State: New Hampshire
Country: USA
Member since: Nov 16, 2007
Last logged in: Nov 24, 2008
Hi I am a mother of a 6 year boy Evan. Married for several years. Evan was diagnosed with PDD-NOS when he was about 18months old. He also has sensory based issues, food issues, and behavioral difficulties. I new something was wrong when Evan and I attended our first Gymbore class when he was about a year old. The class was going great until the instructor dumped out a bunch of balls all over the place and Evan went crazy for "ALL" the blue balls. He would look across the gym and see that another child had a blue ball and he took off after that child and knuckled them to the floor until he got the blue ball. We attended the next class and the mothers began to look at me differently and guide their child away from Evan and I. Needless to stay we dropped out of baby Gymbore...LOL.....to this day blue is Evan's favorite color and will flip a nutty if another kid has a blue something or other. Every day is a challenge or a battle but at the end of the day I wouldn't do it any other way.
Favorite Compositions (0)
4thekidz's Compositions
by 4thekidz on 11.19.07 - public - 184 visits
I have been in the process of coming up with ideas to incorporate into my dream of opening up an indoor playground that is geared towards our kids that are on the spectrum. I want to completely stay away from arcade games, loud music and dancing rats ie: Chuck E.Cheese. If anyone has any input please send it my way. I hopeful to get this up and going within the next 6-12 months.
Comments(10)
4muskateers
Posted on Wed, 13 Feb 2008
Hi, you could get peoples responses by invited a few families to one of the indoor bounce houses places. This way you can also invite parents to give you ideas as you all sit and observe your children playing, and remember the siblings will usually be coming along. Great way to have a community give input and help build a dream.
Mrs.H.
Posted on Thu, 31 Jan 2008
What if you could do a "trial run" at a local church (usually carpeted and plain classrooms), community center, or council on aging. You may be able to book out a room/space, and make it "bring your own toys/books" at first. Separate entrances and potties away from the crowds would be key. I like the idea of scheduling appointments for a bit. I've been told there are grants out there available for stuff like this, (building, supplies, etc.) Any grant writers out there?
SuziMom
Posted on Wed, 9 Jan 2008
It would be great to have a "mini" library, parents could donate books. I know my 10 yr old son (PDD, Asperger)and his friends love books on animals & dinosaurs but it's a huge battle when I can't get my son to the library, also they like to show eachother "neat" pics, etc. it encourages their socialization.
Wyndie
Posted on Fri, 21 Dec 2007
What a spectacular idea!!! I would go there in a heartbeat!! Everything I can think has been suggested but wanted to lend my "you go girl!". It sounds like it's going to be a wonderful place and I'm sure you can get lots of funding for such an endevour.
carmel66
Posted on Fri, 23 Nov 2007
wow - great idea. My son loves an indoor playground in woburn, MA (I think it's woburn?). It has a bunch of fake stores in it - computer store (with computers - that typically are broken waaa!), music store with piano, barber shop, grocery store, etc (he loves stores and doors and windows and elevators, etc). A quiet area with squishy sensory stuff. Swings - and lots of them. Esp the ones they have at some of our fav playgrounds that are for special needs kids that are chairs.Some lock some don't - but they are both great for kids that want to go HIGH (my son) but don't have great muscle strength. And a snack bar with GFCF options!! I'll buy a franchise!!!! Cathy
janneane7
Posted on Fri, 23 Nov 2007
AWESOME IDEA! When Andy was little we would take him to the playground all year round as long as there wasn't too much snow. He would have loved something like this. Ball pits are great but tough to keep clean enough. I think climbing stuff, swings, typical playground equipment would be great. I think anything where our kids can move and blow of some energy is so important!
hilary
Posted on Tue, 20 Nov 2007
Wow what a great idea...put in lots of trains.you know the kind that run alone a track and the kids can sit on them and ride at floor level...reinforced for the heavier kids to ride...(my guy at 15years loves the kiddie rides at fairs but is too big to go on them) bright cheerful primary colors on the walls, maybe do one wall of chalkboard so kids can draw on it!!! Stuff that encourages imaginative play i.e. magic wands, foam swords...sandbox....small pool with boats to remote controled boats to race. Nesting area's where kids can go to rest and build a nest for themselves...or open ended play tents...craft tables...coloring area's...some small animals in cages!! Fish tanks can be soothing...wow...can I work there!!!
4thekidz
Posted on Mon, 19 Nov 2007
Thanks Steve and Shannon for the input. I can't wait to get this going. I think it will be a good outlet for the kids as well as the parents. A place to go and play without having non-autistic parents or caregivers looking and acting disgusted of the behaviors they see.They should be so lucky!!! Sorry a sore spot for me. Thanks again.
shannonj
Posted on Mon, 19 Nov 2007
That is an awesome idea....Boy, we could have used something like that when my son was younger. McDonald Playland just didn't work for us... What part of the country will this be? I would suggest limiting the number of kids in the playground....also allowing parents with especially sensitive kids to make appointments to have a block of playtime without other kids present.....You might want to check with The League School (ttp://www.leagueschool.com/) because they designed their entire school for kids on the spectrum under the advice and counsel of adults with HF autism and Aspergers, and so they have a good idea of what is important in such spaces (ie: lighting, colors, sizes etc...). Good luck--this is an awesome idea! Oh, maybe you could charge schools who want to book "field trips" for their special needs classes to help fund it.
stevej
Posted on Mon, 19 Nov 2007
That is such a good idea! Have you thought of cedar works? They make natural cedar playground equipment - my understanding is they provide grants for equipment periodically.
