Special needs kids and adults are, in many ways, just like any other person. There are things they like and things they don’t like; there are things they enjoy and things that don’t really thrill them. When we get bored we read, go out, call someone, or maybe even take a nap. When special needs children or adults get bored, though, they might not be able to tell you what they want or don’t want to do. Certain things you can always count on whether it be in reference to a “normal” or “special needs” person. That is, if the person is interested in, say, golf, they’ll often want to do golf-related activities. But basically, when you know someone you know things they like.
No one knows your special needs child like you do. Is your special needs child interested in drawing? Calculators? Jigsaw puzzles? When it comes to special needs children and adults the range is broad. There are those who can walk and those who can’t. There are ones that can operate a pen or pencil and those who can’t. Some special needs people are higher functioning than others but many of them enjoy doing something they like over and over. Many of us will get bored doing the same thing over and over but many special needs people absolutely love doing something again and again particularly if it’s one of their favorite things to do.
Take jigsaw puzzles, for example. You can often find them at discount stores and one puzzle can give a special needs child years of fun. Whereas most of us might put the puzzle together once a special needs child may enjoy putting it together only to tear it apart and do it again. These kinds of activities give the child or adult enjoyment as well as relaxation and a sense of accomplishment.
Something as simple as printable dot-to-dots can thrill a special needs child or adult. Online you’ll find printable dot-to-dots, simple math sheets, coloring pages, word finds, practice sheets for any grade level, and many other fun activities. Choose the ones you think your child will like and print them for free! You’ll find thousands.
You can also find board games online which can be printed on ordinary printer paper. Instead of a hard board the game is played on the printed paper. Print markers, tokens and other game pieces as well. These are usually free and your child will have a blast playing these games with other family members.
Even if you don’t have a printer you can still make work sheets and even dot-to-dot pages. Place a piece of paper over a coloring book page and make dots, here and there, on a simple image. Number them and you’ve got dot-to-dots that cost nothing but will give hours of fun.
On special days let the child or adult squirt paint from a squirt gun onto a large piece of cardboard. Put some trash bags around a small area outside and let the games begin. Fill three or four guns with different colors and you’ll soon have a masterpiece. Clean up is easy, too.
There are lots of cheap ways to entertain your special needs child or adult when they get bored. And, if you’re printing pages for them to color or draw, you’ll always be able to create more activities without having to run to the store for supplies.
The next time you see a bored look coming over your child’s face don’t wait until he or she gets cranky! Print out fun work, break out paint, paper, markers, Play-Dough or even the calculator. You can keep ’em busy for hours – heck, even days!
