News You Can Use - Volume 3

Here it is again.

Great stuff from around the interwebs.

All in one place.

All for you.

Since Easter is this weekend, how about trying this fun Easter Egg Lunch Hunt for the kids?

photo courtesy of Gluesticks

Lily is definitely motivated by food so I think this just might encourage her to look for those plastic eggs again this year.  (Click here to see how I got her to hunt last year.)

I am really liking these 12 Creative and Cute Sensory Bins and thinking we might try a couple of them out over the long weekend.

In my house, the countdown to summer has officially begun.  And summer means that many of us will be traveling.  Here are 7 Travel Agencies Specializing in Special Needs Travel that might make those trips just a bit easier for everyone.

And keeping those kiddos occupied while on the road or in the friendly skies is no problem for you.  Why? Because you know of 11 Online Toy Stores for Children with Special Needs that are sure to have something (or lots of things!) your child will love.

If you're a parent who worries about your child with special needs wandering away, here's some great news:  Emseeq by EmFinders can help you keep track of your child through the use of cell phone technology.

 

The device can be worn on the wrist like a watch, or around the ankle over socks.  And here's something impressive - the device can only be removed with two hands and a key, especially important if you have a child like mine!

Now, a News You Can Use post would not be complete if we didn't talk about apps and tablet cases, right?  I am constantly looking for the best case to protect these expensive devices and Lily is almost always able to outsmart those supposedly indestructible cases and then this happens:

Just to let you know, Lily has been banned from iPad use in our home until I come up with a better solution.

  

So I'm walking through Toys R Us one day a couple of months ago and something catches my eye:  this Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case by Fisher Price.  It's for an iPhone or an iPod Touch.  

I wondered if it might work for the Bird's Touch.  Yes, it looks babyish but I knew Lily wouldn't care.  But what sold me?  It was $14.99.  I've easily spent double that (or more) on cases that have been an utter failure.  I figured $15 wasn't too much of a risk if it didn't work.  

I want you to know, that cheap case has worked better than anything else I've tried!  Lily can't take it off (nothing short of a miracle) and it's been dropped and licked and chewed and even took a quick dip in the potty and the Touch just keeps on ticking.

Best news of all?  They now have the same kind of case for the iPad.  

Oh joy!  Once I buy one, the Bird just might get to use an iPad again!

At Lily's school, they use a touch screen desk-top computer for certain tasks and the Bird loves it.  While I would love to reinforce some of those skills she's learning on that computer, the only trouble is that I don't want to buy a touch screen computer - and we've just seen how well the iPad is working for us now.  So I was super excited to discover this portable touch panel usb that turns any monitor into a touch screen!

photo courtesy of Tips 4 Special Kids

I'm the only person in my family that still uses my trusty Apple desktop because it has an enormous screen that I don't have to squint or reposition to see and that makes me happy.  But I'm thinking if I buy one of these touch panels, I can set Lily up at my computer and we can do some of the more educational apps without a mouse and keyboard.

And since we're on the subject, how about a great list of 32 Apps for Toddlers?  I know lots of our kiddos are no longer considered toddlers but many of these apps teach some skills that the Bird still needs to learn and practice.

Rounding out this edition are two links just for us parents.

One, a list of 25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier .  My personal favorites?  The rubber band around the apple and the bread tag cord labels.  Don't forget to click on the bottom of the article for 25 more clever ideas.

And lastly, alternaVites is a quick dissolving vitamin powder (think Pixie Stix) that your child just might enjoy taking, thus also making your life a little easier. 

Well, that's all folks.  

Except for this - since tomorrow is Good Friday and all my girls are home, I'll be taking the day off to hang out with them.  But I'll post a little Easter note on Saturday or Sunday so be sure to check back!  

Have a great Thursday!