Too many birthday parties. Too expensive. Seven high quality gift ideas for less than $10
Once upon a time, there was a "rule" about birthday parties; if your child is turning 2—invite 3 guests, if your child is turning 5—invite 6
guests. The number of guests should be your child's age, plus one.
Those days of easy and small parties are gone. The days when you might only need to purchase 4-5 birthday gifts a year are gone. We all
know why. There is a new rule. This rule says you must invite everyone in your child's day care, nursery school, preschool or kindergarten
class. Unlike the old rule, which was just common sense, this new rule is written in the MANUAL.
Now you are expected to purchase anywhere from 6 to 20 birthday gifts a year. Not only is this time consuming. It is expensive. You end up
buying whatever is cheap, which often means it is not a great toy. Often the child isn't even interested in what he has received or the birthday
parent does not let their child play with the gift. It is lose-lose.
Here are seven suggestions for high quality birthday gifts for under $10. This a win-win solution to inexpensive birthday present buying.
These are great birthday gift ideas for both boys and girls. These are perfect for 4, 5 and 6 year olds.
1. Oceans of Fun Wikki Stix--Wikki Sticks stick together with just fingertip pressure. They are endlessly reusable. They will not pull apart and
cut easily with scissors. Clean and easy to use-no preparation, no mess. Oceans of Fun comes with 48 Wikki Stix, 4 colorful fish to
decorate, 2 dowels, 2 large ocean scenes to complete, a matching activity, a maze and interesting information on fish.
2. Make your own cards from Made by Hands--This perfect product was created by two moms, who got tired of buying craft kits for birthdays
and finding out there was no creativity in them. The only thing you got was the picture on the box. The Make Your Own Cards Includes 10
Note Cards, 10 Envelopes, Over 250 Pop-Outs, 1 Glue Stick, And a sturdy, portable box. The Pop-Outs are what makes this product and all
of their other projects so great. They are already cut out shapes in multiple colors. All the child needs to do is to use the glue stick and glue
the shapes down in any way they want.
3. Rainbow Brush Intro Pack--Rainbow Brushes are amazing markers. They are the world's first patented color blending markers that can
clip together and be squeezed to blend colors and create rainbow effects. With Rainbow Brush techniques you can create amazing lettering
and designs including flowers, butterflies and fish. Included are five markers and an instruction DVD.
4. Thinkfun Rush Hour Jr.--After setting up their game board according to pictures on various challenge cards, players steer their ice cream
truck through a jumble of blocking cars, trucks and buses. A playful theme and 40 age-appropriate challenges will keep even the most
restless child captivated for hours. This is appropriate for 6-8 year olds.
5. The Skipper by Just Jump It--This is a physically remarkable toy that can be played indoors and out. It encourages coordination, agility,
and refines motor skills. Swung around the ankle and hopped over by the opposite food creates and ongoing motion. They come in many
vibrant colors and are engineered so the ball will not come off, and the loop is steadfast.
6. Zome Tool—Bubble Kit--Ever seen a square bubble? Build basic 3-D shapes to dip into soap solution and create amazing bubbles. Full
color instructions make bubble-sculpting a breeze. The kit includes 72 parts: 12 white nodes, 36 each of 3 lengths blue struts, 12 each of 3
lengths yellow struts and 12 each of 3 lengths red struts, and step-by-step color instructions packed in a convenient plastic jar.
7. Insect Lore Critter Carnival--This amusement park for bugs is the ultimate bug playground! Find some bugs and watch them play and
perform in the zany carnival bug-play area with a slide, swing, maze, tightrope, Ferris Wheel, and teeter totter. Then let them go after the
show. Escape proof domed habitat provides 360 degree views and features an extra larvae built in magnifier lid. A great observations habitat
for ladybugs, pillbugs, grasshoppers..... it's the insects' own one-ring circus!
Listed above are art and science activities, games, and gross motor toys. These toys appeal to different children, so you will want to think
about what will appeal to the child for whom you are purchasing. A highly quality toy is great, but not if the child isn't interested in it.
All of these toys come highly reviewed and many have won prestigious toy awards. Most of the descriptions for the toys come from the
manufacturer and at the time this article was written, you could purchase each toy for under $10.
Once upon a time, there was a "rule" about birthday parties; if your child is turning 2—invite 3 guests, if your child is turning 5—invite 6
guests. The number of guests should be your child's age, plus one.
Those days of easy and small parties are gone. The days when you might only need to purchase 4-5 birthday gifts a year are gone. We all
know why. There is a new rule. This rule says you must invite everyone in your child's day care, nursery school, preschool or kindergarten
class. Unlike the old rule, which was just common sense, this new rule is written in the MANUAL.
Now you are expected to purchase anywhere from 6 to 20 birthday gifts a year. Not only is this time consuming. It is expensive. You end up
buying whatever is cheap, which often means it is not a great toy. Often the child isn't even interested in what he has received or the birthday
parent does not let their child play with the gift. It is lose-lose.
Here are seven suggestions for high quality birthday gifts for under $10. This a win-win solution to inexpensive birthday present buying.
These are great birthday gift ideas for both boys and girls. These are perfect for 4, 5 and 6 year olds.
1. Oceans of Fun Wikki Stix--Wikki Sticks stick together with just fingertip pressure. They are endlessly reusable. They will not pull apart and
cut easily with scissors. Clean and easy to use-no preparation, no mess. Oceans of Fun comes with 48 Wikki Stix, 4 colorful fish to
decorate, 2 dowels, 2 large ocean scenes to complete, a matching activity, a maze and interesting information on fish.
2. Make your own cards from Made by Hands--This perfect product was created by two moms, who got tired of buying craft kits for birthdays
and finding out there was no creativity in them. The only thing you got was the picture on the box. The Make Your Own Cards Includes 10
Note Cards, 10 Envelopes, Over 250 Pop-Outs, 1 Glue Stick, And a sturdy, portable box. The Pop-Outs are what makes this product and all
of their other projects so great. They are already cut out shapes in multiple colors. All the child needs to do is to use the glue stick and glue
the shapes down in any way they want.
3. Rainbow Brush Intro Pack--Rainbow Brushes are amazing markers. They are the world's first patented color blending markers that can
clip together and be squeezed to blend colors and create rainbow effects. With Rainbow Brush techniques you can create amazing lettering
and designs including flowers, butterflies and fish. Included are five markers and an instruction DVD.
4. Thinkfun Rush Hour Jr.--After setting up their game board according to pictures on various challenge cards, players steer their ice cream
truck through a jumble of blocking cars, trucks and buses. A playful theme and 40 age-appropriate challenges will keep even the most
restless child captivated for hours. This is appropriate for 6-8 year olds.
5. The Skipper by Just Jump It--This is a physically remarkable toy that can be played indoors and out. It encourages coordination, agility,
and refines motor skills. Swung around the ankle and hopped over by the opposite food creates and ongoing motion. They come in many
vibrant colors and are engineered so the ball will not come off, and the loop is steadfast.
6. Zome Tool—Bubble Kit--Ever seen a square bubble? Build basic 3-D shapes to dip into soap solution and create amazing bubbles. Full
color instructions make bubble-sculpting a breeze. The kit includes 72 parts: 12 white nodes, 36 each of 3 lengths blue struts, 12 each of 3
lengths yellow struts and 12 each of 3 lengths red struts, and step-by-step color instructions packed in a convenient plastic jar.
7. Insect Lore Critter Carnival--This amusement park for bugs is the ultimate bug playground! Find some bugs and watch them play and
perform in the zany carnival bug-play area with a slide, swing, maze, tightrope, Ferris Wheel, and teeter totter. Then let them go after the
show. Escape proof domed habitat provides 360 degree views and features an extra larvae built in magnifier lid. A great observations habitat
for ladybugs, pillbugs, grasshoppers..... it's the insects' own one-ring circus!
Listed above are art and science activities, games, and gross motor toys. These toys appeal to different children, so you will want to think
about what will appeal to the child for whom you are purchasing. A highly quality toy is great, but not if the child isn't interested in it.
All of these toys come highly reviewed and many have won prestigious toy awards. Most of the descriptions for the toys come from the
manufacturer and at the time this article was written, you could purchase each toy for under $10.
Create a Perfect Game Closet with 10 New Games.
During these cold winter months, nothing is better than sitting down as a family and playing games. It gives you a chance to be together,
talk, laugh and have fun.
Playing in the dining room, at the kitchen table, or on the family room floor creates a whole different family dynamic than other activities.
Conversations can start to happen -- you may learn things about your child academically or socially that you didn't know. It works much better
than asking "what happened at school today", when you get that blank look like you are crazy or something.
When playing games, children learn to play as a team -- and they learn you don't always win. That's something, in this day and age, we don't
teach our children very well. We set up school and sports environments so that our children always succeed. But in the real world, that does
not always happen.
According to, Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and coauthor of The Over-Scheduled Child and four other books other benefits from
games include: * Number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting * Letter recognition and reading * Visual perception and color
recognition * Eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity * Improved verbal communication * Increased ability to focus and lengthen
attention span
Most traditional board games are not appropriate for children younger than 5 years old; they're not cognitively ready to handle all of the rules.
However, there are some new games in the market designed specifically for 4-5 year olds that are great fun. The best games are not
"characterfied". High School Musical and Dora the Explorer don't have staying power. In five to ten years, when you go to pull out the games
over a long holiday weekend--no one will even remember High School Musical.
Most games with electronics lose some of their educational value. Monopoly without the money and the banker just isn't the same. If what
you want is time with your family then you don't want to purchase games that are played on the computer. The idea of family time, is that you
are sitting around together playing and laughing and having fun.
Below are 10 games all added to the market in the last eight years. They all meet the criteria that they don't have batteries, you don't use a
computer to play them, the designer's created them with child development in mind, and they have staying power. You will want to continue
to play them for many years.
The games are listed in age appropriate order and the description comes from the manufactures.
1. Zimbbos--Use your creativity and Sense of Balance to Build the Most Elephantastic Pyramid. Taking turns, roll the die to find out how
many elephants you have to add to the pyramid. The player who puts the last elephant on the pyramid wins the game. It is a classic stacking
game where kids can develop their spatial relationships and test motor skills. Appropriate for 3 to 8 years old
2. Horton Hears a Who! - You to the Rescue!--Go on a wild adventure to save the Whos! Put on the Horton hat and race around the house to
find the clovers where the tiny Whos live. Pick them up with your trunk?then hurry back before time runs out! The player who rescues the
most Whos is the winner! Appropriate for is 4-8 year olds
3. CARIBOO--In Cariboo you enjoy the thrill of unlocking secret doors and discovering hidden treasures! The matching activities in this game
combines laugh-out-loud fun with four early-learning fundamentals -- letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. And, it grows with your child.
Kids practice A, B, C and 1, 2, 3, 4 with the Beginner cards, then explore the full alphabet and numbers 1 to 10 with the Advanced cards.
Each game of CARIBOO takes about 10 to 15 minutes to play. Appropriate for 4 and Above
4. Finders Keepers--Be the first to find the hidden objects. Choose 3 picture cards from the card keeper. One, two, three, go! All players at
once hurry to locate and place colored chips on the matching pictures on the game board. Whoever is successful gets to claim the picture
card. Play as many rounds as you want - whoever wins the most cards wins the game! Appropriate for 4-7 years old
5. ThinkFun Zingo--Players try to fill their Zingo! cards with matching tiles from the Zingo Zinger. The first player to fill his/her card wins!
Rules can be adjusted to favor more or less competition among players, and to vary length of time that each game takes to play. Zingo
teaches shape and pattern recognition, as well as observation, and short-term memory. Appropriate for 4 - 8
6. Blockus--Blokus encourages creative thinking. The goal of this game is for players to fit all of their pieces onto the board. When placing a
piece it may not lie adjacent to the player's other pieces, but must be placed touching at least one corner of their pieces already on the
board. The player who gets rid of all of their tiles first is the winner. Four players make this abstract game especially fast and exciting;
however, it can be just as fun for two or three players. A game of Blokus typically lasts 30 minutes. Appropriate for 5 and up
7. Gobblet and Gobblet Jr. Gobblet--a four-in-a-row, tic-tac-toe game where you can move pieces around the board to increase your
chances of winning - or losing. Simply move your piece to a vacant spot, or gobble up an opponent's smaller piece to gain the advantage. In
Gobblet Jr. you are working on getting 3 in a row. Gobblet is for 7 and above, while Gobblet Jr. is for 5 and above
8. Qwirkle--This game combines well-thought out strategy with quick-thinking challenges. Qwirkle is played by creating rows and columns
of matching colors and shapes. Since the simple play requires no reading, the whole gang can connect shapes and colors making the
strategic multiple-tile moves that earn maximum points. Appropriate for 6 and up
9. Apples to Apples, Apples to Apples Jr. and Apples to Apples 7+--The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges,"
and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which
have a noun printed on them, and the judge draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each
player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she
likes best. Apples to Apples is for 12 and above; Apples to Apples Jr. is for children 9 and above; and Apples to Apples +7 for children is for 7
and above.
10. Stupiduel--Stupiduel is a simple but entertaining storytelling game. Use your hand of item and modifier cards to construct a diabolical
weapon (such as "1000 electrified hamsters") with which to attack a fellow player. Then you must tell a story about how you will use this
implausible but fearsome weapon to destroy your opponent. The other player gets to build a defensive item in the same way (maybe a
"radioactive garden gnome") and describe how it prevents or deflects the attack. The rest of the group then decides who is the winner of the
battle. Appropriate for 12 and above
During these cold winter months, nothing is better than sitting down as a family and playing games. It gives you a chance to be together,
talk, laugh and have fun.
Playing in the dining room, at the kitchen table, or on the family room floor creates a whole different family dynamic than other activities.
Conversations can start to happen -- you may learn things about your child academically or socially that you didn't know. It works much better
than asking "what happened at school today", when you get that blank look like you are crazy or something.
When playing games, children learn to play as a team -- and they learn you don't always win. That's something, in this day and age, we don't
teach our children very well. We set up school and sports environments so that our children always succeed. But in the real world, that does
not always happen.
According to, Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child psychiatrist and coauthor of The Over-Scheduled Child and four other books other benefits from
games include: * Number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting * Letter recognition and reading * Visual perception and color
recognition * Eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity * Improved verbal communication * Increased ability to focus and lengthen
attention span
Most traditional board games are not appropriate for children younger than 5 years old; they're not cognitively ready to handle all of the rules.
However, there are some new games in the market designed specifically for 4-5 year olds that are great fun. The best games are not
"characterfied". High School Musical and Dora the Explorer don't have staying power. In five to ten years, when you go to pull out the games
over a long holiday weekend--no one will even remember High School Musical.
Most games with electronics lose some of their educational value. Monopoly without the money and the banker just isn't the same. If what
you want is time with your family then you don't want to purchase games that are played on the computer. The idea of family time, is that you
are sitting around together playing and laughing and having fun.
Below are 10 games all added to the market in the last eight years. They all meet the criteria that they don't have batteries, you don't use a
computer to play them, the designer's created them with child development in mind, and they have staying power. You will want to continue
to play them for many years.
The games are listed in age appropriate order and the description comes from the manufactures.
1. Zimbbos--Use your creativity and Sense of Balance to Build the Most Elephantastic Pyramid. Taking turns, roll the die to find out how
many elephants you have to add to the pyramid. The player who puts the last elephant on the pyramid wins the game. It is a classic stacking
game where kids can develop their spatial relationships and test motor skills. Appropriate for 3 to 8 years old
2. Horton Hears a Who! - You to the Rescue!--Go on a wild adventure to save the Whos! Put on the Horton hat and race around the house to
find the clovers where the tiny Whos live. Pick them up with your trunk?then hurry back before time runs out! The player who rescues the
most Whos is the winner! Appropriate for is 4-8 year olds
3. CARIBOO--In Cariboo you enjoy the thrill of unlocking secret doors and discovering hidden treasures! The matching activities in this game
combines laugh-out-loud fun with four early-learning fundamentals -- letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. And, it grows with your child.
Kids practice A, B, C and 1, 2, 3, 4 with the Beginner cards, then explore the full alphabet and numbers 1 to 10 with the Advanced cards.
Each game of CARIBOO takes about 10 to 15 minutes to play. Appropriate for 4 and Above
4. Finders Keepers--Be the first to find the hidden objects. Choose 3 picture cards from the card keeper. One, two, three, go! All players at
once hurry to locate and place colored chips on the matching pictures on the game board. Whoever is successful gets to claim the picture
card. Play as many rounds as you want - whoever wins the most cards wins the game! Appropriate for 4-7 years old
5. ThinkFun Zingo--Players try to fill their Zingo! cards with matching tiles from the Zingo Zinger. The first player to fill his/her card wins!
Rules can be adjusted to favor more or less competition among players, and to vary length of time that each game takes to play. Zingo
teaches shape and pattern recognition, as well as observation, and short-term memory. Appropriate for 4 - 8
6. Blockus--Blokus encourages creative thinking. The goal of this game is for players to fit all of their pieces onto the board. When placing a
piece it may not lie adjacent to the player's other pieces, but must be placed touching at least one corner of their pieces already on the
board. The player who gets rid of all of their tiles first is the winner. Four players make this abstract game especially fast and exciting;
however, it can be just as fun for two or three players. A game of Blokus typically lasts 30 minutes. Appropriate for 5 and up
7. Gobblet and Gobblet Jr. Gobblet--a four-in-a-row, tic-tac-toe game where you can move pieces around the board to increase your
chances of winning - or losing. Simply move your piece to a vacant spot, or gobble up an opponent's smaller piece to gain the advantage. In
Gobblet Jr. you are working on getting 3 in a row. Gobblet is for 7 and above, while Gobblet Jr. is for 5 and above
8. Qwirkle--This game combines well-thought out strategy with quick-thinking challenges. Qwirkle is played by creating rows and columns
of matching colors and shapes. Since the simple play requires no reading, the whole gang can connect shapes and colors making the
strategic multiple-tile moves that earn maximum points. Appropriate for 6 and up
9. Apples to Apples, Apples to Apples Jr. and Apples to Apples 7+--The name of the game is a play on the phrase "apples to oranges,"
and the game is about making comparisons between different things. General game play is as follows: players are dealt red cards which
have a noun printed on them, and the judge draws a green card on which an adjective is printed and places it for all players to see. Each
player then chooses a red card they are holding that they think best describes the green card. The judge then decides which adjective she
likes best. Apples to Apples is for 12 and above; Apples to Apples Jr. is for children 9 and above; and Apples to Apples +7 for children is for 7
and above.
10. Stupiduel--Stupiduel is a simple but entertaining storytelling game. Use your hand of item and modifier cards to construct a diabolical
weapon (such as "1000 electrified hamsters") with which to attack a fellow player. Then you must tell a story about how you will use this
implausible but fearsome weapon to destroy your opponent. The other player gets to build a defensive item in the same way (maybe a
"radioactive garden gnome") and describe how it prevents or deflects the attack. The rest of the group then decides who is the winner of the
battle. Appropriate for 12 and above
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Toy Industry Making Changes Due to Economy--5 Trends to Watch
Toy Fair 2009 has finished its run. Toy Fair is where the toy industry gathers. Often manufacturers can do an entire year’s worth of business
in the four day the trade show operates. With over 20,000 attendees, 350,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 products with over 7,000
never before seen in the world, 1200+ exhibitors, and 1000 global media representatives, you can see that toys are a serious business.
I spent three days at Toy Fair this year. As the consumer cannot attend Toy Fair, I wanted to share with you what I see as the trends in the toy
industry. While I can’t say that I saw all 100,000 products, I certainly walked every inch of the exhibit space, all 350,000 square feet of it. I
came away with what I see as five trends that we will see reflected on toy shelves and they all have to do with the economy.
1. Less New Toys—There will be less new toys this year. I noticed that many manufacturers have not expanded their line and are focusing
on their basics. There appeared to be fewer newer manufacturers, especially in the small entrepreneur category. Although, there are
certainly those mompreneur that are committed to getting their product to the market regardless of the economy. They feel that strongly
about their product.
2. Games—Games are what is hot this year. Games for very young children, games for children of all ages, family games, electronic
games, adult games, games to play by yourself, games to play with a crowd. The industry sees a trend that we are going to be going out
less. We will entertain at home and they are betting that we will purchase more games to play while we are hanging out at home.
3. Green—Green and organic toys continue to grow. This was the niche where people did expand their line. Manufactures went out of their
way to tell you where their product was made, what it was made with, how it was packaged, and more. If you are interested in green
products you will be pleased with what you will see at the toy stores.
4. Repackaging—Manufacturers know that we have less money to spend so they are repackaging or redesigning to lower the price point.
For instance, you will be able to purchase 50 blocks in a set instead of 100 blocks. There were also a lot of smaller art kits. Another
company took the electronics out of their toy to lower the price. People are also looking for ways to package their toy differently to lower their
costs.
5. Special Needs—In this economy, the manufacturers know that they need to find new markets to sell to. The Special Needs community is
growing and the toy industry is noticing. Many more people were talking about how their toy could be used for a child with a disability.
Parents who are raising children with disabilities are going to benefit from this if the retail toy stores market the products well.
Toy Fair 2009 has finished its run. Toy Fair is where the toy industry gathers. Often manufacturers can do an entire year’s worth of business
in the four day the trade show operates. With over 20,000 attendees, 350,000 square feet of exhibit space, 100,000 products with over 7,000
never before seen in the world, 1200+ exhibitors, and 1000 global media representatives, you can see that toys are a serious business.
I spent three days at Toy Fair this year. As the consumer cannot attend Toy Fair, I wanted to share with you what I see as the trends in the toy
industry. While I can’t say that I saw all 100,000 products, I certainly walked every inch of the exhibit space, all 350,000 square feet of it. I
came away with what I see as five trends that we will see reflected on toy shelves and they all have to do with the economy.
1. Less New Toys—There will be less new toys this year. I noticed that many manufacturers have not expanded their line and are focusing
on their basics. There appeared to be fewer newer manufacturers, especially in the small entrepreneur category. Although, there are
certainly those mompreneur that are committed to getting their product to the market regardless of the economy. They feel that strongly
about their product.
2. Games—Games are what is hot this year. Games for very young children, games for children of all ages, family games, electronic
games, adult games, games to play by yourself, games to play with a crowd. The industry sees a trend that we are going to be going out
less. We will entertain at home and they are betting that we will purchase more games to play while we are hanging out at home.
3. Green—Green and organic toys continue to grow. This was the niche where people did expand their line. Manufactures went out of their
way to tell you where their product was made, what it was made with, how it was packaged, and more. If you are interested in green
products you will be pleased with what you will see at the toy stores.
4. Repackaging—Manufacturers know that we have less money to spend so they are repackaging or redesigning to lower the price point.
For instance, you will be able to purchase 50 blocks in a set instead of 100 blocks. There were also a lot of smaller art kits. Another
company took the electronics out of their toy to lower the price. People are also looking for ways to package their toy differently to lower their
costs.
5. Special Needs—In this economy, the manufacturers know that they need to find new markets to sell to. The Special Needs community is
growing and the toy industry is noticing. Many more people were talking about how their toy could be used for a child with a disability.
Parents who are raising children with disabilities are going to benefit from this if the retail toy stores market the products well.
Welcome Children with Autism on Your Playground using these Simple Planning Tips
When designing a playground to include children with autism, you must understand that there is a spectrum of severity and every child is
different. Some children have a more moderate type of autism, while others will have more severe symptoms. There are other diagnoses
on the spectrum, most commonly Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Some researchers even put ADHD and
ADD on the spectrum. Despite the differences along the spectrum, there are common symptoms between people with autism and one of
those is that 95% of people diagnosed on the spectrum have Sensory Processing Disorders.
Dr. A. Jean Ayres is generally credited with developing both a theory of sensory integration dysfunction, now called Sensory Processing
Disorder, and the therapeutic interventions for children who have it. Her work emphasizes the importance of three of the senses: tactile (the
sense of touch), vestibular (the sense of movement and gravity), and proprioceptive (the sense of how our body works—muscle and joint
information).
People with Sensory Processing Disorders maybe hyper-responsive to sensory input meaning they overreact. While other people maybe
hypo-responsive to sensory input meaning they under-react. In many people it is a combination of both. This leads us to the fact that every
child is an individual. Therefore, just like every other child, children with autism react differently and enjoy different activities on the
playground. However, we can take some information about the three senses talked about above and make some general observations of
what should go into a playground that actively welcomes children with autism.
1. The playground should be fenced so that when a child feels the need to flee from over-stimulation, he isn't able to leave the area.
2. The playground should include nature—gardens, grassy areas, trees, etc. Recent studies from University of Illinois found that a walk in
nature helps children with ADHD stay attentive.
3. The safety surfacing must meet or exceed all guidelines. Children, who do not feel their senses strongly, may want to climb as high as
they can go and jump off. The intense fall enables them to feel the impact. They may not recognize the danger so it is important that the
safety surfacing material is maintained on a regular basis.
4. There should be quiet areas where a child may go to regroup when she is over stimulated. This quiet area can be made through
landscaping or the use of playground equipment, such as a playhouse.
5. The playground equipment should be spaced a little further apart enabling the child to play without touching or being touched by another
child.
6. There should be playground equipment that swings, goes around in circles, and enables children to climb and jump. These activities
help children with both their vestibular and proprioceptive systems.
7. There should be equipment such as monkey bars where a child can hang. This puts pressure on their muscles and joints and helps to
develop the proprioceptive system.
8. Parents who are raising children with autism often talk about how much their children like to slide, so it is important to keep slides in
your playground. You might want to include different types of slides since different types of slides often provide different sensory input.
9. For tactile input, sand and water activities work well. You might want to include a very large sandbox, where a child could cover himself
with sand. The weight of the sand will calm some children.
10. There should be play activities that the child can do by himself, while keeping out of the major line of traffic. Play panels such as tic-tac -
toe, or a marble maze, often can meet this need.
11. Children with autism often need to work on where their body is in space. Crawling through tunnels is a good activity for this. It may be
important to have windows in the tunnels for the caregiver to watch and provide assistance if needed.
These are some beginning thoughts for designing a playground for children with autism. But as always when planning a playground it is
important to have members of your community involved in the planning. Some people you might want to include on your planning team to
ensure you get good feedback on the needs of children with autism are parents (especially parents), Occupational Therapists who
specialist in Sensory Processing Disorders, and Physical Therapists. You may also want to find a few children with autism that are willing
to give you their input as they are the ones who will be using the playground.
When the needs of children with disabilities are taken into account at the beginning of the design process, you end up with a playground
that can be enjoyed by everyone in your community.
When designing a playground to include children with autism, you must understand that there is a spectrum of severity and every child is
different. Some children have a more moderate type of autism, while others will have more severe symptoms. There are other diagnoses
on the spectrum, most commonly Asperger's Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Some researchers even put ADHD and
ADD on the spectrum. Despite the differences along the spectrum, there are common symptoms between people with autism and one of
those is that 95% of people diagnosed on the spectrum have Sensory Processing Disorders.
Dr. A. Jean Ayres is generally credited with developing both a theory of sensory integration dysfunction, now called Sensory Processing
Disorder, and the therapeutic interventions for children who have it. Her work emphasizes the importance of three of the senses: tactile (the
sense of touch), vestibular (the sense of movement and gravity), and proprioceptive (the sense of how our body works—muscle and joint
information).
People with Sensory Processing Disorders maybe hyper-responsive to sensory input meaning they overreact. While other people maybe
hypo-responsive to sensory input meaning they under-react. In many people it is a combination of both. This leads us to the fact that every
child is an individual. Therefore, just like every other child, children with autism react differently and enjoy different activities on the
playground. However, we can take some information about the three senses talked about above and make some general observations of
what should go into a playground that actively welcomes children with autism.
1. The playground should be fenced so that when a child feels the need to flee from over-stimulation, he isn't able to leave the area.
2. The playground should include nature—gardens, grassy areas, trees, etc. Recent studies from University of Illinois found that a walk in
nature helps children with ADHD stay attentive.
3. The safety surfacing must meet or exceed all guidelines. Children, who do not feel their senses strongly, may want to climb as high as
they can go and jump off. The intense fall enables them to feel the impact. They may not recognize the danger so it is important that the
safety surfacing material is maintained on a regular basis.
4. There should be quiet areas where a child may go to regroup when she is over stimulated. This quiet area can be made through
landscaping or the use of playground equipment, such as a playhouse.
5. The playground equipment should be spaced a little further apart enabling the child to play without touching or being touched by another
child.
6. There should be playground equipment that swings, goes around in circles, and enables children to climb and jump. These activities
help children with both their vestibular and proprioceptive systems.
7. There should be equipment such as monkey bars where a child can hang. This puts pressure on their muscles and joints and helps to
develop the proprioceptive system.
8. Parents who are raising children with autism often talk about how much their children like to slide, so it is important to keep slides in
your playground. You might want to include different types of slides since different types of slides often provide different sensory input.
9. For tactile input, sand and water activities work well. You might want to include a very large sandbox, where a child could cover himself
with sand. The weight of the sand will calm some children.
10. There should be play activities that the child can do by himself, while keeping out of the major line of traffic. Play panels such as tic-tac -
toe, or a marble maze, often can meet this need.
11. Children with autism often need to work on where their body is in space. Crawling through tunnels is a good activity for this. It may be
important to have windows in the tunnels for the caregiver to watch and provide assistance if needed.
These are some beginning thoughts for designing a playground for children with autism. But as always when planning a playground it is
important to have members of your community involved in the planning. Some people you might want to include on your planning team to
ensure you get good feedback on the needs of children with autism are parents (especially parents), Occupational Therapists who
specialist in Sensory Processing Disorders, and Physical Therapists. You may also want to find a few children with autism that are willing
to give you their input as they are the ones who will be using the playground.
When the needs of children with disabilities are taken into account at the beginning of the design process, you end up with a playground
that can be enjoyed by everyone in your community.
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Ten Caring and Sensitive Ways for You to Support a Family who is Raising a
If you are someone who loves and wants to support a friend or family member who has a
child with a disability here are some suggestions.
When a child is born--say "Congratulations. He/she is beautiful". Not I'm sorry or any other
thing that pities. Don't ask what is wrong with the child and when will he/she get better.
Instead ask, "What is the doctor saying about a diagnosis?" "Can you tell me more about
what is happening?"
Don't ever say, "You are such a special person, God only gives children like this to people
who are strong enough to handle it" This not always true. There are many parents who can't
handle it. It is hard! Mother Theresa said when people would say that about her, "I know
God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
Here is a wonderful way that an on-line friend recently offered support to a parent who has
a child with profound disabilities. "You have our support. Although, I have no idea the
struggles you have faced as a family I know what it is to love a son....know I am here to
listen. I like learning and I believe you have a lot to teach! And you can count on us being
there for you."
So what does it mean to "Be there for you"?
1. It can mean just listening.
2. It can mean going on the Internet and learning more about the disability so that you can
understand the new language the family is learning.
3. It means asking questions (when the time is right) and really listening to the answers.
4. It means asking the parent to show you the child's routine so that you can help if the
parent isn't available.
5. It can be the offer to babysit or provide respite care--and mean it. Ask the parent what
date you should put on your calendar to come over to babysit, because they won't ask you.
6. It can be getting as mad as the parent when a doctor, teacher, school district does
something stupid or insensitive.
7. It can mean rejoicing when something good happens. Recently a 3-year-old child with
Down Syndrome learned to clap. Clapping is a huge neurological milestone. So instead of
saying that's nice or hasn't she clapped before--go and buy a bottle of wine and celebrate
this milestone. It is as if another child just got accepted to the college of their choice.
8. It can be understanding the implications of when the alternative caregiver, like a nurse,
doesn't show up. How that one person having her own family emergency, puts your friend's
family out of sorts, raises the stress, and cause the entire family's schedule to be changed.
9. It can be offering to transport the siblings to play practice or soccer or whatever, even if it
is a little out of the way. That way the family who is raising the child with a disability doesn't
have to load everyone in the car with all the equipment or all the behavior and the sibling
doesn't have to miss out on their life.
10. It means never using the word "retard" or "retarded" and stopping anyone else you hear
using the word. It is a very offensive word. You might want to do research on "First Person
Language."
Sometimes it means bringing ice cream. The most caring and meaningful thing that ever
happen to my family on our journey, was when my son was just diagnosed. Our next door
neighbors came over with a variety of types of ice cream, bowls and spoons. We just sat on
the porch and ate ice cream and didn't say anything at all. But they were there and we knew
that they were there and at that moment that was all we needed.
Many families are happy to answer questions about their child and what it is like to be a
parent of a child with a disability. So feel free to ask. However, some parents aren't there yet
and may never be. So tread lightly and bring Ice Cream!!
If you are someone who loves and wants to support a friend or family member who has a
child with a disability here are some suggestions.
When a child is born--say "Congratulations. He/she is beautiful". Not I'm sorry or any other
thing that pities. Don't ask what is wrong with the child and when will he/she get better.
Instead ask, "What is the doctor saying about a diagnosis?" "Can you tell me more about
what is happening?"
Don't ever say, "You are such a special person, God only gives children like this to people
who are strong enough to handle it" This not always true. There are many parents who can't
handle it. It is hard! Mother Theresa said when people would say that about her, "I know
God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
Here is a wonderful way that an on-line friend recently offered support to a parent who has
a child with profound disabilities. "You have our support. Although, I have no idea the
struggles you have faced as a family I know what it is to love a son....know I am here to
listen. I like learning and I believe you have a lot to teach! And you can count on us being
there for you."
So what does it mean to "Be there for you"?
1. It can mean just listening.
2. It can mean going on the Internet and learning more about the disability so that you can
understand the new language the family is learning.
3. It means asking questions (when the time is right) and really listening to the answers.
4. It means asking the parent to show you the child's routine so that you can help if the
parent isn't available.
5. It can be the offer to babysit or provide respite care--and mean it. Ask the parent what
date you should put on your calendar to come over to babysit, because they won't ask you.
6. It can be getting as mad as the parent when a doctor, teacher, school district does
something stupid or insensitive.
7. It can mean rejoicing when something good happens. Recently a 3-year-old child with
Down Syndrome learned to clap. Clapping is a huge neurological milestone. So instead of
saying that's nice or hasn't she clapped before--go and buy a bottle of wine and celebrate
this milestone. It is as if another child just got accepted to the college of their choice.
8. It can be understanding the implications of when the alternative caregiver, like a nurse,
doesn't show up. How that one person having her own family emergency, puts your friend's
family out of sorts, raises the stress, and cause the entire family's schedule to be changed.
9. It can be offering to transport the siblings to play practice or soccer or whatever, even if it
is a little out of the way. That way the family who is raising the child with a disability doesn't
have to load everyone in the car with all the equipment or all the behavior and the sibling
doesn't have to miss out on their life.
10. It means never using the word "retard" or "retarded" and stopping anyone else you hear
using the word. It is a very offensive word. You might want to do research on "First Person
Language."
Sometimes it means bringing ice cream. The most caring and meaningful thing that ever
happen to my family on our journey, was when my son was just diagnosed. Our next door
neighbors came over with a variety of types of ice cream, bowls and spoons. We just sat on
the porch and ate ice cream and didn't say anything at all. But they were there and we knew
that they were there and at that moment that was all we needed.
Many families are happy to answer questions about their child and what it is like to be a
parent of a child with a disability. So feel free to ask. However, some parents aren't there yet
and may never be. So tread lightly and bring Ice Cream!!
Articles Written by Mara Kaplan
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