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Today I am excited to share this space with Lauren from Fun and Function. She is sharing with us snow day activities that we can do with our kids! Lauren specializes in special needs, so these activities are great for all kids! Thanks for guest posting Lauren!
Winter is on its way and, depending on where you live, you could be getting a lot of snow this season. If you have a special needs child, you may be worried about the limited activities you can partake in with your child when you’re stuck inside on a cold, wintry day. Fear not, parents! There are plenty of indoor activities that are fun and cater to your child’s special needs.
Create
Bring the snow indoors this winter for your child to play with. Fill your kitchen or bathroom sink with the frozen fun, then use food coloring to create a unique sensory integration experience for your child. They’ll love discovering the texture of snow and the bright colors you choose to utilize. For added fun, create a work of art within the snow!
Shovel
Many occupational therapists that work with children who have sensory disorders recommend getting your child involved when it comes to shoveling. Often times, children with sensory perception disorders lack the ability to take part in physical assertion due to their low muscle mass. By having your child help with the shoveling to the best of their ability, they’ll be able to build and tone their muscles and learn about responsibility!
Socialize
Work on emerging social skills by inviting your neighbors out to play. Your child can review their abilities when it comes to socializing, and work on any skills they are having trouble with. This is also a great time to get to know your neighbors a bit more!
Venture Out
If being outside in the cold isn’t really your thing, there are plenty of activities you can partake in that are indoors. Provided that the roads are okay to drive on, pack up the kids and head to the mall. Walking around and looking at all the shops is a great way to provide visual stimulation for your child, and makes for the perfect conversation starter to work on speech.
Treasure Hunt
Prepare a treasure hunt throughout your home. Ask your child to find various objects while sorting through and organizing a drawer or a closet. This allows them to hone their executive function skills. When they have completed their assigned tasks, reward them with a snack or movie viewing. Throw some hot chocolate and popcorn into the mix to make it the perfect snow day activity!
Arts and Crafts
Have your child partake in a craft to work on motor skills and creative thinking. Make holiday cards with construction paper, stamps, and stickers to send out to friends and family. Write acrostic poems with winter words like SNOW or ICE. Cut snowflakes out of white paper and string them together to create a unique garland. The crafting possibilities are endless – play to your child’s unique interests to create something special.
Finding activities for you and your child to participate in on a snow day is as simple as using your imagination. There are plenty of things to do that are fun, educational, and allow your child to work on certain skills. Remember to cater to their unique needs and interests, and have a blast on your next snow day.
Lauren is a blogger for Fun and Function, an online retailer where kids of all abilities learn to play! She is proud to work with a company that is dedicated to providing children and their families with award-winning toys, therapy equipment, and classroom tools for special needs children to make learning fun!