hide-n-(sensory)-seeking

So this was an awesome Pinterest find that I was able to put together in less than 15 minutes! I happened to have all the supplies already which made it all the more awesome! Supplies: 1 Clear storage container (the lid for mine was white, so I simply turned the container upside down.) 1 string of twinkle lights (I used white, but different colors would create cool different effects) A strip of wax paper the length of the container (this makes the surface opaque, which diffuses the light more evenly) White duct tape ( any color would do, I just like the cleaner look of the white.) Use small strips of tape to secure the twinkle lights evenly arranged on the bottom of the container, or in my case to the lid, since that was going to be the bottom of our light box. Leave the length of wire with the plug loose and make sure you have arranged the lights so as to have the plug where you will have ease of access to an outlet. Secure the lid onto the cont...

Welcome back for a few more tidbits about Play Therapy! I love good ideas, and some of the best sources for good ideas come from other family's trial and errors. I can't even count how many inspirations I've gotten from reading blogs by other moms, from experiences of friends, and many other nifty suggestions from different ones. Often we tweak these and tailor them specifically to our own family's needs. Sometimes they work awesome, sometimes only so so, others not so well, or we put it on our maybe later list. Below is an idea I got from another mom, whose daughter is autistic, from  her post  about using our kids stims to help them learn new skills. Kitty Bitty loves things that spin so I loved this idea as soon as I saw it. I liked the simplicity of this set, and figured it might be a good way to encourage her to let the big kids help, and eventually she might enjoy it more independently. She has fun telling me which gears to add, though she...

First off, I have to share these adorable pictures! A few nights ago Kit was having an especially hard evening. She was over-tired, over-stimulated, brokenhearted that the kids had abandoned her to go to bed, really just one big, cranky, teary mess. So Daddy strapped on her sandals (which totally complemented her pjs), and took her outside for a change of scenery and some swinging time. It was the perfect cure! She  was much happier right away and after a little while she nodded off. What a clever Daddy!                Then Sunday he took her out to play while the kids and I tried to whip the house back into shape, but her early morning caught up with her. We may need to get another one of these for inside the house!     She never lets go, and didn't even drop her strawberry :) Okay, on Friday, I explained Zak's diagnosis , and I'm back now to explain what it has to do with Kit.   ...

Welcome to Wordy Wednesday!   Todays subject is:   SPINNING   When was the last time you spun? Did you do it accidentally or on purpose? Did you spin slow or fast? Were you dizzy? Does any of this matter?   Yes!   Spinning is a fast way to feed our vestibular system the input it needs. The average person occasionally enjoys a good spin, especially if you are spinning with a baby or toddler who is giggling up a storm. People with a well regulated vestibular system will also get dizzy after a relatively short period of time.   This is why dancers and gymnasts, and skaters learn to "spot", keeping their eye on a fixed point or object until the last possible moment and then bringing that spot back into focus as quickly as possible. Their heads and eyes actually remain still while the body rotates until, WHIP, they rotate their head around and right back to the spot. This allows them to spin without getting overly dizzy.   O...

...KIT KAT BABY! "I keep going in circles. I should get better directions!"     "Quick! Mom's right behind me!" "Get the cookies! Get the cookies!"   "Here Koda, you can snuggle with my teddy!"    At least it's not in our bed, right?!

HOORAY! OUR BILIBOS ARRIVED TODAY! Yeah, weird name... awesome toy! I was disappointed that I didn't get to see the kids open them. I was busy refolding clean clothes that Grandpa was pulling out of the plastic bin I keep Victor's extra clothes in. Grandpa gets confused about what is his and what is ours. I had just brought him his clean laundry and was starting to put it away in his drawers. He went to the bucket to get me more clothes that he thought were his and needed washing. He starts pulling them out of the bin, unfolding each item and laying it on the bed. The conversation went something like this: (Grandpa speaks with a heavy Spanish accent, btw.) "Okay, this is another one. It needs washed. Yes?" "No, that's Victor's shirt. Yours are right here. I'm putting them in this drawer." (Organizing drawer so similar items are together.) "No? This is mine?" "No, that is Victor's. Yours are here in these dra...