Christmas Break Fun

Chelsea is out of school until a few days into January, so we have lots of time for fun at home!!! Since she isn't in school, I try and sneak school work into fun holiday activities. Here are a few that we have done:

1. Create an activity advent calendar! Kids with learning disabilities often have difficulty "filing" information in their brain, so have activities that they can see, hear, feel, and experience!!! Multi-sensory approach to the holidays!

For example, if I say "Christmas", then your mind fills up with information, which you can classify into "ornaments" or "Santa" or "Nativity"- and so on. But kids with learning disabilities don't have a brain that naturally files things, so they need extra exposure to the vocabulary.

Activities can be things like: go see Christmas lights, decorate the tree, shop and wrap gifts, visit Santa, go on the Polar Express, see a living Nativity, go caroling...

2. Read, read, read!!!! I like to pair this with videos and activities- the combination seems to really drive it home for Chelsea. So read 10 Rudolph books, sing the song several times, then watch the movie! Or read the Grinch who stole Christmas, watch the movie, and do an activity to make his heart "grow"!

3. Use art to get excited for Christmas! Color pictures, do crafts, make ornaments for the tree, send a picture to Grandma... So much fun! Practice that pencil grip and color away! So a sensory sprinkles tray and draw in letters!

4. Sneak in that learning! Make a paper chain counting down and work on 1 less every day as we tear it off! Or a Christmas tree "pyramid" that has the child order 1-10.

Do an uppercase/ lowercase paper tree ornament matching activity, or sequence the story of the First Christmas! Make candy cane patterns- either on paper with red and white colors, or with candies on a plate!

5. Creativity! One things my kids love to do is come up with stories! For Chelsea, it is usually a multiple choice- "If Santa was stuck in my chimney, would I tie balloons to his feet, pull with a rope, or pull him out?"

and my little man likes open-ended questions "If I was an elf at the North Pole, I would like a job as..." Write down the dictation, then allow the child to trace the letters and illustrate!

6. Use food as fun!

Decorate themed sugar cookies or gingerbread men/ houses, or make a veggie Christmas tree, or make Santa pancakes! 

7. Therapy SHOULD be fun! Do candy cane beading for OT! Or practice saying "Santa" for speech as you play a Santa game! Play "Run Run Rudolph" for physical therapy!

8. Sing, sing, sing!!! There are SOOOO many Christmas songs out there! Sing about snowmen, reindeer, Jesus, Santa, family together, the Grinch...