What Activities Can you Do with your Special Kid?Tips for Special Needs ActivitiesRaising Special KidsWhere do you find activities for you and your special kid? Here are some ideas and places to look for things to do. I have found that we have so many therapies and doctor appointments for our special needs kids, that the problem has been finding things for the other kids to do - or else finding things that we can all do together. Remember that first and foremost your child with special needs is a child. Taking into consideration any limitations from their specific disability, they love to do all the things that other kids love to do. Let your kid be a kid. That would be a great place to start!
Our Favorite OutingOur biggest success for an afternoon has been the family trip to the mall for two small reasons that have a big impact on our kids. One, we found a place that serves French fries cooked in a dedicated fryer that they can actually eat and Two, the double-decker carousel.Ah, I know what you are thinking what is the big deal about French fries? My kids cannot eat very much to begin with, and react quickly to things they cant have even indirectly through cross contamination. So, there are not very many places and not very many things they can eat outside the home. The place in the mall is the ONLY place we have found outside the home, that they can eat the fries. So it is very special indeed. And well, kids just love to ride the carousel! Instant outing success.
Things to ConsiderWhat are some things, besides allergies, that you would need to consider when planning for children with special needs. Well, right there says it special needs. What are the needs of your child that are different from other kids? Those are what you need to take into consideration. For example, our youngest daughter has sensory integration dysfunction and so has difficulty processing when there are a lot of people, noise, and confusion like at the county fair. In fact, our oldest has the same problem, too, so if we plan something like going to the fair, we need to limit the time we stay, and make sure we bring along things like earplugs or an MP3 player. Or else we know that because of her physical musculature and walking difficulties, that she will tire quickly if we are out walking a lot somewhere (like at the zoo), so we need to bring along a wagon or a stroller, or know that we have to stop and rest often. The idea is that, although there are considerations, accommodations and challenges with activities for special needs children, with a little knowledge and prior planning, your special kid can do many of the same things as all the other kids. The second part is that there are things specifically for special needs children, that are not only enjoyable, but many are therapeutic as well. Kind of like playing a math game on a Leapster its fun AND they learn something!
Special Needs Tricycles
|
