Adapted silverware | Special Needs Essentials Blog

I was talking to a new friend last week. She was asking me some questions about Elizabeth because she has some strong feelings that her child has special needs. She feels he may have Dyspraxia, like Elizabeth.

During our talk, she asked me about the difficulty we had teaching Elizabeth to use utensils to eat. I told her that it was a struggle.

With Elizabeth’s special needs of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Dyspraxia, there were many layers to penetrate as we tried to teach this skill. I told her I can remember how deftly she could feed herself with her fingers and how much harder it was for her to manipulate a spoon or fork.

This struggle would, of course, increase her anxiety and frustration. And this would lead to many emotions. None of which made the meal time the calm place we all wanted it to be. Read the rest of this entry »

Mornings can be chaotic regardless of the circumstance. Between preparing schoolbags, making breakfast, actually getting through breakfast, packing lunches, walking the dogs, and trying to find your kid’s other shoe so you can leave the house already, morning mayhem is part of everyone’s routine! Being the parent of a special needs child adds an entirely different element of preparation to the day. But with a little planning, mornings could be a more seamless operation. Mother and daughter under blanket - Special Needs Essentials

1. Get Good Sleep

First and foremost, getting a good night’s sleep is paramount in shaping the next morning for success. It’s important to get on a consistent sleep-and-wake schedule, and stick to it. Try making your child’s room as dark as possible to help ensure a full night’s rest. Weighted blankets can help, too.

2. Develop A Ritual

Believe it or not, all children love rituals. But when your family has special needs, the discipline of a routine is essential. Make your mornings an orderly endeavor: do the same things in the same order every day, beginning when the alarm clock first rings. Time Timer clocks can help your child understand this routine better, in a visual way.

3. Promote Your Child’s Independence

Your child’s independence is the key, as it will save you more time for other tasks. Breakfast is an opportunity to help arm your child with more independence, which is achievable by using adapted tools at the table. Breakfast not only gives your kids the strength to face the day, but it also adds a great step to your daily ritual that your child can count on and even look forward to. Try these five products, all designed to promote your child’s independence in the morning.

1. Safety toothbrush