Special Needs, Special Times – September 2012

| September 2, 2012

As you prepare for the back-to-school frenzy, don’t forget to set aside some time each week to spend with your special needs loved one. Class time, after-school activities and homework don’t have to get in the way of fun. This edition of “Special Needs, Special Times” is devoted to keeping the easy breeziness of summer going even if the calendar indicates otherwise.

If you’re lucky enough to be on the home room committee or PTA at your child’s school, you might want to suggest a field trip to Sunshine Arts and Crafts in Highland Park, which provides a relaxed atmosphere and all the help kids with special needs could want or need. The studio offers a wide range of painting and craft activities designed specifically for school groups.

Packages include a Pottery Painting Outing, a Paint and Ice Cream Outing, and a Paint and Pizza Outing. Glow-in-the-dark painting can be added to any of these group events for a black light, cosmic color experience that’s sure to dazzle young spirits and minds. Those school groups seeking something a bit more out of the ordinary can also opt for tie-die T-shirt, face painting / body art and sand art activities.

Fall registration is currently underway at Fox Valley Park for all classes, programs and events. This premier park and recreation organization – one of the largest in Illinois – serves an expanding and diverse customer base in one of the fastest-growing regions in the Midwest. For those on a limited budget, however, the organization also has a full slate of Fall Fun low-cost and no-cost programs scheduled.

One upcoming activity that is designed specifically for kids is Something Smells Fishy on September 8 at Blackberry Farm. This morning event affords children the opportunity to learn the basics about fishing and local native fish. They can then cast a line to see what they can catch. Another approaching kids-only event is Bug Me at the Red Oak Nature Center on September 22. Here, the kiddos will search for critters under logs, on plants and all around. They’ll also play some buggy games and make a bug craft to take home with them.

That same day, a Fall Fun & Celebration will also take place that the entire family can enjoy together. This one-hour event from 11:00 a.m. to noon invites guests to celebrate the first day of fall by heading out into the woods to find signs of the new season. A fun fall craft will then be created to round out the celebration.

A Fall Harvest special event is also on tap for September 16 at Blackberry Farm. Participants will discover the ways of the pioneers with harvest treats. In addition, an ice cream social will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

If you would you like to see your organization’s activities and services described in our upcoming reports, please email your calendar of events and information to: steven@joride.com.  As our column grows so will the ability to feature not-to-be missed special needs events. You can find out what the organizations mentioned in this column have to offer and more by visiting their websites:

http://www.sunshineartsandcrafts.com

http://foxvalleyparkdistrict.org

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Category: Articles, Special Needs, Special Times

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