children interested in the message of the book. This 32-page picture book is recommended for children ages 4-9, and I agree with that age range. If you child is an early reader, you could even read this book with them at age 2 or 3. At 18-years-old, I still enjoy reading this book. Sometimes it takes the simplicity of a children’s picture book to remind us of life’s most important (and sometimes most challenging) concepts. - Gillian Smit, 3/2/17 |
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