mealtime

These soft foam chairs allow children to sit upright to independently interact with toys and people around them. The seats are lightweight and can be taken anywhere. The seat stabilizes the hips and encourages proper alignment.

Did you ever think of using a small one-step bathroom stool as a chair? A stool with a back was turned into a perfect chair for a young child to sit and play with his mother. The step stool was just the right height for the child to sit in with his feet on the floor. The side and back of the stool provided enough stability so that his mother could sit in front of him and play!

A variety of bolsters and mats can easily be made from items around the house. Large cans, oatmeal boxes, mailing tubes and other items in the shape you need to support the child can be taped together, wrapped with foam and/or toweling and made into bolsters that will hold a child in a desired position.

Materials:
Large cans or other items in desired shape
Foam from camping supply store
Towels or blanket remnants
Tape or thread

Directions:

What about those children who are just beginning to sit but are still very fragile so they can't be left sitting? This was made from a piece of ABS plastic, white Ethefoam (or any firm foam), and 3M Spray adhesive. The child sits on the plastic, which keeps the foam from moving as they lean on it. Need a tray? I often use a rectangular cardboard box with one long side cut out. Or you can use a behind the sink shelf that we found at this particular home.

You can make a small barrel seat quite easily from a 5 gallon plastic pail to support a child while sitting on the floor. The back can be cut high for children who require a great deal of support or low for those that do not. It can be cut off periodically to gradually decrease support as the child develops the ability to sit with less support.

Materials:

• 5 gallon plastic pail
• Very sharp instrument-kitchen knife, coping saw, or X-acto knife
• Sandpaper—medium and fine
• 14” round pillow

Does your child fidget in his chair because his feet don't reach the floor and he doesn't have a good base of support? Then you need this easy homemade item. Just make a box out of wood and put holes in the top front big enough to fit the front legs of the chair in them (like a box to step up on that is secure). Having the legs in the box is key so the child can not play with the box and kick it or push it around. Have the child decorate his box and personalize it with paint, his/her name etc.

Pringles Torengos (the potato chips) come in a triangular shaped can. After eating the tortilla chips and cleaning the can, take the label off. Cut a piece of self-stick felt (available at Michaels or AC Moore) to cover the outside of the can. You now have a communication device or choice board. Attach 2” communication symbols (made with Boardmaker software) with the Velcro (male side) on the back of the pictures and they will stick to the can. Because the can has 3 sides, you can have three sets of messages ready to view or choose from.

Materials:

• Foam Board (thick poster board – sturdy like cardboard!)
• Velcro (tape and dots)
• Pictures and/or symbols of activities the child does and places the child goes on a regular basis

1. Cut foam board to the size of 36” length x 4” width. Take the Velcro (fuzzy or female side) and run it the entire length of the foam board on both sides. Attach the pictures for the daily schedule on one side and on the other side have a place to store extra pictures and symbols.

An eye gaze frame can be made with simple materials obtained at a hardware store. Buy three lengths of plumber’s pipe (PVC pipe) in whatever size you choose and however long you want it to be: 12—18 inches should be about right. Then purchase the equivalent elbow connectors that fit the size of pipe that you bought. Buy or make two blocks of wood about 3” by 5”. Purchase sticky back Velcro strips and cover the pieces of pipe with the fuzzy part of the Velcro. Hot glue two round pipe connectors to the wood base.

Since families often spend a large amount of time in the kitchen, the room serves as the activity center of the home. It is also a place where a child is likely to express wants and needs. Many kitchen activities offer children opportunities to communicate. These opportunities may arise during meal preparation, meal times, or snack times. Here is a simple idea for providing a convenient communication opportunity near the refrigerator.

Materials:

• Magnet backed coupon holder from a dollar store