Games for Children With Special Needs Are a Great Gift Idea

10 Reasons to Choose Games as a Holiday Gift for Kids

"Families who play together, stay together," has a nice ring to it, but does the research support this concept? The answer is a resounding, "Yes." According to a July 2001 study published in Family Relations, "The social research shows that spending recreational time together fosters a healthy family environment." That is why it is particularly important to promote games for children with special needs.

Games for children with special needs are a great holiday gift because they deliver a whole host of benefits aside from the obvious fun factor.

Here are the Top Ten Reasons to buy games for children with special needs:

1. Social Learning - Games for children with special needs allow kids to explore the social realm with their family and playmates in a highly effective way. Playing a game teaches a child some important lessons like, turn-taking, following the rules and exploring interpersonal relations.

2. Level Playing Field - Because all players start at the same spot in a game and often chance dictates who will win, all players are equal. This is an extremely important occurrence for children with special needs.

3. Winning - The experience of winning is a powerful feeling for all children, but it has special relevance for children with special needs because it can be somewhat rare. Winning creates a platform to celebrate the accomplishments and abilities of the players - regardless of special needs. Games also teach a child that they should not gloat too much and be considerate of those other players who might feel a bit disappointed.

4. Losing - If games for children with special needs can teach a child how to win, they also can teach them how to lose. Dealing with disappointment by playing games teaches a child resilience, patience and the power of moving on.

5. Intergenerational - There are a great many games out there in the marketplace that are appropriate for the whole family to play-from grandparents to young siblings.

6. Stress reduction - Families carry a lot of stress throughout the day, and those with children who have special needs may carry more than most. Building a little time for game play allows laughter to displace the stress.

7. Planning - Some games for children with special needs require planning and strategies to be employed to win and play is a great way to learn these skills.

8. Team Building - Certain games for children with special needs require team play and this is a wonderful experience. Learning how to become a team player is probably one of the most important life skills a child can conquer.

9. Reading Others - There is a category of games that can benefit children with special needs that has within its format the need to predict what another player will do. Think of bluffing and playing poker. Players learn to read a situation, predict others behavior and then adjust their behavior accordingly.

10. Memories - Playing games for children with special needs allow them to create a database of fun, pleasurable and positive memories of their childhood and their family. Those memories can often transcend any trials or tribulations they may have to face. Think of it as a treasure chest of joyful times, there whenever a child needs it.

There are reasons why games are a favorite gift choice for young and old alike. There are even more reasons why parents, families and friends should consider giving games to the kids with special needs in their life. The child who receives it is likely to win a whole lot more than just a game.

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Baby Shower Party Favor Ideas

After a fun afternoon playing baby shower games, everyone wants to leave the party with an adorable favor. It's what completes the experience. Cool favors are what make your baby shower extra special. The baby shower hostess may sometimes take weeks going back and forth between the different possibilities. I've been to quite a few baby showers in my time, and let me tell you, I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. In this article I'll give you 5 examples of favors that have caught my eye. Hopefully you'll really like at least one of these ideas.

1- Crystal Baby Bottle Key Chains

A key chain is something useful and everyone uses it daily. Since favors should be memoirs, key chains will be a daily reminder of the baby for family and friends. You can tie the baby bottle key chain in tulle cloth and have an elegant ivory ribbon around it. For an even more sophisticated look, have the baby's name inscribed in gold letters on the ribbon. If the baby doesn't have a name yet, use the parent's names. Some people will love the favor so much, they won't use it. This is fine too since it can be used to decorate a mantle or another corner of their home.

2- Baby Shower Cookie

If the mommy or daddy to be love cookies, then this favor will please them very much. Choose a theme for the cookies that match the overall theme of the party and of course express something personal about the parents. You can have a variety of different cookies in the same color combination but in different shapes. For example; if you're throwing a fall themed baby shower you can have pumpkins, acorns, squirrels and leaf shapes with orange, yellow, and brown colored icing. A good thing about this favor is the fact that guests don't have to feel bad that the cookie won't last more than a day. They can eat it and feel appreciated for coming: mission accomplished. The perfect favor if you ask me.

3- Porcelain Baby Doll

The great thing about this favor is that it's very pretty and it lasts a long time. Women and girls will be able to decorate their rooms with this favor. You can have the baby doll styled in whatever theme you've chosen for your event. The only drawback is that this kind of favor may not appeal to men in attendance if you're throwing a couples baby shower. In that case, you can always have a different favor for the guys.

4- Cold Porcelain Themed Magnet

A magnet is a useful item and also a great reminder in the home of the new arrival of the baby. Get creative and make different types of magnets in the theme and the color scheme that you've chosen for your shower. For example: if you've chosen to have a nautical baby shower you can have lifesavers, anchors, sailor babies, and boats as magnets. Display your magnet favors on a 3 tiered tray on a special table just for them. That way it will be easier to hand them to guests as they leave the party.

5- Polaroid Favor Idea

Have someone take a picture of the mommy to be and each guest as they are leaving the shower. Make sure it's one of those instant pictures. That way, the hostess hands the picture along with a picture frame to the guest.

I have one more piece of advice when you're thinking about what to do for baby shower favors. Try to be creative and innovate. Give it some heart. It doesn't have to be anything amazing; it just has to be something that shows appreciation and adds a smile to your guests' faces.

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