Have you been looking for a tool box of go-to items? Need a few things to have on hand for your kiddos with special needs?
We have several bins of our favorite items, and we encourage volunteers to grab a bag and fill it with items for their kiddo. It is so helpful for the volunteers to have a “go to bag” with items to immediately give their kiddo when they need them throughout the morning.
Here are my favorite go to items to have on a limited budget that we use EVERY week:
Draw-string Bags
I asked friends and family to donate bags from races and events, but you can always order them from Amazon.
These are easy because they are small, but volunteers can still wear them on their backs so that items are always easily accessible.
Puffer Balls
This is my favorite item, and our kiddos LOVE them!
They are great because they are soft, they can be squeezed, and the kids can pull on them too. Amazon has the best prices that I have found.
Sensory Bottle
These are great for children to hold during large group or small group discussion, because it gives the kiddos something to do with their hands, something for their eyes, and it is quiet.
I prefer to make them using VOSS plastic water bottles (which we found at our WAWA gas station). Look at Pinterest for easy directions on how to make them yourself!
Playdough
I prefer to make my own playdough, because I can make it Gluten Free (as a lot of kiddos with special needs have a gluten intolerance).
I also choose to make it because it is cheap, so I throw it out every month or so to help prevent the spreading germs (especially during flu season!!). It’s also fun because I change up the color every time to keep it fun.
I simply place a little ball of playdough in Ziploc bags and add it to the bin for volunteers to pick up. For children who need something to do during the morning, we will have them shape the Bible character using their playdough as they listen to the story. Or we will give them something else to make related to the lesson.
Here is my favorite playdough recipe. (I substitute gluten free flour)
Stress Balls
Another DIY project that is cheap very helpful for our kiddos. Again, this is another quiet item that is easy to have in a bag that the kiddos can fidget with during the lesson. Just make sure the kids don’t have a latex allergy (or buy latex free balloons). You can also fill the balloons with a variety of things including beans, rice, or flour. I recommend making a few and see if your kiddos have a preference for one texture of the other. Here is a helpful video:
Do you have any favorite go-to items? Comment and share below! I would love to hear them.
