Handwriting Help

For some of our kids the mechanics of handwriting are a barrier to learning.  So alternatives like computer keyboards, sign language, and oral reports bridge that gap.

However, this Wall Street Journal article, How Handwriting Trains the Brain: Forming Letters Is Key to Learning, Memory, Ideas, suggests that the mechanics of handwriting provide some important benefits.

Handwriting Help

I've posted tips here and here in addition to these new ones below:

Fix it Write provides 10 days of exercises to help create more fluid writing movements. It also suggests an alternative handwriting grip to make writing easier. Users can choose what font style, writing style, and handwriting grip works best for them.

Apps in My Pocket offers touch screen help with letter formation and phonics together in one app.  A nice, and somewhat rare, feature is that they use the D'Nealian font which aids in the transition to cursive. Children can use the fingers or a stylus to form the letters.



Kidz Occupational Therapy has a handy guide for choosing the right pencils and devices

Handwriting solutions from Kidz Occupational Therapy

Spectacular sensory bins

These are so cool!

The Imagination Tree has some really delectable sensory bin contents.

Go check out their amazing ideas for so many fun ways to play and learn!!! 

Here are the sensory bins I want to replicate:

Christmas Sensory Tub from The Imagination Tree

Flowers and Fairies Sensory Tub from The Imagination Tree

Sensory Overload and Sensory Delight at Christmas

Christmas comes with a variety of sights, smells, sounds, and social interactions that can be pleasant for some and overstimulating for others.

But here are some things I think my sensory kids would really like to visit.

(1) A swinging Christmas

Racho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree Farm in the San Francisco Bay area brings out the kid in all of us and focuses on nature's delights. 

They have free activities that include GIANT swings from their giant trees, straw bale forts to explore, a giant xylophone to play up on the hill, and all the roasted marshmallows you can make and eat by the fire.

You can make your own wreath using their array of supplies and materials from nature for $7-$10.

Oh, and you can buy a Christmas tree.

Xylophone



Tree Swings

swings @ tree farm from laura copeland on Vimeo.


(2) A singing Christmas

Brown's Christmas in Mason Michigan features a musical light show set to music that can be enjoyed with the car radio. This year's display features a special tribute to the Michigan State University Spartans.

Kidscaping and Natural Playgrounds: 10 Sources for Design Inspiration

Kidscaping at Hoffman Hoopla

I've been introduced to lots of folks (lots from Australia!) encouraging "Natural Playgrounds." (Thank you Facebook!)

Instead of (or in addition to) commercialized play structures these natural play spaces encourage interaction with nature and reliance on natural, rather than "man"-made structures.

This is something many play and child development specialists are advocating, especially in light of increasing autism spectrum disorders, childhood obesity, and early and extensive use of technology by kids.

Google Search "Natural Playscapes"

Here are some great resources for inspiration:

1. Natural Montessori Playgrounds. This includes an overview and checklist of potential materials to include in a natural playground.
2. Dwell. Features a step-by-step slide show tutorial on how to build a natural playscape.
3. Let the Children Play. This blog features ideas and photos from amazing schools that are implementing natural play areas.
4. Rusty's Blog.  Author and owner of Earthplay, Rusty shares photos and ideas for incorporating natural features into kids' play.
5. Hoffman Hoopla Kidscaping Projects. Please visit their blog to see all the amazing features they've incorporated into their backyard!
6. Childscapes (AU). Company specializing in natural playscapes.
7. Natural Playgrounds (US).Company specializing in natural playscapes.
8. Earthplay (US). Company specializing in natural playscapes.
9. Google "Natural Playscapes" and select images. You'll be lost daydreaming for hours!
10. Library.  Check your local library for these inspirational design books:

Books for more ideas:

Controlled Burn: 3 Crafts for kids who like flames (with supervision!)

I was excited to see some crafts that involve flames and fire given my son's interest in them. I figured I might be able to entice my tween son to join in crafty endeavors with his sister and me.

Please visit the websites of these amazing crafters for simple tutorials on how to make these beautiful treats. 

*** Be very careful and use all necessary cautions in working with flames and potentially harmful chemicals. These activities require responsible adult supervision. ***

(1) Burn spoons = Plastic Roses

You've got to go to the Can't Stop Making Things website to see the finished product!!

Flame makes roses at Can't Stop Making Things

(2) Burn fabric = Fabric Roses

Creative Jewish Mom has a wonderful tutorial for these fabric roses and lots of ways to use them.

Creative Jewish Mom flame enhanced roses

(3) Burn yard waste =  Colorful fire starters

Wisconson Dells Travel & Green Country Living Magazine

Wisconsin Dells Travel & Green Country Living Magazine has instructions for several different fire starters from yard materials.


Tipnut has a tutorial on making colorful pinecone fire starters that use chemicals (not to be mixed while making or in the fireplace!) to create different color flames

Here are the chemicals that are said to produce different flame colors: 

• Copper Sulfate: Green flame
• Boric Acid: Red flame
• Calcium Chloride: Orange flame
• Alum (thallium): Bright Green Flame
• Salt Substitute (potassium): Violet Flame
• Epsom Salts (magnesium sulphate): White Flame
• Table Salt: Yellow Flame
• Borax (sodium tetraborate): Yellow/Green Flame

Mrs. Adventure has an easier version without the chemicals and just plain wax.

Mrs. Adventure's fire starter tutorial

BONUS: Here is a list of 10 crafts and activities that might appeal to boys from Come Together Kids.

Controlled burn: Safe ways for kids to enjoy flames

Happy Moon Festival Lantern for our walk

Yes, I'll admit it.  My son likes fire. 

He craves the intensity of the flame and is enamored with the ability of substances to change states when exposed to heat.

It's chemistry on steroids. And it is highly relaxing to him.






As a two year old he found matches in my purse and tried unbeknown to me to light them.

• I'm just really happy we lived through those intense years of sensory-seeking, failed industrial strength childproofing, and only painful bits and shards of sleep.
• I'm guessing there are other mothers of sensory-seeking kids who can relate. It appears to be a fairly common passion among children with ADHD or autism spectrum tendencies.
• I always figure Einstein and Edison's mothers had it much worse than I do and I take comfort in that!

GO WITH IT

I'm always one to follow the principles of jujitsu and martial arts...give into the energy and work with it instead of fighting it.

Do it safely and teach respect.

So we have times of controlled burns and our kids know the dangers of fire and use it safely.

*** Do not try these without responsible adult supervision! ***

OUTDOOR CONTROLLED BURNS

• We use the stone firepit
• We have the water hose ready
• We have supervision
• We review safety rules
• We have long sticks for catching a temporary flame with hand sanitizer
• We squirt hand sanitizer on the end of a stick
• We the stick into the flame while held over the firepit
• It burns a cool color and is generally extinguished when the sanitizer is burned away

Opportunities to use the lighter safely

Here are also 3 crafts that involve flames or fire you might want to try with supervision.







INDOOR CONTROLLED BURNS

• We put tin foil on the table.
• We get out lots of tea light candles (Thank you IKEA!) and some really really long skewers.
• We have cups of water nearby for extinguishing rogue flames should there be any.
• There are tin cans for disposing of matches and burnt skewer bits. 
• There are also plastic cups for dumping the liquefied wax for fun and for potential reuse.
• We have a source flame from which everyone lights their skewers to carry the flame to the tea light candles.
• After using the skewer the kids know to grind down the used portions into the tin can so there aren't any loose charred parts hanging that could accidentally start a fire.
• We also fill large size tin cans with rice and put birthday candles in the tin which can be lit with the skewers.

And I am happy to say we've only seen the fire trucks at community festivals and have not needed them at our house!!

8 Fabulous Blogs for Play-based Learning and Messy Sensory Activities

Our daughter has become quite an expert in making her own sensory experiences. 

Our creative sensory girl

I loved her spontaneous sensory table play with her collection of beads and buttons.

She gathered various utensils and containers from around the house to add to her play. 

She also made up several games with the beads like bead bowling, bead fishing, and pattern matching.

As you might imagine there was a bit of a bead mess at a certain point.

Thankfully she initiated making her own "contraption to make cleaning up more fun." [Insert mom shout of joy here!]

Instead of grabbing the camera I decided to help her in the clean up efforts since she was working so hard.

She picked up the minuscule beads from everywhere and put them in a soup ladle.

She poured the ladle contents into into a small measuring cup and poured successively into bigger measuring cups and containers until finally returning to their storage bin. It was a hoot!

Blogs to Follow for Messy Sensory Inspiration:

Let the Children Play - water and sand tables
Sand and Water Tables - entire blog devoted to sensory tables
Messy Kids - need I say more?
Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning - Sensory activities
The Imagination Tree - Sensory activities
Hands on as We Grow - Sensory activities
Let the Children Play - Sensory activities
Filth Wizardry - Messy art and play

Sensory Table Tips:

Goodwill Hunting - DIY sensory table
The Crafty Teacher - 107 things to put in your sensory table
Crayola - 101 uses for play sand

Teaching circuitry safely with playdough: Squishy Circuits

There was a TED talk that took the world by storm with the concept of squishy circuits. 

Using different types of playdough, LED lights, and electric gizmos kids learn about circuit design.

When I asked the author, Ann Marie Thomas, she said lessons plans would be coming soon.

My local hackerspace group pointed me to the lesson plans which are now online. Thanks, Conan!

TED talk video

Kids and parents will both enjoy using Squishy Circuits Lesson Plans!

If this sounds too complicated you can always use these popular and kid-friendly learning toys. Yes, Snap Circuits are so fun they can be considered toys even though they are really educational products!

4 Fun games with Halloween candy

The good thing about unschooling is that everything in life becomes a learning opportunity.

The bad thing about unschooling is that everything in life becomes learning opportunity!

At least I'm pretty sure that's what my kids think some days.

They're starting to realize that all those games we play are actually "school work." Mwaaahaaa! My evil plans. LOL.

Here are some of the games we played with the Halloween candy:

(1) Candy Store

First she had to organize the candy. (A woman after my own heart!!!)

She organized her candy by type. 

Then she gave me some play money that she made and asked me to buy her candy. (But not for keeps!)

We added, grouped, and multiplied candy prices for a while and had a great it of fun.





(2) Kid Candy Burrito

My tuckered-out son fell asleep as soon as he was done trick or treating.

But my daughter was ready to literally roll around in her candy loot.

She wanted to be an ice cream burrito with candy sprinkles.

"Kid burritos" offer an amazing calming experience for a lot of kids. And it helps to get centered for learning activities.

Lots of kids (but not all!) like to get wrapped and rolled up tightly in a blanket. It's a great sensory tool for kids with sensory processing disorder, autism, adhd, etc.

(3) Candy "I" Spy

This was my favorite game. It was fun and had lots of literacy and numeracy aspects to it.  We heaped the candy in a pile in between us.

We closed our eyes and mixed up the candy. 

Then we took turns calling out what kinds of candy to look for when we both opened our eyes. 

We each tried to be the first to find these kinds of things:

Can you find a candy with a number in its name?

Can you find candy with two syllables in its' name?

Can you find candy whose name starts with the letter S? R? K?

Can you find candy whose name has two of the same letters in a row?

How about candy with 2 pairs of the same letters in a row?

Can you find something on a stick?

Can you find something you don't chew and swallow?

Can you find Square candy?

Rectangle candy?

Circle candy?

Something that is 2 of a kind? 3 of a kind? Full house? LOL.






(4) Venn Diagrams

Similar to the last game this helps classification skills.

On the dry erase board we made two intersecting circles.

In each of the circles where there was no overlap we put candy that had one of the two desired attributes. e.g., Square or Red.

In the area of overlap we put candy with both attributes. e.g., Square and Red

Outside of the circles we put candy that had none of the attributes. e.g., Not square and Not red.

Have fun with your candy!    What games do you play with Halloween loot?

More recipes for picky eaters!

Here are more helps for picky eaters:

Image and recipe from My Recipes

 Picky Palate: Original family style recipes for even your most picky eaters -- Tons of recipes, searchable recipe index, giveaways.

Picky eater recipes from Parenting with an emphasis on healthy foods.

Healthy foods and recipes from My Recipes including my favorite strategy which is food on stick.

Picky eater recipes from Kraft Foods that obviously feature their products.

Recipes and strategies from Nick Jr. -- Tips, tricks, tools, and recipes for parents to use in coping with picky eaters.

Strategies and recipes from Food Network to expanding the culinary horizons of picky eaters.

IMPORTANT NOTE!

If you find yourself really frustrated that your child has a really small range of foods they will tolerate, you might have a problem eater, not just a picky eater.

Don't despair, however.  There is help!  The sequential-oral-sensory method is helpful for addressing feeding issues.  The Star Center Foundation has more information about this method.  You may be able to find out more about this strategy from a local occupational therapist.  This method is useful for picky eaters as well as problem eaters.  You can also explore resources on Food Chaining.

Parenting the intense, explosive, inflexible, sprited, twice gifted child.

A rose is a rose by any other name, but a challenging kid can have lots of different labels.

I'm not against labels if they help me get resources, find support, and give some validity to the challenges we face.

Emotional intensity seems to be a common factor in all these labels, along with the autism spectrum and ADHD and sensory processing disorder.

In a decade our understanding of brain science will figure out the nuances, similarities, and distinctions between these labels.

But in the meantime, what are parents to do in the face of everyday struggles and and challenges?


Here are some resources that I appreciate for strategies:

An Intense Life Blog - where intensity is embraced and celebrated as an asset for children when channeled into positive means.  She offers 7 tips for working with emotionally intense kids.

Celebrate Calm - providing specific strategies for dealing with behavioral outbursts in positive, calm ways to help parents get the respect they desire while respecting the child.

Lives in the Balance: Cooperative Problem Solving Approaches to Behavior - helping parents and teachers recognize the skills that kids with behavioral challenges are lacking, like flexibility/adaptability, frustration tolerance, and problem solving and help build them. Rather than viewing them as unmotivated or manipulative, Ross Green's approach helps builds mutual respect between adults and kids by meeting needs and building skills.

Kidlutions - providing anger management tools for kids and their parents and offering special tips and guidance for understanding and helping angry/intense kids.

More help for picky eaters

canary-island-smoothies.com

Our family has found a great food strategy that in keeping with the tricks of "Sneaky Chef" Missy Chase Lapine to hide nutritious foods into yummy kid friendly food.

Smoothies have come to save the day!

Like many kids with sensory processing disorder, my son has very distinct preferences for tastes and textures.

Many kids with SPD have an affinity for cold or frozen foods because it gives more oral sensory input and is more pleasant to them.

 It's hard enough to get the day started without fighting over what to eat for breakfast.  Some of us folks who are not morning people, find it even harder to deal with the unpleasant nature of food first thing in the day.

So our strategy now is to just offer our son a smoothie for breakfast. 

Our son had asked for a Ninja blender for his birthday and it has been a lifesaver.  Unlike our blender, it can really crush ice and frozen fruits into smooth textures.

It was certainly a gift we are all enjoying, not only because it makes mornings more calm, but because we all get to enjoy the tasty frozen (and healthy) treats.

Some of our favorite healthy concoctions:

• Orange juice, carrots, pineapples, ice, sugar to taste
• Frozen blueberries, frozen bananas, strawberries, yogurt, wheat germ
• Orange juice, ice, honey, powdered milk
• Frozen strawberries, ice, sugar to taste
• Frozen strawberries, ice, lemonade power with water (more concentrated than normal) to taste

A favorite decadent treat that is a simple version of Serendipity 3's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate loved by Oprah.

• Mix in Ninja or other Blender that crushes ice:
• 1 tray ice
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons Ghirardelli sweet cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder

Help for picky eaters and moms who hate to cook.

D.W. the Picky Eater (Arthur)

Many families struggle with picky eaters.  Maybe that's why our family really loves the tale of "D.W. the Picky Eater (Arthur)"

The picky eater dilemma can be overwhelming in families with children with a sensory processing disorder.

These kids are super sensitive to textures, tastes, temperatures and meal time can be very distressing to them. Trying to get sensitive kids to eat a diverse range of healthy foods can be extremely challenging.

Preparing foods can be a draining chore for the adults in the household, especially  knowing that the food might not be well-received.

There are some great tips for managing food sensitivities caused by oral defensiveness associated with sensory processing disorder, though useful for a broad range of picky eaters.

Here is one more trick in the tool bag to help beleaguered parents of picky eaters: The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals

It does sound dreamy doesn't it? Kids eating healthy stuff they can't detect in food that they won't complain about eating??

Grab the book from your library or bookstore and ponder the details outlined here:

Learn 13 Strategies for Sneaking Healthy Foods into Kid Friendly Dishes

1. Add pureed nutritious foods
2. Combine refined ingredients with unrefined
3. Use foods that hide well (don't change color, texture, or taste)
4. Substitute nutritious liquid for water when boiling foods
5. Combine foods that are nutritionally complementary
6. Identify nutritious foods that kids will enjoy on their own
7. Alter the cooking method to avoid frying
8. Cut the effects of toxins or fats by diluting with something healthier
9. Cut calories and increase volume with low-cal, nutritious fillers
10. Use slower-burning foods to avoid blood sugar "spike and crash"
11. Add visual decoys to make food look appealing and fun
12. Use kid-friendly flavor decoys to distract kids from what's underneath
13. Use kid-friendly texture decoys

Learn 13 Recipes for "make ahead" juices, purees, breading, and blends to add to foods

Learn 12 Foods to always buy organic

It's certainly worth a try. Now granted, you might have to sneak things in slowly for the kids with super-human powers of detection.

My son could always tell if the milk came from a different store (or maybe a different cow!). One mom told me about a kid who could tell which bottling plant processed the soda just by the taste.

For the man in your life here is The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (In the Kitchen!): Hiding Healthy Foods in Hearty Meals Any Guy Will Love

When kids push your buttons

http://www.magiclistbot.biz/



WHEN KIDS PUSH OUR BUTTONS

I really appreciated the "Daily Groove" words of wisdom. 

There are lots of  practical suggestions from at EnjoyParenting.com like these:

"When your child pushes your buttons, s/he's doing you a favor: revealing that you've given your power away to the triggering behavior or conditions."

strange-science.blogspot.com

SEEING THE GLASS HALF FULL

I like his positive asset orientation in observing children's potentially annoying behaviors.

1. "They need to know what's there — to map the emotional terrain and keep the map up to date."
2. "It's an efficient way to get their parents' heightened attention and feel more powerful."

 

http://www.videomaker.com/

PULL THE PLUG

I like his reminder to parents to pull the plug on our emotions in responding.

He says to "de-activate your buttons — consciously choosing to stay Connected and Present, regardless of conditions and behavior — you reclaim your Authentic Power! You cease to be someone who can be controlled like a mindless machine."


PARENTING THE INTENSE OR EXPLOSIVE CHILD

These reminders and practical tips can be very useful, especially for those of us with intense children or "explosive children" with inflexible thinking that often accompanies sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and other autism spectrum disorders

HELPING DADS FEEL IN CONTROL WITHOUT YELLING

This father-son duo from "Celebrate Calm" has some great advice especially for dads who feel like they have to yell at their kids. There are alternatives!

Our University family resource center hosted this duo for a session on "parenting intense children" and it was useful for our family.

HELPING EXPLOSIVE INFLEXIBLE CHILDREN STAY CALM

There are also great resources from Ross Green and his colleagues who are focused on positive communication strategies for "The Explosive Child."

This book is highly rated and quite popular:




Here are some free resources for using their "Collaborative Problem Solving" model which I think are very helpful for intense children:

• Free tools to assess the needs of children with challenging behaviors (additional languages available)
• Free instructional videos with practical strategies to solve problems 

If you love water and sand tables....

My sensory seeking kids have always loved sensory tables as preschoolers and the fascination continues into their early elementary ages.  Okay. True confessions.  I like playing in them too! I love these play-based learning approaches.

A River of Blue child inspired activity from Let the Children Play, a play-based classroom

Relaxation Tables using simple dollar store supplies posted by Casa Maria's Creative Zone, a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom

  

Another Use for Trays is just one idea from an ENTIRE BLOG DEVOTED TO Sand and Water Tables

"Mom, I have a handwashing problem"

Indeed you do, my darling daughter. I'm glad you realize it is a problem.  And now I know why I've had to refill the soap dispenser so frequently as of late.

Over the weekend I started settling into the realization that my 5 year old daughter is exhibiting common signs of an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  I would not have thought it possible at this age, but a recent report from Science Daily indicates that children as young as 4 can have full-blown OCD.

It was an abrupt onset of symptoms. Two weeks ago she started complaining after brushing her teeth that she felt like she just hadn't brushed everywhere.  She brushed quite frequently. But that seemed okay. It was after each meal and snack throughout the day which seemed logical, especially since she became aware of some cavities that need filling.

But that behavior looks different in hindsight. This past week she started washing her hands a zillion times, complaining about germs and worrying about everything touching something "dirty."  (okay, yeah, I'm a germophobe but not like this!)  She started taking multiple showers and baths a day, crying if we didn't let her.  She started getting chapped hands.

I knew it crossed the line when she had a friend over yesterday and insisted (shrieked) that her friend must wash her hands (and rewash them) before touching things.  She tried her hardest to get everyone to go play outside so no one would touch things in the house.

She has been in nearly constant agony and distress.  Even sleep has not brought relief. She has been waking up sobbing.

Over the past several months she has said "I wish I was never born" which was alarming to me. 

I felt that way a lot as a child with a panic disorder. I've seen the terrorizing symptoms of panic and anxiety displayed in my firstborn with a sensory processing disorder.  And now I'm seeing the OCD in my second child.

I think back to when she was 3 and we would be late for soccer games because she couldn't get her socks and shin guards exactly even and would meltdown. 

I just figured she had mild sensory issues like her brother and was irritated by the clothing. But now I realize it was because of the lack of symmetry.

So she has only a few socks she would wear but mostly avoids them, choosing to wear boots or flip flops instead.

And she often begs to have her hair in pigtails like her cousin or other girls she observes.  But it's only a few minutes before a meltdown occurs.  She sobs that the pigtails are not even, no matter how many times I redo them. They never stay in for more than a few minutes before she is in complete agony.

My children are the fifth generation to deal with some level of "mental illness" related to anxiety disorders.  Anxiety and panic disorders can be traced at least back to my great grandmother. 

These issues have affected my grandmother; my father, all his siblings, at least one cousin; several of my cousins; and now my own children. At one point I counted that 50% of our descendants were affected in some way. I've learned of a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia.  And we've recently learned of a bi-polar diagnosis in my husband's family.

Some folks feel it is shameful to discuss or admit anyone is affected.  But not me.  It's not a moral failing. It's not anyone's "fault."  It's not because someone is weak.  It's just a medical issue.

RESOURCES: So the journey begins for another child. Here are some resources we'll be investigating.

Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compu​lsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents by Tamar Ellsas Chansky


What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming OCD (What-to-Do Guides for Kids) by Dawn Huebner



Talking Back to OCD: The Program That Helps Kids and Teens Say "No Way" -- and Parents Say "Way to Go" by John S. March MD




Health Journeys Help For Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder [Audio CD] - Belleruth Naparstek