The Chaos and the Clutter - Finding joy amidst the chaos of everyday life

Time 2020-10-16 12:03:28

Web Name: The Chaos and the Clutter - Finding joy amidst the chaos of everyday life

WebSite: http://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com

ID:84025

Keywords:

the,Clutter,Finding,

Description:

StoreCourse LoginOctober Emotions Printables for Kids By Sharla Kostelyk Total12 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest12 Mix Yummly0Fall is in full swing where I live. In fact, there is a frost warning for tonight. No more denying that summer is over. But fall is full of great consolation prizes like colourful leaves, crisp fresh air, and candy corn!I like candy corn so I thought they would be the perfect visual to help kids talk about their emotions this October. This month s free emotions printables include copywork pages, sheets to consider thoughts on trick or treating, and a feelings log. Now I know that trick or treating is something that may be up in the air this year, so if it s not happening in your area or your household, you can slip the word not in there and allow kids to express how they feel about not trick or treating this year.October Printables for Kids about Emotions:October Copywork Emotions Sentences:Supplies needed:October Emotions Printable pages (download the Emotions pages here)pen or pencilORplastic sleeveANDdry erase markerIf you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:Read the sentence.Fill in the outline.Trace the dotted words.Write the sentence on the lines provided.Discuss the various emotions.Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.October My Feelings Log:Supplies needed:printed October Feelings Log (download Emotions pages here)scissorsglue stickmarkers, pencil crayons (coloured pencils), or crayonspen or pencilMy Feelings Log Instructions for the child:Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.Use the Feelings Log as a jumping off point for discussions about the different feelings your child is experiencing and what is underneath those emotions. This is also a good way to help them manage their emotions in healthy ways.Enter your email in the box below to download your free October Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students. You may also be interested in:September Emotion PrintablesAugust Emotion PrintablesJuly Emotion PrintablesJune Emotion PrintablesMay Emotion PrintablesApril Emotion PrintablesTotal12 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest12 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Homeschooling, Printables Pumpkin Emotions Game By Sharla Kostelyk Total39 Facebook0 Twitter1 Pinterest38 Mix Yummly0This bingo style five in a row pumpkin emotions game provides a fun way for kids to learn about emotions. Because of the pumpkin theme, it is good for using in the Fall, around Hallowe en, or even Thanksgiving.As kids roll the different emotions, they can name what they are. They can then think of a time when they may have felt that emotion themselves. This will help children be able to better identify their feelings.Pumpkin Emotions Game:Two to four people can play this game at one time.Supplies needed:printed game cube and game sheets (you can download those sheets here)scissorsglue or tapemarkers, pencil crayons, or crayonsorange buttons, beads, or bingo dabbers to use as place markers (or you can colour them in)Directions:Print the pages. Print as many game sheets as needed for the number of people playing.Colour the game die (optional).Assemble the game die with instructions (provided on the die page).Game Play:Colour in the “Free Space.”Roll the die.Look at the emotion the die landed on. Give an example of when you feel that emotion. For example, if you roll “excited,” you can say, “I feel excited when I am going to go swimming!”After you call out your example, colour in or cover the corresponding spot on your board. The first person to cover or colour five pictures in a row, wins.Some children may find it more challenging than others to think of scenarios when they have felt a particular emotion. It s okay for you to step in and give them verbal prompts to help them or to share one of your own examples.To get a free printable copy of this game to use with your child or students, enter your email in the box below.You may also be interested in reading:Thankfulness Game for KidsSpider Emotions Matching GameActivities to Teach Kids About EmotionsTotal39 Facebook0 Twitter1 Pinterest38 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Crafts and Activities, Homeschooling, Printables Apple Tree Colour and Counting Playdough Game By Sharla Kostelyk Total40 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest40 Mix Yummly0Playdough is one of my favourite sensory materials. It lends itself well to all kinds of fine motor practise and leaning opportunities. As you may know by now, learning through sensory play is something I am a big advocate for. This apple tree colour and counting playdough game is a great example of that.This easy activity is suitable for preschoolers who are just learning these concepts or even for children in Kindergarten or early elementary to help reenforce colour and counting concepts.Apple Tree Colour and Counting Playdough Game:Supplies needed:red, yellow, green, and brown playdough (you can use store bought or make your own)number dicecolour dot diceDirections:Form the trunk of the tree using brown playdough by rolling it into a long rope. If you don t have brown playdough, you can mix equal parts orange and blue playdough to create kind of a grey-brown.Tear off sections of the green playdough and flatten them out. These will form the leaves of the tree.Invite your child to place the leaves on the tree trunk.Have your child roll small balls of yellow, red, and green playdough. These will be the apples.Set out one colour dot dice and one standard number dice.Have the child roll both dice.Encourage them to count the number on the dice and name the colour shown on the other dice.The child can then add that number of apples to the tree in the colour that was rolled.Sensory and Learning Opportunities:Through the tearing, shaping, rolling, and squeezing of the playdough, the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems are engaged.Kids get fine motor practise by shaping the small apples and carefully placing them on the tree.This playdough game is a great way to learn or reenforce colours as the child matches what is rolled on the colour block dice to the coloured balls.Early math skills are worked on both by counting up the numbers on the dice and by counting out the corresponding amount of balls to place on the apple tree.If more than one child plays this game at a time, it can also work on social skills such as turn taking and encouragement.Vocabulary and communication are also improved in children by playing games such as these.Colour Dot DiceRegular DicePlay-Doh Modelling CompoundGet a set of free printable alphabet playdough mats by entering your email address below. You ll also be signed up to receive our email series Sensory Activities and Solutions. You may also be interested in these playdough activities:Rainbow Colour and Counting Playdough GameRainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity Transportation Alphabet Playdough Mats (free)Total40 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest40 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Crafts and Activities Tagged With: playdough stations, sensory playSeptember Emotions Printables for Kids By Sharla Kostelyk Total5 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest5 Mix Yummly0Back to school is a time full of emotions. Even for kids who love school, there is a lot of nervous anticipation in light of all the upcoming changes. Will they like their new teacher? Will their best friend be in their homeroom? What is this year going to be like?And of course for some kids, school or change can cause anxiety. With this year in particular and all the changes, they may be feeling particularly concerned.Whether your child is going to school, homeschooling, or learning online, a new school year can bring with it a flood of emotions. Help your child sort through their feelings and be better able to express them with these helpful free printable packs.September Printables for Kids about Emotions:September Copywork Emotions Sentences:Supplies needed:September Emotions Printable pages (download Emotions pages here)pen or pencilORplastic sleeveANDdry erase markerIf you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:Read the sentence.Fill in the outline.Trace the dotted words.Write the sentence on the lines provided.Discuss the various emotions.Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.September My Feelings Log:Supplies needed:printed September Feelings Log (download Emotions pages here)scissorsglue stickmarkers, pencil crayons (coloured pencils), or crayonspen or pencilMy Feelings Log Instructions for the child:Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.The September Feelings Log explores emotions associated with going back to school. Once your child is better able to identify what their feelings are, you can then work with them on strategies for managing their emotions.Plus, the apples are darn cute!Enter your email in the box below to download your free September Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students.You may also be interested in:August Emotion PrintablesJuly Emotion PrintablesJune Emotion PrintablesMay Emotion PrintablesApril Emotion PrintablesTotal5 Facebook0 Twitter0 Pinterest5 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Homeschooling, Printables Mask Wearing Tips for Kids with Sensory Issues By Sharla Kostelyk Total413 Facebook324 Twitter2 Pinterest87 Mix Yummly0Wearing face masks is becoming mandatory in many public spaces as well as many schools around the world. While for some, this is a minor inconvenience, for those with breathing difficulty, hearing loss, or sensory issues, it is much more of a challenge. Below, you will find a comprehensive guide of mask wearing tips for kids with sensory issues.Important note: I know that there continues to be debate over mask wearing. Regardless of how you personally feel about masks, the fact remains that more and more regulations are being put in place requiring the use of masks. This article is not meant to debate the effectiveness of face masks or whether or not they should be mandated. It is meant to address the practicalities of having children wear masks, particularly children who struggle with sensory issues and may therefore find it more difficult.The Challenges of Wearing a Mask for Kids with Sensory Issues:Texture or scratchiness of the fabricSensation or tightness against the faceSmell inside the maskHeat and dampness inside the maskPulling or tugging on the ears or at the back of the headBreathing out through the mouth can cause more dampness and the smell of recycled air.Breathing in and out through the nose can feel restrictive.Kids who struggle with oral sensitivities may suck on their mask, creating a wet patch. Experts say this renders the mask essentially useless.Difficulty reading facial expressions on others who are wearing masks, particularly for kids who have poor visual perception skills.You ll want to play detective by observing and asking questions to determine what specific challenges your child is having with wearing a mask or keeping it on. This information will help you be able to address those issues and find solutions.Tips to help kids with face masks:Be a role model.Wear a mask yourself and do so without complaining to your child about how much you dislike it. Our kids are watching what we do more than listening to what we say. Regardless of how you feel about mask wearing, if you know it will be required, make the best of it yourself. This will speak volumes to your child.Practise, practise, practise.Before going into a situation such as a public place or school where a mask has to be worn, allow your child to practise at home. Start with short bursts of time and increase the time gradually.Practise with the mask when the child has a distraction such as when they are watching a movie or playing on a tablet. Some children also find it easier to practise outside as they feel less restricted and there may be less other sensory stimuli to contend with.Plan low risk outings as practise where you can leave if need be and where there is not a lot of other competing stimuli.Reduce other sensory stimuli.Remember that no matter what mask your child wears, it will be more sensory input. Sensory overload will happen more quickly due to mask wearing. Sensory overload may lead to sensory meltdowns. You may also want to read more on preventing sensory meltdowns from sensory overload.You can cut back on sensory overload by reducing some of the other stimuli in your child s environment. You may also want to talk to their teacher about reducing some of the distractions in the classroom as well.While reducing outside sensory stimuli is helpful, you ll also want to ensure that your child also receives enough healthy sensory input during the day. Of particular importance is getting proprioceptive input. This helps with calming and self regulation. Using a calm down kit can be beneficial for children.Ask for their input.Allow your child to have a say in the fabric, print, and fit of their mask. Choosing a fun print on the fabric can help kids express their unique personality. If your child is old enough, you can even let them help make their own mask. There are many patterns for no-sew masks available online. Being part of the creation can make them feel more a part of this process.Be sure to also listen to their feedback about what struggles they may be having with keeping the mask on to give you clues as to how best to help them adjust. You may be surprised by what you learn. This can help tremendously in coming up with solutions.When kids feel like they have a say in choosing their mask, they are able to feel as if they are at least able to control something in a world that can feel pretty out of control.Offer breath mints or gum.Breath mints, hard candies, or gum help with the smell inside the mask. Gum can also give them oral sensory feedback and proprioceptive feedback which may help prevent them from licking or sucking on the inside of their mask. Of course, hard candies or mints can be a choking hazard, so only use this tip with older kids and those who don t have risk factors for choking. Give those ears a rest!Having a mask looped around the ears can cause discomfort for anyone and that discomfort is multiplied for those with sensory issues. Ear savers allow a mask to be attached behind the head instead of around the ears.Provide ear savers, a headband with buttons for the mask to loop around, caps with buttons or snaps for the mask to attach to, or a mask that fits around the head rather than around the ears to alleviate the tugging on the ears.Clear your nose.Prior to putting on a mask, have your child clear their nose well. This can be achieved by using a Neti Pot (if they can tolerate it) or steam from the shower. Doing this will help your child feel that they can breathe easier with the mask on.Mask brackets for the win!Mask brackets are a brace that fits snugly inside your existing mask. They prevent the gagging feeling some people feel when the fabric touches their face. It also helps the nose tickling that many kids complain about. For younger children, be sure to buy a children s size.Play.Help kids get used to the idea of face masks through play. Purchase or make a matching mask for your child’s doll or stuffed animal. This can help direct their play and they can even begin to work through some of their emotions as they role play different situations for themselves and their toy in regards to wearing a mask. Invite your child to draw pictures of themselves and their family or friends wearing masks. This can help them express some of the emotions they may have about this new normal .This poster shows some beloved children s characters wearing masks.Completing a mask colouring book is another hands-on activity that can promote discussion. This free I Can Wear a Mask Easy Readerbooklet is another good resource to use.Keep hands busy.One way to help kids resist the urge to remove their mask is to give them something else to do with their hands. Provide fidgets to keep their hands busy and to get their sensory needs met.Explain the reason behind wearing a mask.There are some resources that can help you talk to your child about why we re wearing masks. We Wear Masks is a video social story that explains things very simply for younger kids. Note that the video does mention not being in school and that may no longer apply in your area.This Face Mask Social Story is a really good way to explain things to kids and address some of their related worries.Listen and empathize.Even if you do everything in your power to make this easier, this big change will likely cause a mix of emotions. It is going to take a lot of adjustment for kids. Be there for them.Be sure they know that they can share their feelings about these new rules. Acknowledge how hard this must be for them. Do not minimize their emotions. While this is something they may have to get used to doing, that doesn t mean it will be easy and it s okay for them to express that to you.Create a safe place for them to say this is hard. I feel frustrated. Choosing a mask:Invite your child to be part of the decision about the type of mask they are most comfortable with.Find a fit and fabric that your child can tolerate. Ensuring a comfortable fit will reduce the amount your child fidgets with their mask. It should fit over the mouth and nose and secure under the child s chin. It should allow your child to breathe easily while worn.Mask Types:Reusable Fabric MasksChoose a fabric that is most comfortable for your child. Soft cotton may be the most comfortable fabric for most, but some kids may prefer seersucker, satin, or synthetic fabric.Some parents add a softer layer as a liner as this will be what touches the skin. Allow your child to pick a fun pattern as this can help them get more excited about wearing the mask.Some fabric masks allow you to add a filter. For one of our daughters, the flap inside for the filter insert was driving her crazy, so we sewed that flap shut.Disposable or Surgical MasksSome people find that the disposable masks allow more air flow while others find them more restrictive than cloth. This is something you will have to experiment with to see what your child prefers.I find personally that the 3 ply surgical style masks get less hot inside than the fabric ones. However, in winter, the warmth of a cloth mask may prove quite welcome!Masks with a Built-in FilterMasks with a built-in filter tend to be made of a heavier material and be a bit bulkier. They may, therefore cause more distress for kids with sensory issues. If you choose to go this route, be sure your child has rest periods where they can remove the mask for a time.Clear MasksOne of our daughters is deaf and relies on lip reading to hear . As you can imagine, mask wearing, particularly by her teachers, therapists, and family members has made her life much more difficult, so we have instead used different versions of clear masks.Cloth masks can be sewn with a clear window using clear shower curtains or clear page protectors. My neighbour and friend sewed some for me using this clear mask pattern.You can also purchase clear masks or the type that are cloth with a clear window.To keep the clear window from fogging up: Add some Dawn dish soap or shaving cream.Spread all over the window.Allow it to sit for a time.Rinse off and dry.Face ShieldsIf masks are required at your child s school, be sure to ask about the allowability of face shields as an alternative. Our school district will only allow face shields if a mask is worn underneath.If your school will allow them, face shields are proven to be the easiest for those who are hard of hearing to be able to both hear and lip read and some kids find them much less restrictive than masks. You can purchase face shields in children s sizes or adult face shields.Neck Gaiters or Buffs and BandanasWhile many school districts do not allow the use of bandanas or neck gaiters in place of masks, some do. Again, some kids find these easier or at least more familiar to wear while others find them to be worse as they are bothered by the feel of it on their neck. It comes down to your child s sensory preferences and what works best for them.This is a possible alternative option to try if you haven t been able to find a mask that suits your child s sensory needs. Mask fit:The other important consideration is the fit of the mask. Some children prefer a more snug fitting mask, while others like there to be as much space as there can be.Some masks fit around the ears while others tie or secure behind the head. Ear Savers can make around the ear masks fit more like behind the head masks.Mask brackets help eliminate the side gaps and give a better overall fit.Safety tips:Be sure to follow safety guidelines such as not wearing a mask for children under 2, while exercising, while eating or drinking, or when in the water.According to the CDC, children under age 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance should never use a cloth face covering.I am not a doctor or medical expert. The tips in this article are designed as suggestions to help you and your child but are not meant to replace medical or expert advise.What things have you found helpful when it comes to your child wearing a mask?Enter your email below to get a free copy of the Pandemic Journal for Kids, printable pages to help them process their emotions and better express themselves.You may also be interested in reading:The Complete Guide to School at HomeSurefire Signs Your Child has Sensory Issues50 Awesomely Simple Calm Down StrategiesTotal413 Facebook324 Twitter2 Pinterest87 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Sensory, Special Needs Parenting Tagged With: parenting through pandemicAugust Emotions Printables By Sharla Kostelyk Total4 Facebook0 Twitter1 Pinterest3 Mix Yummly0These adorable popsicle themed emotions printable sets for August are great for helping kids express themselves. These printables are free to download and use with your child or students. I m a big believer in giving kids a strong emotional vocabulary to help them advocate for what they need and feel empowered and comfortable in managing their own emotions. These worksheets can be a tool towards that.August Printables for Kids:August Copywork Emotions Sentences:Supplies needed:August Emotions Printable pages (download Emotions pages here)pen or pencilORplastic sleeveANDdry erase markerIf you want sheets to be reusable, simply laminate the pagesor slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:Read the sentence.Fill in the outline.Trace the dotted words.Write the sentence on the lines provided.Discuss the various emotions.While copying out sentences may not seem that significant, these sentences do more than simply help a child practise their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions and they help create a culture where it’s normal to hear about and talk about their own feelings.You can also expand this by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that emotion and how that was for them.August My Feelings Log:Supplies needed:printed Feelings Log (download Emotions pages here)scissorsglue stickmarkers, pencil crayons (coloured pencils), or crayonspen or pencilMy Feelings Log Instructions for the child:Choose one popsicle icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.This month s Feeling Logs focus on feelings about going to a new place. This can relate to going to a new school, new classroom, new vacation spot, or any other place that is new for your child.These cute popsicle visuals can be a tool to help your child better identify and then work through their own emotions. You can sit down together and have them show you which they have chosen.Once you see HOW they are feeling that day, you can help them dig into the WHY behind those feelings. Be sure to explain to them that it’s normal to have more than one emotion in the course of a day and that there are no right or wrong feelings.After figuring out what their feelings are and the root of them, you can work together with your child on strategies for better managing how they deal with that emotion.Enter your email in the box below to download your August Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students.You may also be interested in:July Emotions PrintablesJune Emotions PrintablesMay Emotions PrintablesApril Emotions PrintablesTotal4 Facebook0 Twitter1 Pinterest3 Mix Yummly0Filed Under: Homeschooling, Printables Go to page 1Go to page 2Go to page 3Interim pages omitted Go to page 156Go to Next Page Primary Sidebar Search this website We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

TAGS:the Clutter Finding 

<<< Thank you for your visit >>>

Finding joy amidst the chaos of everyday life - Find ideas for family connection, special needs parenting, sensory play and sensory processing.

Hot Websites