Home Based Creative Activities For All Children But Especially Those With Developmental Disorders.

Although the global pandemic seems to be levelling off and the promise of an effective vaccine is giving the world hope, the effects of the pandemic on families with special needs children and low income families are still being felt and will be for quite some time. The social and financial effects of the pandemic have left these families more vulnerable than ever. Where many other families are able to go out and relieve their pandemic boredom and the effects of the long term lockdown, families with special needs children and low income families don’t always have that option. In fact, many are still stuck at home looking for new ideas to keep their children busy and to help bring the family closer together.

The Environmental Effects On Children With Special Needs

The world around us has a very different effect on these children than it does on you or I. It can be difficult and unsettling for them to understand and adapt to the constant changing of rules during the pandemic, such as social distancing and wearing face masks, as seeing facial expressions. Receiving affection and consistent routines and structure is key for these children’s wellbeing.   

With that in mind, we are going to share some of our favourite DIY home activities for getting organised and decorating as a family. These activities are great for all families but are perfect for families with children living with the challenges of learning disabilities caused by developmental disorders such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Autism.

Your children’s bedroom is their safe and personal space which can create a positive impact on their perspective and behaviour. Everyone getting together and helping to decorate it as a family will make them feel even more special. Especially knowing that they can participate in small tasks such as choosing the colour of their room, sticking up posters and pictures or motifs. When choosing colourful wall decals bear in mind that for some children it is a good idea to avoid over stimulating environments.  For children who suffer from autism for example, you might want to choose minimal colours which have a calming effect on your child.

You can also decorate their room in the theme of their favourite character and save money doing it by purchasing character-themed birthday decorations. The Cushion - Bag With Rosie's Story Print With Educational Game from Totty And Py makes the perfect storage solution and a great finishing touch on your new personal design. The Rosie story is also great to read together as a family to your children, as it is useful for aiding the development of language through practicing the animal sounds together and helping your children to understand the story by encouraging them to put the story cards in the right order and answering the questions on the cards.

     By pulling together as a family and showing our children with disabilities that we care and that we want to help them get through their day as easily as possible, we can give them the same hope that we feel about the future of our post pandemic world.

Fun and Sustainable Home Activities For Families

     Whether your children are off for school break or holiday, or they are practicing distance learning due to the pandemic, there are some activities and games that you can do in your home, to keep everyone happy and helping.  The ideas below will be helpful to our children’s spatial awareness, organisation and fine motor skills.

Making houses out of old cardboard boxes and decorating them. This is a very economical and sustainable activity as you are teaching children about recycling and home organisation.  You can use any items you have found lying around the house while tidying and decluttering.

Baking cupcakes.  which is also great for family bonding and gives children the opportunity to work on their numeracy skills (e.g., counting ingredients, identifying whether bowls are empty or fool) in a creative way.

Making collages out of magazines and newspapers. This is another great activity for children who are more visually and creatively inclined. You can encourage children to design a house, their own room or outdoor space such as their garden, park or playground. This a fun way to express themselves and develop their special awareness.

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