Care Free Fun: 5 Fun and Family-Friendly Activities for Children With Special Needs

14 March 2019

54 million people have special needs in the United States.

The same source says that around 2.8 million of those are children between the age of 5 and 15.

That’s a lot of unique young people looking to have fun in their spare time! Kids have masses of energy to burn at the best of times. However, the specific additional requirements of children with special needs can vary widely, and affect the activities they enjoy accordingly.

It’s always helpful to have some fun ideas up your sleeve that’ll ensure everyone’s entertained!

Keep reading to discover 5 awesome activities for children with special needs.

5 Awesome Activities for Children with Special Needs:

Check out these ideas for some extra special entertainment. For some extra help, here’s a great special needs planner!

1. Get Out Into Nature:

Nature

The outdoors is often ideally suited for kids with special needs.

Sensory experience is sometimes vital stimulation. The wind, smells, sounds and sights of nature are all valuable distractions for high-energy children!

Likewise, many organizations have set up nature experiences for kids with special needs. There are accessible walkways, activities, and playgrounds, filled with other kids and families having fun.

2. Go to a Story Time Workshop:

Most children love story time.

However, sitting quietly in one place can sometimes be difficult, especially where special needs come into play.

Storytime workshops (often found in libraries) offer a great alternative. A combination of stories, singing, and other sensory activities are sure to keep your kids happy and engaged.

Likewise, you could do the same at home. Sing and dance your way around a story!

3. Get Creative:

Some of the most artistic people in the world have special needs.

Celebrate that by getting creative with your kids. Get out the paper, pens, and paints. Try finger painting, body painting and other methods that involve sensory experiences.

You can also find special coloring pencils and crayons. These are designed to help a child with certain special needs to hold them.

4. Get Immersed in the Senses:

We’ve already noted the importance of sensory experience to some special needs children.

Immersion rooms are specifically designed to cater for this enjoyment. Every sense is covered. Special lighting, sounds, tactile experiences, and so on, are all in one room.

5. Go to a Special Film Showing:

Children often love watching films.

However, special needs children might struggle to sit down for long periods, or dislike the loud noises, and low lighting. Special needs film showings address these factors.

Kids can walk, talk and play, all while a film runs in the background.

Time to Wrap Up:

There you have it: 5 top activities for children with special needs.

Millions of people in the US walk through life with special needs. A significant number of them are children. Every child has the right to a fun-filled childhood, regardless of the personal challenges they may face.

Thankfully, these days there’s no limit to the number of opportunities available to make that happen. Hopefully, the ideas above have provided inspiration for your next day out with your own children!

Did you like this piece? Click here to read how to support family and friends with special needs.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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Mobile Storage – 5 Steps for Packing Your Belongings Safely

Shifting to a new house or relocating to a new place can be exciting. However, the move can be equally challenging considering the amount of work that comes associated with packing your belongings. Even with the comfort of a portable storage unit that carefully transports your household stuff, you will have to plan how you will be packing things. Forgetting stuff is pretty common, but a proactive approach in packing your belongings can help save you from numerous troubles. To ease relocating for you, here is a dive into some easy-to-follow tips that can help you pack your mobile storage unit. 1. Craft a plan: Unfortunately, packing involves much more than gathering and boxing up all of your belongings in any manner that suits you. For instance, all the clothing items go together. You can’t jumble clothing items with your shoe collection and add a layer of stuffed toys over it. You will need to make a rough outline of what you need to do. Start with deciding which items you want to transport to your targeted destination. Sift through your belongings and check out what you plan to donate. Once you have separated the items to move from the items to donate or give away, you can start bundling different categories of household items together. 2. Get the packing material: Your belongings can easily get damaged during transportation. To prevent that, it’s best to load your cart with packing material. Some of the packing essentials that you will need to include quality boxes in various sizes, bungee cords, plastic containers, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, moving bands, appliance wraps, and more. Blankets and pillows can also help safeguard your belongings. You will need a permanent marker too because labeling packed boxes can help you keep track of your belongings. What’s more, you will need to rent a mobile storage unit for transporting your stuff. 3. Rent a suitable mobile storage unit: Remember that portable storage containers come in multiple sizes. So, you will have to research the size that you need as per the items that you want to move. To give you an example, ALTA Storage Edmonton, offers containers that are 16 feet in length and 8 feet tall by 7 ½ feet width. It’s best to discuss your storage needs with the company though, so it can make recommendations regarding the size of the container that you will need. 4. Prepare your belongings for moving: When packing your stuff, be mindful about using all the space available to you. Pack boxes to their optimal capacity, ensuring that the top and sides of the boxes neither cave in nor bulge out when closed. If there are still small pockets of space left, then fill them up with packing paper. Seal the bottom of the boxes with tape. Moreover, put the heavy items in small boxes for easy lifting. On the flip side, pack the lightweight items in large boxes. Additionally, use bubble wraps to pack mirrors and pictures. Similarly, cover your mattresses with mattress covers to prevent damage. Use plastic wrap to pack and protect soft furniture. Don’t forget to tie electrical cords to prevent tripping. Take particular care of your electronics when packing them. Bubble wrap appliances and place them in different boxes. 5. Load your stuff into the portable storage container: During your packing process, prepare an inventory of all the items, writing out what goes where. While labeling boxes is already a useful move, an inventory will help you keep tabs on your belongings in case you are shifting items in two different containers. When you get to loading your packed belonging into the container, use all the available space from top to bottom and side to side as well. Don’t load all heavy items in one spot. Instead, distribute the weight of heavy and lightweight items throughout the mobile unit. At the same time, place the heavy items at the bottom and position lightweight content over it. Also, mix all the small- and large-sized boxes to prevent leaving any spaces. This will assist in reducing the odds of the boxes moving and getting damaged extensively during transport. Bottom line: Researchers highlight that 73% of the commonly transported items are household goods with electronic office equipment chipping in 20% to the share of moved goods. Regardless of what you’re shifting though, make sure that you pack your belongings properly to minimize damage. Read Also: Moving House? Here’s The Ultimate Checklist How To Pack Clothing Properly For Shipping Feature Image: Source

Signs that You’re Going to Marry the Right Person

We hope that you will find the person that you will spend the rest of your life with - somebody who will build a family with you. You should marry someone who has a vision for the future. You take enough time to get to know each other before you decide to settle down. Even then, you’re still uncertain if you have a keeper on your hands. Sometimes you do whatever you like, and other times you do...what the other person wants. That is part of being in a strong relationship. However, you also required to spend time doing something that you both enjoy doing mutually. Whether that's traveling, wine tasting, binge-watching your preferred TV series, or even working unitedly, this is one of the most powerful, and simple, signs that you are joined to the right person. There are a few things that you should know before you marry someone. There are many signs that you married the wrong person. You need to consider these things to know if you have someone who deserves to tie the knot with you. You have the same views about starting a family Before, it wasn’t an issue. People got married because they wanted to start a family. These days, some couples just want companionship. Having kids isn’t a priority. Therefore, if it’s a big deal for you to have kids, you shouldn’t marry someone firm in not having any. The issue will keep coming up and will be a source of unnecessary fights. You might have different parenting styles and views, but you can deal with them easily. If you differ significantly about the idea of having kids, it’s a different story. You understand each other’s quirky attitudes You will always have a negative aspect that most people find annoying. Or You tend to hide it at first, especially if you're into someone. However, at some point, that side will get revealed. If it's not a deal-breaker for your partner, it's a sign that you're compatible. Some people might say that a good partner will help you change. The truth is that you also need someone who tolerates you and accepts you for who you are. If you want to change, it needs to be on your terms and not because your partner told you to do so. Between things like job and your kids, you don't regularly have the time to make your spouse a preference. When you're with the best person, though, that's not the crisis. It could be utterly saying "I love you," cleaning the vessels after dinner or getting them to that new restaurant they've been craving to try out. The person has dreams and ambitions No matter how crazy these dreams are, it’s good to know that you’re going to marry someone who has a vision for the future. You can’t settle down with a person who is already happy with the status quo. Even You can’t allow yourself to get derailed by someone who has no plans in life. You also don’t want to put all your dreams on hold because you have a partner who doesn’t seem to care. Even the greatest connection can end in a break up due to financial discords and matters. You should both be on the equal page when it befalls to your financial purposes, such as how much cash you need to live a joyful and stress-free life and how you're working to save for solitude. However, there are endless-term dreams and ambitions that you should share. For example, if you want to have children but your partner doesn't, that could have dangerous implications for your wedding. Having dreams and ambitions in our life is very important for both partners. You can see your future to a great extent through dreams and ambitions. A person who has dreams and ambitions is the right person for you and you can trust him/her throughout your life. You can be honest with this person Honesty is the foundation of every relationship. Without honesty, it means there's a lack of trust. If you've been together for several years and you still can't trust your partner, it means your relationship won't work out. If you already lie now, it could get even worse later. You should get out of the relationship if it's something that forces you to be who you're not or to keep how you truly feel inside. I think honesty is the MOST important thing for a relationship to last and grow. It is a reason for everything else and is significant in all areas of a couples’ life unitedly. It is necessary when discussing and making judgments about children, finances, work, and cultural life, everything else is fractionable and unstable. These are only some indications that you have found the one. It doesn’t mean you will stay together forever, but you can at least feel confident that you’re heading in the right direction. You can now start the wedding plans. Don’t forget to hire Omaha wedding photographers and capture every aspect of the wedding. Read Also: How To Get Copy Of A Divorce Decree 3 Tips For An Amazing Wedding Reception 5 Reasons Why Girls Should Propose To Boys How To Get Maximal Value From Your Couples Therapy

10 Helpful Kid Closet Organization Hacks

Every parent knows how hard it is to keep their kid's room clean. In a matter of minutes, a perfectly clean space and be destroyed by little hands. This applies to closets as well. But the good news is there are things you can do to keep your child's closet more organized. We've gathered the top 10 helpful kid closet organization hacks you can try out at home. Check them out below! 1. Start with the Essentials : When doing any sort of home or DIY project, you have to make sure you have all the supplies you need. This totally applies when it comes to kid closet organization. The good news is that you don't have to spend a lot of time creating or assembling things. Most of these items are available at local stores and are simple to implement. Here's a basic list of things you may need: Kid-sized hangers (Adult ones are too big and will lead to disorganization) A hamper Storage baskets Drawer inserts Hooks for the wall Shelf dividers Head to your local home decor store and you will be on your way to complete closet organization. 2. Utilize Storage Bins : Another kid closet organization hack is to add extra storage. As you've dealt with your child's closet, you probably have noticed that there's not enough storage space. This is a common problem. But there are many solutions! The biggest thing is choosing what kind of storage solution that you need. Do you have young children who can't reach their hangers? Or do your kids have a lot of toys and nowhere to keep them? Perhaps you have two kids sharing one closet. No matter what, adding storage is your solution. Here are some potential options: Bins Baskets Extra wire shelves Rubbermaid containers 3. Have a Designated Place for Shoes : Have you ever walked into your kid's room and found pair after pair of little shoes lying around on the floor? This is a common frustration for many parents. One way to solve this problem is to have a designated place for shoes in your little one's closet. You could have a specific basket on the floor of their closet that your kids can easily access. Another way to organize their shoes is to have a specific shelf that they can reach that is for shoes only. 4. Develop a Hanging System : It can be hard for kids to pick out clothes when there is no organization system in place. One way to fix this problem is to come up with a hanging system. One idea is to hang them by category. You can split things up according to these styles: Short sleeve shirts Long sleeve shirts Tank tops Dress shirts Dresses Shorts Pants Pajamas And any other categories they have You could also coordinate them by color if this system is too complicated. Either way, this is a great kid closet organization hack. Your kids will know exactly where to put their clothes, whether they're Nicki's Gucci for kids or their pajamas. 5. Another Kid Closet Organization Hack: Go Vertical : Some closets are so small or are so packed already that there's no room for extra shelves or bins. In this case, consider going vertical with your storage. One great way to do this is to utilize the door. Pick up an inexpensive shoe organizer that hangs on the back of the door. This can be used to store a variety of things, including shoes, clothes, and toys. If you have a baby, you could keep diapers, wipes, or onesies in a shoe organizer as well. And the best part is that you're not taking up any shelf space with it! 6. Label it All : With so many bins and baskets, it can be hard to keep things straight. That's why labeling is a great idea. If you have a label maker, this is super easy. Just create different ones for toys, shirts, pants, etc. If you don't have a label maker, that's totally fine as well! You can create them just using paper. Then just glue or pin the labels to each storage container. This will make your life much simpler! 7. Double Your Hanging Space : Many apartments and homes only have one closet rod and, usually, it's up high. For little ones, these are often impossible to reach. That's where closet doubler rods come in handy. You can install them below the normal rod and they're not that hard to do. Having this means your kids can reach their clothes easier but it also doubles their amount of hanging space. 8. Color Coordinate Bins : If your kids can't read yet, labels will do very little to help them organize. Instead, consider color-coordinating their storage bins. For example, red could be for books, blue could be for toys, and yellow could be for shoes. Whatever you decide to do as far as colors, help your child understand the difference between the various containers. 9. Keep Two Extra Containers in Their Closet : If you're like most parents, you have a lot of clothes for your child. Some they have outgrown and others they haven't grown into yet. These can cause a lot of clutter in your kid's closet if you're not careful. That's why it's a great idea to always keep 2 large containers, one for each category. That way it's all organized. This is especially great if you have more than one child. This makes organizing hand me downs much easier. 10. Stop Sibling Fights : Did you know that the average pair of siblings fight or argue 3.5 times every single hour? As a parent, you want to do everything you can to stop this from happening! One great way is through keeping their closet organized. If you have kids that share a closet, divide the space. Make a clear division between their clothes to avoid unnecessary contention. Final Thoughts : Now that you've read through these closet organization hacks, it's time to implement them! Choose your favorites and try them out. Have questions? Feel free to contact us. Want to discover more parenting hacks? Check out our blog! Read Also : 10 Effective Homework Tips For Your Kids Things Every Employee Ought To Know About Medical And Family Leaves

Care Free Fun: 5 Fun and Family-Friendly Activities for Children With Special Needs