Tips: Activities

Summer is the perfect opportunity to have fun with your grandkids while helping them continue all the great skills they honed during the school year!  Here is a list of ideas to help you do that while keeping sensory overload to a minimum…

• Host a character day – this is like a movie day but your grandchild dresses up like their favorite book, movie or TV character and then spend the day watching or reading about that character.
• Plan a scavenger hunt outside – check out these sensory scavenger hunt ideas on Pinterest.
• Create your own sensory activities like coloring lima beans.

DIY Sensory Activities for Kids

Summer is the perfect opportunity to have fun with your grandkids while helping them continue all the great skills they honed during the school year!  Here is a list of ideas to help you do that while keeping sensory overload to a minimum…

• Host a character day – this is like a movie day but your grandchild dresses up like their favorite book, movie or TV character and then spend the day watching or reading about that character.
• Plan a scavenger hunt outside – check out these sensory scavenger hunt ideas on Pinterest.
• Create your own sensory activities like coloring lima beans.

DIY Sensory Activities for Kids

• Create a regular routine with specific types of activities on specific days and track everything on a calendar that everyone can see! Check out this article 82 Summer Activities for Families with Special Needs that outlines ideas for Safety Sunday, Make Something Monday, Time to Read Tuesday, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, Somewhere Fun Friday, and Social Skills Saturday.
• Set up an arts and crafts station – just line up the paint, glue, glitter, paper and see what happens or plot out some specific crafts like Balloon Paint Stamping (filling up balloons with water and tapping them into bowls of different paints to print on paper or clothing).
• You can get a free Access Pass for the National Park Service which is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. The pass covers entrance fees and day use fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges. It’s available for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Download this federal recreation sites and find out more on their website here.

Whether you reside in or near Orange County, California or plan to visit the area, there are a number of inexpensive things to do and places to visit with grandchildren. Some similar types of attractions may also be available in other communities.

Check online for hours of operation, admission fees, discount coupons or free admission days:

• Visit your local library to check out books and see what activities are scheduled there and in your community.
• Irvine Park has a train ride (“child free with adult” coupon has been online) and a pony ride. It also has a lake nearby nearby with paddle boats and a little zoo.
• The Santa Ana Zoo is small and easy to navigate with small children.
• The Ocean Institute in Dana Point Harbor has educational exhibits, boat excursions from a pirate ship and tide pools with hands-on learning opportunities.
• Adventure City is a tiny amusement park (Beach Blvd south of Knott’s Berry Farm) 714/ 236-9300. Admission includes unlimited rides, free parking. Call ahead for current pricing, hours, etc.
• Bowers Museum is located on Main Street in Santa Ana and one block south there is a “Kidseum.” Admission is included with the Bowers ticket. Kids can have fun on their own, dress up, play drums and lounge under a silky tent. It has a craft room and a project to do! There are wonderful books and at the Kidseum desk you can get special loaners– like Russian nesting doll sets, to play with carefully, accompanied by a book that tells the story.
• On Balboa Island, visit the Fun Zone and ride the Balboa Ferry. Â You can rent a fishing boat behind the Pavilion to travel around the Bay.
• Little Corona beach located at the end of Poppy Street has tide pools gentle surf, rock formations and alcoves to explore.
• Take an Amtrak train ride from Santa Ana station to San Juan Capistrano to visit the mission.
• Pretend City in Irvine has hands-on learning experiences. Check the calendar online for events and hours.
• In Long Beach, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific. There are special exhibits and events throughout the year.
• Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar has 2.2 acres of plants, gardens and walkways. They provide free Storytime and garden activities at scheduled times for children. Check their website for a calendar of events.
• Rancho Santa Margarita has a lake with good dining and great walking. As you walk around the lake there are exercising stations with instructions.

If your grandchild only wishes to go to one place repetitively, try taking him there first for a few minutes. He may be more receptive about visiting other places after that.

Take walks together in local parks. Feed ducks, explore gardens and enjoy other park features.

Orange County, California, has several parks for special needs children. Follow these links for additional information:

• Courtney’s SandCastle in San Clemente
• Box Canyon Park in Yorba Linda
• Pittsford Park in Lake Forest
• Angel’s Playground in TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa
• Heritage Park in Irvine (accessible features)
• Northwood Community Park in Irvine (accessible features)
• Kiwanis Barrier-Free Park in Carl Thornton Park, Santa Ana
• Link to Los Angeles Universally Accessible Playground List

The head naturalist at Naturalist For You leads many local Orange County hikes. He has experience working with special needs kids and is willing to lead a hike if there is sufficient interest. He has suggestedthat a couple of short canyon hikes (Silverado and Black Star) would be most appropriate and that a small group would be best.

If you are interested in having your grandchildren participate in this activity, please e-mail to Donna Furon at donnafuron@dslextreme.com or call (562)430-0624 with the following information:

• Age(s) of child(ren)
• Number of adults who would be coming
• Preferences for weekday or weekend
• Â Preference for morning or afternoon