As families across the Hudson Valley are preparing to
keep kids entertained at home this summer, we wanted to give a special shout
out to those with children with special needs.
Some day camps may open, some may not.
Some parents may not be ready to send their kids to camp even if they’re
open. But with a few ideas up your sleeve, these suggested games by
Time4Learning.com for special needs children include tactile and sensory
activities that not only calm and soothe but help with fine motor skills.
Finger-painting –
Put on a few old shirts and don’t be afraid to get messy. Finger-painting is a
fun way to keep children engaged and is great for strengthening the muscles in
their hands and arms as well as improving fine motor skills.
Chalk art –
Whether it’s on a blackboard or on a cool sidewalk, have your child scribble
and scrabble to their heart’s content. You can also draw pictures, practice
spelling words, or learn new shapes. Sidewalk chalk is usually large and
chunky, making it the perfect complement to your writing program
for dyslexic students and
other special needs.
Sensory bins –
Grab a few small boxes and create a summer sensory station with different
themes. Create an underwater setting with smooth, blue beads for the ocean,
green felt for sea kelp, and small, marine animal toys. You can also ‘take’ a
trip to the beach and use sand, small shovels and a variety of sand molds. This
activity is ideal not only for children with special needs, but also toddlers
and preschoolers.
Indoor camping –
If summers are rainy in your neck of the woods, your child need not miss out on
the fun of camping. Whether you use an actual tent or throw a big blanket over
some chairs, creating a fun and cozy indoor camp will be an enjoyable
experience for any child – with or without special needs. Be sure to bring in
some favorite toys and snacks. S’mores anyone?
Water play –
Most children love just about any activity that entails getting wet. Whether
you head to a nearby water park, turn on the sprinklers in your yard, or blow
up a small inflatable pool, your child will have a blast keeping cool when the
temperature spikes. Your child will develop their gross motor skills
thanks to all the physical activity.
Arts and crafts –
Use household items to create works of art. Pasta in different shapes like bowtie
and macaroni are great for gluing onto construction paper. Use safety scissors
to cut from magazines and create a summer collage.
Hide and go seek –
In addition to being tons of fun, playing hide and seek with your child will
teach them how to remain calm when looking for you. The game is also great for
your child’s physical development and for learning how to count.
Shapes in the clouds –
Grab a blanket and a grassy area to lay down in and look for shapes in the
clouds. Ask your child to use their imagination and creativity when searching,
and then describe what they are seeing.
Stars and constellations in the sky – When you homeschool a
child on the spectrum,
one of the best ways to reduce sensory overload while reinforcing your space
studies is identifying celestial objects in the night sky away from bright city
lights. Look for the moon and Venus, as well as constellations such as Orion
and the Big Dipper.
Make up the story ending – Read all but the last page of a storybook and ask
your children to suggest an ending. Another option is to have them draw the
ending. This will give them an opportunity to use their imagination and
creativity, known strengths
for many students with dyslexia.
Water balloon target –
Draw a target on the ground and mark each circle with a point value. Then fill
up some water balloons and try to aim for the circle with the most points. This
fun game will help your child with improve their
math skills by adding up scores, and help develop
their fine motor skills.
Color match buckets –
Grab a few buckets and balls of varying colors, and have your child pick a ball
to throw into the corresponding bucket. Invite siblings and friends to
play for added fun and assign a particular color to each child. Whoever fills
their bucket first wins the game. This can be a great opportunity to teach your
child about the importance of good sportsmanship and build social skills.
Plant a seed or tree –
For another fun and educational activity that will make the most of the summer
sunshine, plant a seed or tree in your backyard. Students can use a ruler to
monitor how much it grows every week, and in the process also learn about math
and science.