Encourage Walking with Pennies

Many years ago when my son with cerebral palsy was just learning to walk (he was a toe-walker), another mom in a therapy waiting room suggested that I place pennies on the bottom on my son's shoes -  "like a tap dance shoes" she said - to help encourage my child to place his whole foot on the ground with each step.  At first I thought she was sort of being silly at the suggestion but the more I became desperate to get my son to place his WHOLE foot on the floor with each step the more I warmed up to the idea.  So I found an old pair of shoes and glued pennies to the toes and heels of the shoes, stuck them on my son, and placed him on our tiled bathroom floor where he could make the most noise.  At first I helped him take each step by placing his foot on the floor in a typical rocking motion and I would laugh at the sound to make it appear to be super-fun.  After only a few weeks I would find him in the bathroom with his shoes on walking with his feet in a typical - but still not perfect - pattern.  It was the progress I had hoped for and such an easy thing to do...today he still toe walks on occasion due to tightness but it is nothing like it used to be...and his little penny-decorated shoes are one of my greatest treasures. (submitted by MOM Lynette)

Garage Sale Visual Therapy Toy

I found a "Lite Brite" toy at a garage sale which worked as a GREAT light box for visual therapies for my daughter.  Even though some of the pegs were missing, we had enough to use to help her practice fine motor activities while engaging her visually.  A toy like this became an important part of her mommy and me therapy. There was a board that lit up and brightly colored pegs that could be places in different patterns against black construction paper. We could play together keeping her attention and working hard at her motor skills. It was very helpful in keeping her skills at least at the same function.  Buy packs of colorful construction paper for even more visual stimulation and a pencil top to punch holes into the paper to make fun patterns (if you cannot find enough pegs or replacement pegs).  p.s. Lite-Brite toys can be found on Craiglist, Ebay, Amazon.com and at various toy stores...but check out local garage and estate sales first!   (submitted by MOM Marcia, with edits by Mommies of Miracles)

Buh-Bye Nebulizer Tubing Moisture!

If your nebulizer tubing seems to get moisture during each nebulizer treatment a quick way to get it out is to remove the nebulizer canister so that it's just the tube coming off of the nebulizer. Use your thumb to cover the air coming out for a few seconds. Repeat this over and over again pulsating the air. You'll see in no time at all a nice dry tube.  You can also rinse your nebulizer tubing with sterile saline or water on a weekly basis to clean it, and use this technique to dry it.

Plastic Plate Sensory Exploration

Do you have some left over plastic plates from a BBQ, picnic, or special occasion?  Why not put them to good use and create a sensory wall activity for your child with special needs to explore?  Make each plate it's very own sensory experience by using various textures glued onto the plates.  You can glue beds, corn kernels, rice, pasta, soft sand-paper, wool, faux fur, wooden sticks, bubble wrap, marbles, yarn, carpet, pieces, aluminum foil, craft pom poms, or whatever you desire.  Once the plates are dry you can glue them to a large piece of heavy corrugated poster-board, plaster paneling, or even suction cup/velcro them to plexiglass so you can change up the order.  Add magnets to the back and use them on your refrigerator, perfect reach for a toddler or seated child.

Say Cheese!

Does your child clam up every time you pull out your camera?  Here is a cute and inexpensive way to disguise the lens and give your child something fun and colorful to look at while trying to capture those memories.  Next time you are at your local mega-market, mall, or pharmacy check out the hair accessory aisle and look for bright whimsical "scrunchies" to use to place around your lens.  You an even buy plain scrunchies and decorate them up with some fabric/felt scraps to customize them just for your child's interests!  SMILE!!!!

Easy Sensory Space

Create an easy sensory space, quiet place, or time out hammock in your home by tying an old sheet in a (very) tight double/triple knot over the center of a sturdy table.  Make sure the sheet is tight enough to create an easy place to lay - but not swing -  for safety reasons.

Release Stress Hormones Naturally

Did you know, in laboratory tests, human stress  hormones were found in tears?  Stress hormones negatively affect every system and organ in the human body. Crying provides health by eliminating harmful stress hormones. Haven't you found that you feel relief after a good cry?  So go ahead Mommies of Miracles, and allow yourselves to cry it out as often as you need it so that you can refresh and renew for the special needs journey ahead.