Birthday Party Ideas for Kids With Sensory Processing Disorder
Nothing is more daunting to a child who abhors crowds and loud background noises than a typical kids̵7; party. If you can host a party outside, the open spaces will help alleviate echoing and fears of being jostled around. When outdoors isn̵7;t an option, keep the guest list limited to a few close friends and focus on games and themes that promote mellow interactions rather than sensory overload.
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Outdoor Party Ideas for Kids with Sensitivities
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Outdoor parties are ideal for kids sensitive to personal space and noise as well as children who are on the hyposensitive side of things and tend to roughhouse. Rather than having all children do the same activities or games at once, consider setting up games and activity stations in the style of a carnival so that your child can choose what to do depending on her comfort level. Games like a bean bag toss, a hoop contest and other small-scale games might help relax a child who would otherwise chafe at boisterous games in a large group.
Subdued Indoor Party Activities for Sensitive Kids
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Plan a few quiet indoor activities, such as making homemade play dough for kids to take home in jars or stringing together beaded or candy necklaces. You could also host a pajama party with different popcorn flavors and watch a special movie to keep things mellow. Or each child can bring an old sock to make sock puppets together and then stage a puppet show. Activities that involve sitting still, especially with relaxing music in the background, will help foster a soothing environment for your sensitive child.
Food Ideas for Kids with Texture and Taste Sensitivities
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If your child has food aversions, build on his preferences and his food strengths. For instance, if he prefers fruit over cake and ice cream, make strawberry shortcakes that kids can assemble themselves; this way, the other kids get to have ̶0;cake,̶1; but the birthday child can enjoy fresh strawberries. Assembly lines work great for meals as well. A taco bar with a variety of tortillas and toppings allows your child to pick things he likes to go on his plate, and you can provide extra toppings to the other kids. This also works with deli sandwiches, pasta salad and personal pita pizzas; the assembly can even be incorporated as a party activity. For particularly limited palates, such as a child who only eats white foods, you can either try to weave the preferences into a theme (for example, ̶0;Snow in Summer̶1;), or just offer additional options associated with your child̵7;s picks.
Alternatives to a Party When it̵7;s Just Too Much
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Some children with sensory processing disorder dislike physical contact and prefer to interact one-on-one to maximize personal space, according to the SPD Foundation. In these cases, have the child invite a close friend or two to go on a special birthday outing in lieu of a party. Because every child has different sensitivities, choose something that the child especially enjoys. A beach party for a child who likes sand or a bowling outing for a kid who doesn̵7;t mind noise may be more enjoyable and memorable that a traditional party with lots of overwhelming children and games, and you both can rest easy.
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