Small update

I just wanted to apologize for the absence of more crafts & my posting. I will be updating asap, possibly even tonight!
Thanks for sticking by! :)

Another Version Of Goo Bags

Here is another version of goo bags that gives off a different type of texture.
This time it is with shaving cream, instead of hair gel, otherwise it's basically the same!

I just used cheap 1$ shaving cream that I found at Dollar general. Walmart brand food coloring & ziploc baggies. Some fun tape that I found at Walmart with the scotch tape/packing tape :)

Add some shaving cream. How much is really just a personal preference.

Add a few drops of food coloring. The more you add, the darker & more vibrant the color will be. I didn't mix them yet, I just zipped it half way, let the air out then zipped the rest of the way. Taped the top up, then let my son mix the shaving cream & food coloring together.

We made seven bags. As usual, our pink turned out red!! Just not sure about my pink. :)

Hope you enjoy!! Very fun!

Goo Bags

When I made this activity, I was unaware that I would be writing a blog about them so I didn't take step by step pictures. :( But I thought I was share anyway because it is a good activity. This activity gives a cool, weird feeling. My son loves them but they aren't his favorite since he isn't big on textures.

I used Walmart brand ziploc baggies. Walmart brand food coloring. I bought the cheapest hair gel I could find. And I just found some cute duct tape for my son. Obviously, you can use any brand for these products. I  normally just buy cheap for crafts.

You pour some hair gel into a ziploc baggie. Put a couple drops of food coloring in them, seal it, then mix them. Make sure to put some sort of tape at the top so that the kids cannot open it. You can even mix other colors to make new ones. :)

Here is a photo of the finished product. I had 8 bags. Again, my pink turned red! My light blue, turned dark  blue. I just put them in a clear tub for storage & we bring them out from time to time to play with.

Enjoy!! :)

Rainbow Rice

This activity was super easy & my son LOVES it!

I started off with food coloring, rice, ziploc baggies & hand sanitizer. I've heard of other recipes using rubbing alcohol but this was my choice.

Next, I put about a handful of rice into a ziploc baggie. Put a few drops of food coloring in it. I even mixed color to try to make other colors. Then a few drops of hand sanitizer. Closed the bag & shook it & kneaded it until they were all mixed together real good. I came out with twelve bags. My pink just turned red.

Then I spread them all out on a lid in front of a window to dry out. You can put them on a newspaper or something outside to dry if it isn't too windy out. Here is a picture of my monster patting them out.

I let them sit for a few hours then poured them into my tub. Here is a photo of them dry :)

To make it more fun, you can also put small objects or photos in there for them to hunt for! 

Have fun! :)

Weighted Blanket.

This isn't exactly a craft today but you can make it yourself if you want!
My son got a weighted blanket to help calm him & help him sleep. He always slept with 4 blankets and it never clicked to me on why until I found out about SPD. Now, one blanket is all he needs. :)
You can definitely make them. I had a friend make hers because they are kind of expensive. But I got mine from The Magic Blanket over at beanblanket.com
Ours is just 6 pounds, based on my sons weight. It is 36x48.

New Design

For those of you who were previously following my blog - I have taken a transformation into a SPD Journey blog. I will share my feelings, my finds, my crafts that we experience along our SPD journey. Keep following if you'd like, if not, I understand! :)
Ever since my son was about 4 months old, he started doing things here & there & I kept saying he just had a sensory disorder. I didn't even know they really existed back then but I kept saying that! A little after he turned two, I got him into speech therapy and it all came out.. that was in April 2011. In October 2011, I took him to an Autism Center at the University near my house. He did not have Autism like I had thought but he was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. Of course, like every other mother out there, I rushed home to google everything I could find out!! 5 months later and I am still on the ball with finding new things out here and there. I am loving finding all sorts of crafts to try to help him through this. This blog will be to show other mothers crafts and sorts to help. If you have a craft that I haven't posted, please feel free to send it in! If you need to vent to someone who knows what  you are going through because your friends don't, please feel free! I know how you feel, nobody knows how I feel or what I'm going through. Some days are REALLY rough and some days are just perfect! It's a roller coaster, for sure! 
Let me finish off my stating what SPD is for people who do not know and may be reading. Sensory integration disorder or dysfunction (SID) is a neurological disorder that results from the brain's inability to integrate certain information received from the body's five basic sensory systems. These sensory systems are responsible for detecting sights, sounds, smell, tastes, temperatures, pain, and the position and movements of the body. The brain then forms a combined picture of this information in order for the body to make sense of its surroundings and react to them appropriately. Sensory experiences include touch, movement, body awareness, sight, sound, smell, taste, and the pull of gravity. Distinguishing between these is the process of sensory integration (SI). While the process of SI occurs automatically and without effort for most, for some the process is inefficient. Extensive effort and attention are required in these individuals for SI to occur, without a guarantee of it being accomplished. When this happens, goals are not easily completed, resulting in sensory integration disorder (SID). The normal process of SI begins before birth and continues throughout life, with the majority of SI development occurring before the early teenage years. The ability for SI to become more refined and effective coincides with the again process as it determines how well motor and speech skills, and emotional stability develop. The beginnings of the SI theory by Ayres instigated ongoing research that looks at the crucial foundation it provides for complex learning and behavior throughout life.


Here is a list of ‘red flag’ behaviors or symptoms for Sensory Processing Disorder. If you feel that your child may have SPD, please consult a trained Occupational Therapist for diagnosis and treatment.

Infants and toddlers
____ Problems eating or sleeping
____ Refuses to go to anyone but me
____ Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothes
____ Rarely plays with toys
____ Resists cuddling, arches away when held
____ Cannot calm self
____ Floppy or stiff body, motor delays

Pre-schoolers
____ Over-sensitive to touch, noises, smells, other people
____ Difficulty making friends
____ Difficulty dressing, eating, sleeping, and/or toilet training
____ Clumsy; poor motor skills; weak
____ In constant motion; in everyone else’s face and space
____ Frequent or long temper tantrums

Grade schoolers
___ Over-sensitive to touch, noise, smells, other people
___ Easily distracted, fidgety, craves movement; aggressive
___ Easily overwhelmed
___ Difficulty with handwriting or motor activities
___ Difficulty making friends
___ Unaware of pain and/or other people

Other common behaviors:

Sensory Seeking

Spinning
Climbing too high
Climbing everything
Crashing into things (people, furniture, walls)
Mouthing/licking inedible things (furniture, toys, body)
Chewing inedible things (clothing)
Eating excessively
Constantly wrestling with siblings
Touching everything
Playing with food
Messy eater
Overstuffing their mouth
Eating spicy/hot foods
Under-responsive to pain (‘shakes it off’ quickly)
Dumping out toy bins just to look at everything
Excessive sensory play (mud, water, soap, etc.)
Jumping
Pushing
Loves running barefoot
Chewing on their toothbrush
Can’t sit still in their desk
Falls out of their chair for no apparent reason
Loves loud noises (turns up TV, battery toys against ears, vacuum.)
Can’t monitor their own volume (you constantly say, “Stop yelling!”)
Smells everything, even bad smells

Sensory avoiding

Picky eater (preferring one texture or basic flavors)
Covering ears at noise (hates vacuum, blender, hand dryers)
Avoids touch (not a ‘huggy’ or ‘cuddly’ kid)
Hates tags/seams in clothing
Won’t wear shoes (or prefers only one shoe type)
Avoids messy activities (mud, sand)
Avoids art activities like painting or playdoh
Walks on toes
Doesn’t engage in playground activities (climbing, swinging, etc)
Hates a wet/dirty diaper/underwear
Dislike people too close
Refuse to take a bath/shower or play in the sprinkler
Hate water on their face
Hate/Refuse to brush their teeth
Complain of the smell
Complain it is too bright (wanting to wear sunglasses)
Over-responsive to pain (everything HURTS!)
Avoids/refuses stickers/fake tattoos 


Note, your child may not be all of these. I know my child isn't over half of these! 
I will end this as it is long. I will leave off with a few pictures that I found on pinterest & I just enjoyed a lot :)