Faith, Hope, & Love
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Christmas is getting closer and I’m sure the shopping is underway for most of you! I have had so many questions over the years about what gifts are good choices for my son who has special needs. Really, buying for a child who has special needs shouldn’t be any different than buying for typical kids but it really can pose challenges. Why? Because toy makers (and most of us) assume that children without any extra difficulties fit into a mold where they like X, Y, and Z toys … and the special needs kiddos might break every mold. For instance, my son who is 12 has poor fine motor coordination and hasn’t played with Legos a day in his life. Seriously. He also doesn’t have a ton of interest in imaginative play and never has. There are just some types of toys and gifts that would fall so flat they would literally be left in the box they came in – never to be touched. This doesn’t happen out of meanness or rudeness on his part. While his interest has grown through the years, the window of margin is very narrow for him. So, I thought that this year I would post some recommendations to you.
First, I need to start off saying that all kids with special needs (just like their typically developing peers) are complex individuals. There is not a one-size-fits-all for them … but unlike their peers, they seem even less one-size fits all and more diverse. Sometimes the extremes with our kiddos and the lack of communications (in some) make it harder to understand or anticipate. If you’re worried about toy storage, we recommend you visit the Toy Box City website as they manufacture personalised toy boxes. I’ve prepared a quick list of questions to help you navigate the local toy and big box store.
My goals throughout the years have changed somewhat for our son. There was a time when I wanted to find anything that would occupy some of his time because distractability was high and interest was low. There was a time when I wanted to find anything that interested him. I wanted to see a spark of joy rush across his face. There now has come a time where I can see how this is going to play out and realize (mostly) what will be a hit but we want to make sure it is mostly age appropriate as he grows into his teenage years. No more playing with toddler toys – even though they might amuse him.
Here is my list of gift ideas for special needs kiddos. These are all toys and gifts that my son would enjoy now or has really enjoyed in the past. I hope this helps you on your quest to the perfect gift for a special child in your life.
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper
This was a big hit for a while. The noise this corn popper makes made it very appealing.
Playskool Explore N’ Grow Busy Ball Popper
My son used to truly love the sights and sounds of this ball popping toy. This was a huge source of entertainment for him.
bubbles like: Fun Express – Big Bubble Wand
This looks like a great option! Because it works on it’s own, it can be enjoyed by the child without excess fine motor skills and coordination.
This has been a toy of choice for many years. He has recently outgrown it (at age 12) only because he is too tall. My son loves to pretend he is mowing the lawn like daddy.
A few we gave our son, A, a trampoline and it has been hugely beneficial to him. He seemed to need the input from the bouncing motion. It also really helped him to keep his feet flat, after years of physical therapy to help with tight heel cords.
Green: Tire Swing, Super Spinner
Flexible Flyer “Triple Fun” Swing Set
Swinging has always been a fun, relaxing activity for our son. He loves having a swing set!
These make great stocking stuffers! At 2 years old our son started chewing on EVERYTHING and later started chewing on clothing. These Ps & Qs were terrific!
Rhode Island Novelty Puffer Balls (Set of 6)
These balls are great for kids that crave certain textures. These would make great stocking stuffers, too.
Hedstrom Sensory Shapes, 6-Pack
These blocks are fun, squishy, and don’t hurt if thrown. These are perfect for stacking or building and help with fine motor delay.
Melissa & Doug USA Map 51 pcs Floor Puzzle
Teach Geography and Fine Motor Coordination with this Floor Puzzle!
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Crayons
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring Pad – Animals
Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad – Vehicles
My son was given one of these Reusable Sticker Pads a few years ago and LOVED it!
Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center
Great for practicing letter formation, fine motor skills and art!
Wipe Clean Workbook Tracing and Pen Control (Wipe Clean Workbooks)
Dixon Ticonderoga Beginners Primary Size #2 Pencils with Erasers, Box of 12, Yellow (13308)
Sparco Marker Board, Melamine Surface, 8-1/2 x 11 Inches, White (SPR75620)
My 12 year old loves his dry erase board and markers. He loves to practice writing on his.
Kings Sport Deluxe Bowling Set Toy for Kids
Easier to roll than a typical bowling ball (because of weight) and fun for other kids to join in!
This is the game that started our family fun night back 4 years ago. My son learned to play Uno with this game and loved the instructions and funny dialogue of the robot.
A new twist on a classic game. Our son recently picked this out as a prize he had earned.
This is one of my son’s Christmas presents this year. Shhh! Don’t tell!
Go Fish Illustrated Card Game by Imagination Generation
This is an easy and fun game for the whole family.
Set of 4 Classic Children’s Card Games with 2 Hands-Free Playing Card Holders
I think this is an excellent idea! The hands-free playing card holders teaches children with fine motor delay how to hold a hand of cards so that they can play with other kids!
My son, A, started playing this when he was 9 and it is still a favorite (almost 4 years later).
Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game
This game builds math skills! Addition, Subtraction, Odds and Evens… our son has loved this game and it has been fun to include the other kids in our home.
Learning Resources – Money Bags Coin Value – Educational Board Game
Perfect game to teach about the value of money!
This has been a big hit in our house. He started playing this around age 9. It is made for kids age 3-6.
PlanToys Plan Preschool Big Drum Music
One year, a kid’s drum was the only gift that interested him. He LOVED listening to songs and keeping the rhythm on his very own drum.
Dora The Explorer Radio Karaoke Kits
Perfect for kids who love to sing!
Jensen CD-490 Sport Stereo CD Player
He loves music and he loves having a CD player. I think we got him his first one when he was about 7. He loves to listen alone and with his siblings. We like to do dance parties.
Eclipse T180 1.8-Inch 4 GB Touchscreen MP3 Player (Silver)
Music is one thing my son has loved since he was very young. He has very specific tastes in artist and composers. I buy him his own CDs and also upload his music to iTunes or Amazon Cloud and let him listen on his own MP3.
The Kinect, which came with our XBox 360, has been hugely beneficial for our son. The first game he played was GTA, and with cheat codes for GTA 5 on Xbox One armed alongside him, he loved the game and got through it really quickly. He was able to participate in games with his siblings and peers which were both age appropriate and interesting to him. He developed gross motor skills through the use of Kinect. Later, he was able to use the hand controllers once his fine motor skills grew. He now loves both types of games and this is a great way for him to interact with other kids.
Fire Kids Edition, 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case
I’m seriously thinking of getting this for A this Christmas. It seems like the perfect gift. It comes with “Free Time” and a 2 year accident-proof warranty. I’m kind of in love with this!
Baby Babble – Speech-Enhancing DVD for Babies and Toddlers
VeggieTales – The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Life’s Little Lessons
The Backyardigans: Tale of the Mighty Knights
These have all been shows and movies that have interested my son through the years. For a long time, he would only watch DVDs and TV shows that were primarily musical. He slowly grew to watch more which include dialogue, as well.
Full House: The Complete Series Collection
This has become one of my son’s favorite shows. It is great for modeling social situations in an age appropriate context.
Disney Silly Songs: 20 Simply Super Singable Silly Songs
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – Xbox 360
Just Dance Disney Party 2 – Xbox 360 Standard Edition
This game works on the Kinect. It is perfect for learning dance moves, developing gross motor skills and having fun in a social situation with other kids!
This was my son’s favorite from about the age of 8-10 before he started using the controller, he used the Kinect a lot!
Cars 2: The Video Game – Xbox 360
Once his fine motor skills improved a little, he started using the controller . This is one of his favorite games.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – Xbox 360
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa – Xbox 360
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It’s November. Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. Last week I wrote about my favorite books written about Thanksgiving for young children. Learning about the holiday is only one aspect of this month. A few days ago I wrote about gratitude and what it means to have a life full of it. It can be so easy to let it slip away from us. A couple of years ago, while doing a study of a variety of European countries I bought a book called, Material World: A Global Family Portrait
This book, which includes a long list of countries of the world, focuses in on one family for each country. As you read, you will learn what this family owns, what type of home, bed, vehicle, the food they eat and much more.
I started reading this to my children and it was eye opening for them and for me. It is very easy to take for granted what we have. It is also easy to think that we need more and more – without the reminders that others live on far less. Others live with far less and yet they are happy.
So, I wanted to share this book with you this week as we draw close to Thanksgiving. It is not a fun, whimsical book. It is not a catchy and clever one, either. It is a necessary book to read, however, as your children grow. I like to talk about want vs. need with my kids. I also like to use this book to launch some thought provoking conversations about how much we really do need. I think it is important as a reminder to keep everything in perspective and to choose gratitude … to choose thankfulness … to choose joy in our day to day lives.
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If you are like me, you might be scrambling to think of good quality gift ideas right about now. You don’t only need to find presents your kids and husband but possibly your neighbors, friends, parents, your nieces & nephews… maybe even cousins, aunts & uncles, therapists, coaches, teachers…hmmm… who did I forget? Finding the right gift shouldn’t be so difficult, right? I recently discovered a company which I think might take some of the stress out of holiday shopping.
The company is Green Kid Crafts. It is a subscription service for children and offers a wide variety of products. Do you have a science loving kid? They have STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Subscriptions. How about an artsy-craftsy little one? Got that too – just look at the Creativity Art Box or the Legends & Folklore. You can choose from the subscription gift box or a one time purchase of a specific themed box.
My kids were thrilled when we recently received our box which was one of the Holidays Around the World Box. Containing six crafts, each one wrapped in its own small plastic bag, it came complete with info about the project and the country. The written instructions even include pictures to assist the kids who are making the craft.
The crafts were both easy for the kids to do and fun for them to play with afterward. They were able to learn a small nugget of information about the country and how the citizens of that country celebrate their holiday.
The box includes a full-color map of the world AND a recipe book which includes a recipe for each of the countries represented in the box. My 8-year-old daughter was thrilled to see the recipes. She loves cooking and baking anything yummy and new!
The kids enjoyed their projects – even my 3 & 4-year-old decided to participate. My daughter made her own African mask and decorative tea-lights. My son chose the Chinese kite project and had fun flying his kit around after he made it. He also helped my 4-year-old make the little Indian tea-lights.
After we were finished, we took a look at Green Kid Crafts website, my 8-year-old daughter told me she loves the gift making kit. My 10-year-old is excited about the robot kit and volcano kit. I think my 3.5 & almost 5-year old would love the Legends & Folklore box, too.
As a homeschooling mom, I personally LOVE the idea of having the subscription science kit coming once a month which will not only entertain my kids but help them better understand science, engineering, and math! I also love that this is a gift that is consumable. It is the winner of multiple awards – including Dr. Toy’s Best Green Products of 2013, PTPA Seal of Approval, a recommendation from Parents’ Choice, MACT Excellence and MACT Green Awards and Red Tricycle’s Award for Most Awesome Subscription Service. The boxes are available in individual Discovery Boxes, birthday party activities and favors along with the subscriptions which are month-to-month, 3, 6 and 12 month durations! The website is easy to navigate and you can even add on siblings to your subscription! 
With it being consumable, unlike typical toys, it will not take up a huge amount of space in my home. This gift is educational, consumable, made from sustainable and recyclable materials, and is a wonderful addition to any home.
This is the gift that will truly last the whole year through! You can’t go wrong with Green Kid Crafts to complete your holiday gift giving this year! Use code AD25 to save 25% off your order.
Now, it’s time for a giveaway! Enter below to win a one-month subscription to Green Kid Crafts!a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Chances of winning vary based on the final number of entrants. Giveaway ends November 17th, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified by email on November 19th, 2015. Winner has 48 hours to respond or they may forfeit prize. If you have any questions, please contact suchatimeblog {at} gmail {dot} com.
A Life of Gratitude
Musings of Motherhood
You may have noticed or you might not have … I’ve not been in my normal routine lately. Things have changed – a lot has changed. We are moving. We are moving from a home that we love. We lived here for many years…but we thought we would live here for many more. In fact, somewhere deep down I thought we would grow old in this house. But that is a story for another day. The long and short of it is that I’m so busy with packing, with cleaning, with schooling, with keeping up that I haven’t had a lot of time to sit and think and to play and to just decompress.
My 10-year-old son tugged on my arm the other night. He said, “Mom – do you want to play the Toy Story video game with me?”
I’m not sure how long it had been since he has asked me this, but I quickly agreed.
The game began and as I sat there, Xbox Controller in hand, a flood of memories hit me.
I swiftly remembered the first time we ever played this game as a family. In fact, it was a warm Spring day, many years ago when I first saw the part of the game we call the “balloon race”. My baby had been laid down for an afternoon nap and our ABA therapist was there, helping my oldest son. We were trying to get him interested in playing with his siblings. I remembered how awkward and clumsy I was at this game.
It’s funny how one mundane thing can become attached to so many other memories. As if by an invisible thread I was able to transport to other days and times as a result of pushing my fingers on the controller. I remembered how many battles our family would have, to see who could beat who. The day I bought the Xbox floated into my head – it was an attempt to get all the kids playing together – trying desperately to get our son interested in social exchanges. Our first Christmas in this house. I was 6 months pregnant and tired from staying up too late the night before, my husband building a dollhouse for our 4-year-old daughter. The looks on their faces when they found the Xbox stashed away under the kitchen island. The day A finally learned how to play with the controller and actually beat the rest of us! The sights, the sounds of the birth of our daughter E, the ups, and downs of having 5 small children, the trials, the triumphs that the years can bring. So much has happened in such little time – all against a backdrop of little children growing. And time marches steadily on.
Our daughter, C, and our son, B, used to play this game all the time. Fragments of memories swirl as I see the books, the family nights, the board games, the new friends, the old friends, the sickness, the doctors visits, the toys that were new, the toys that were tossed aside …
Suddenly, jolted back to reality, I realized I had lost – and lost badly. “Mom, I remember when you were actually good at this.” It has been too long. “Yes, a couple of years ago I finally got to the point where I could play.” It’s funny how I lost the hang of this game, now going back to my original state of not being able to challenge a single kid in the house. I was terrible. My son spoke up, “Remember when I was 7? I used to play this all the time.”
We chatted back and forth about how often we used to play and how C used to play and now she doesn’t anymore. She doesn’t like any video game. It was then, at that moment, controller in hand, that I realized just how fast the years have gone by. I had blinked. Like quiet, glittering, beautiful snowflakes decorating the great sky in one moment and then in the next melting underfoot, the years were here and they vanished right in front of my eyes. Our days had melted.
My daughter was 4 when we moved into this house – and in a few short months she will turn 9. My little guy was still a baby when we came here and is about to turn 5 in a just a couple of weeks. Some wise person once said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” (Gretchen Rubin) and they couldn’t have been more right. So tonight I sit here silently trying to capture the moments – wishing that I could somehow cling to them a little tighter… but like snowflakes the more you cling the faster they melt.
This move has awakened something – stirred my soul – as I see how fleeting childhood is. Being a mother can be the most trying and wearing times we can experience as it grips at our heart and pushes our mind and body to the limit. There is something else I grasp as I sit here thinking silently amongst the chaos. I see that being a mother allows us to experience the best life has to give. For that, I’m grateful, for that I’m thankful. Somehow it takes heartache to recognize what you truly love.
Today, I ask you to take this month of November to truly take a step back. Step back from what is hurting you, step back from what is overwhelming you, step back from the rut you are in, step back from the fighting, from the despair, from the mundane day to day life that we moms all seem to live and take for granted. Step back and reflect on the days and the years, the good and bad, and take account of ALL that you are grateful for. To some we might need to say we’re sorry, to some we might need to forgive, to some we might need to say thank you and for others we just need to acknowledge our gratitude. Let’s choose to love and to live a life with no regrets because we choose to live it with a full heart.
What are you truly thankful for today?
