Free resources to get your special needs child through Social Distancing

With the ongoing news of COVID-19 spread, things have been changing quickly but one thing remains constant: the importance of social distancing.

As our norms have begun to change as a result of social distancing, many businesses have started shifting the way they deliver services.

We have compiled a list of our favorite tools and resources to help you manage this new norm at home. It is our hope that there is at least one thing on this list that helps you in some way.

We will continue to update this list as we learn of new resources, practices and tools!

Activities to keep your kids busy:

We realize many families have more than one child so we have compiled a list of activities to keep your kids busy.

• Totschooling has creative resources for parents – we’re a fan of this DIY photo name puzzle
• Hands on as We Grow – provides simple activities to do with your kids. Try this Bubble Wrap Runway which looks like a lot of fun.
• Make, which is a DIY paint studio, has daily online art classes – follow them on Facebook so you don’t miss any
• Yoga Memory Game – Incorporate memory and yoga into one activity with these cards from Sweet Pea Pediatric Wellness (they also provide online consults!)
• Josh Gad (voice of Olaf from Frozen) has shared videos of himself reading The Giving Tree, The Day the Crayons Quit, and Olivia Goes to Venice. Probably more to come so check out his Twitter @joshgad
• Take a virtual tour of a museum – over 2500 museums and galleries are collaborting with Fast Company and Google so you can experience their exhibits. It’s the perfect time to check out that museum you have always dreamed of visiting
• Take your kids on a virtual field trip – this list has it all: zoos, aquariums, farms and even volcanoes
• Homeschooling tips from the team at NY Times – if you have teens and tweens, you may want to check this out

Physical activities for your Special Needs child:

We imagine many parents feel stressed about regular services and classes no longer being available in-person. Below is complied a list of online resources for your child to get them through social distancing in a healthy way.

• Five sensory activities to do at home – Joy & Laughter Developmental Therapy has shared their ideas to help your child learn through play
• Sensory Bins – an easy way for your child to work on their senses
• Make a Therapy Roller for your child – this simple tool can help encourage tummy time
• Work on the senses with these scent jars – sense of smell helps with memory learning
• Speech Sisters on IGTV for help while your kiddo is missing their speech therapy services
• Movement Lessons from Michelle Turner – her YouTube channel is full of instructional videos
• Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises – this channel is full of videos that you can do on your own

Additionally many Physical Therapy facilities are now offering Telehealth consults in an effort to maintain social distancing. Contact your team to find out if this is possible.

If you’re looking for a new therapist, we recommend Smile Therapy for Kids and the NAPA Center.

Activities for mom and dad to take care of themselves:

Lastly, don’t forget to take care of yourselves! The news and day-to-day can get really stressful, so it is important to take a minute or two and breathe. If you have more time, here are some exercise, mediation and social tools.

• United We Move – initiative by Planet Fitness to provide access to their work-out classes
• Commune Virtual Studio – they have opened up their guided meditation & yoga classes for free
• If you’re looking for a workout app – Peloton App is now free for 90 days and provides classes in yoga, cycling, weights and more
• Virtual co-working space by Akimbo – if you don’t like to work alone, this is the place to connect with other people while working
• The Metropolitan Opera has free daily performances – this music will help you relax and unwind
• And if you need some physical therapy for yourself, here is a great Instagram account by Dr. Jen Esquer with a lot of exercises

Additional tips

This is an unprecedented time in history. There is no rule book or guidelines on how to get through it. We hope that you’re well and wish you and your family love and peace.

If there are other tips and resources that we missed, please share them with us. We will share them in this document for others to see.