Sharla Kostelyk

Sensory Bin Starter Kit

Sensory bins are simple to put together but provide a big “punch” in terms of benefits. Improved fine motor skills, sensory input (tactile, visual, proprioception, and sometimes auditory and/or gustatory), communication skills, and hands-on learning are just some of the opportunities that are presented to a child with sensory bin play.

If you’re new to creating sensory bins for your child or classroom, I’ve put together a Sensory Bin Starter Kit guide for you.

Here are some ideas to help you put together your own sensory bin starter kit:

Sensory Bins eBook

The Sensory Bins book includes idea lists, storage tips, money saving hints, information on sensory processing in how it pertains to sensory bins, and sensory play recipes. It’s a great place to start.

Pluffle

This stuff is so fun! It kind of moves which is just super neat. I discovered it just last year. It makes a great sensory bin filler and is so versatile. You can see a video below of the pluffle in action.

Learning Resources Helping Hands Fine Motor Tool Set

Sensory bins are a wonderful way to improve fine motor skills. This tool set includes large Gator Grabber tweezers, a Handy Scooper, Twisty Dropper, and Squeezy Tweezers. These are all designed for fine motor skill development.

Adding one or more of these into a sensory bin will offer more ways to play and explore. I especially like the Handy Scooper for water bead sensory bins.

For similar effects, you can also add kitchen tools such as measuring cups, measuring spoons, tongs, scoops, ladles, strainers, small bowls, and spatulas. These are great for scooping, pouring, measuring, moving, pinching, and grabbing.

Water Beads

Water beads are such a versatile sensory item. They make an easy sensory bin filler. I’ve used them in so many of our sensory bins.

Small Toys or Items for Play

One of the things I use most in my sensory bins are little toys found in these things called Toobs. I’ve used the space set, human organs, ocean animals, in the sky, arctic, insects, fruits and vegetables, penguins, dinosaur skulls, and many others.

Small toy cars, miniature trees, pompoms, and mini figures are other common items we often use in our bins. If you have all of these basic components and add them to a bin, you can create all kinds of wonderful sensory bins for your child to explore!

As with all sensory play, adult supervision should be used at all times.

Other Sensory Bin Resources:

Sensory Tools to Help Your Child

By Sharla Kostelyk

When it comes to sensory processing and even emotional regulation, the right sensory tools can make all the difference.

Sensory Tools to Help Your Child:

Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets serve many purposes. Here are some of the potential benefits for adults and children:

firm, gentle pressure provides proprioceptive sensory feedback
eases insomnia
produces a calming effect for some who have sensory processing disorder
lowers stress
reduces anxiety
improves focus in those with ADHD
better overall quality of sleep
helps with emotional regulation and mood
can be used for other physical and mental health concerns such as restless leg syndrome, PTSD, autism, OCD, and fibromyalgia

A good night’s sleep is so important for us to function the next day, not to mention our overall physical and mental health. Using a weighted blanket can help you fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and wake up feeling more rested.

Weighted blankets are scientifically proven to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety.

It accomplishes all of these impressive things through something called deep touch pressure stimulation therapy.

What is deep touch pressure stimulation therapy?

Deep touch pressure stimulation therapy is firm but gentle pressure applied through squeezing, hugs, or holding techniques that relax the nervous system. This produces a calming, soothing effect that can lower anxiety.

This pressure can be applied with an actual hug or through the hands such as a massage or through tools or products such as weighted blankets, neck wraps, compression sheets, or specialized clothing.

Deep touch pressure stimulation increases serotonin and dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitters and lowers cortisol, the stress hormone.

The pressure of a weighted blanket in some ways recreates the feeling of a hug. Now more than ever, that is so needed. This can be so reassuring for kids who may feel anxious at night without their parent.

When it comes to weighted sensory tools, it’s important that you get the right weight. Weighted blankets should not be used with infants and toddlers or those with certain health conditions. Consult your doctor before beginning to use a weighted blanket for yourself or your child.

Compression Sheets

Compression sheets work in much the same way as weighted blankets do. They provide firm, constant pressure in a gentle way.

They also offer essentially the same benefits because they provide deep touch pressure stimulation.

It’s a bit like swaddling a baby. Of course, it isn’t safe to use these sheets with infants or toddlers. You want to ensure that your child can safely crawl out of the sheet themselves.

While the obvious benefits are improved sleep, lowered anxiety, and sensory needs being met, these can also be used during the day to calm your child if you sense that a sensory meltdown is coming on.

The Huggaroo Pouch compression sheet fits your child’s bed like a sock, open on both top and bottom but snug around. It’s smooth and stretchy, offering tactile and proprioceptive sensory feedback. It’s a great alternative to a weighted blanket for those that don’t want the heavy weight or heat of a weighted blanket.

Neck Wraps

The benefits of weighted neck wraps are again similar to those of weighted blankets. One of the nice things about neck wraps is that they are more portable, and can therefore be used at home, in school, or in other settings.

Some of my kids with sensory processing disorder have found that neck wraps help them when they need focus and concentration such as when they are writing an exam. Weighted neck wraps can be particularly beneficial for those with sensory processing disorder, autism, or ADHD. They can help reduce excessive movement and provide more focus and calming.

I like the Huggaroo Weighted Neck Wraps. They are microwavable so they can be warmed. The combination of the proprioceptive pressure and the warmth is particularly soothing.

These are available in unscented or a subtle lavender scent which adds to the calming effect.

You can also set them in your child’s lap so they can double as a lap pad!

Christmas Activity Ideas Jar

By Sharla Kostelyk

So often, the holiday season can become centered around material things like the gifts we’re purchasing or receiving for Christmas. Instead of focusing on presents this year, why not put your effort into making memories with your family? With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, sometimes that’s easier said than done. What if I could make it super simple for your family to enjoy the holiday season together with the help of a variety of fun activities? This adorable Christmas fun jar is a great way to come up with activities your family can enjoy during the holiday season with very little effort on your part.

Christmas Activity Ideas

One of the hardest parts about creating holiday traditions with your family is coming up with Christmas activity ideas everyone in the family will enjoy. But with this easy holiday craft, the hard work is already done for you!

The printable PDF included with this fun craft comes with 30 different easy holiday activities. In addition to being simple to do, most of the activities on this list can be done right at home. That makes them perfect for enjoying time together while you’re stuck inside!

This big list of Christmas activities includes traditional holiday ideas, like baking cookies and wrapping Christmas presents, as well as some unique activities to enjoy together as a family. But the best part about pulling an activity out of this cute jar is that you never know what you’re going to get!

How to Make a Christmas Fun Jar

Making this Christmas activity jar couldn’t be easier. Start by downloading the printable list of activities and the jar label. Cut out each activity on a single strip of paper. Use the helpful guide lines to cut the activities so that each activity fits perfectly on a popsicle stick.

After you have all the activities cut out, just glue one strip to the top of a popsicle stick. You can give your jar a festive holiday look by using red and green popsicle sticks. I got mine at the dollar store or you can use plain popsicle sticks to hold your Christmas activity ideas.

When all the activities have been added to popsicle sticks, place them inside a mason jar. Decorate the front of the jar with the Christmas Activity Jar label, then add a holiday bow on top to make it look extra special. After that, all you have to do is set the jar out for your family to enjoy!

How to Use the Christmas Activity Jar

There are a few different ways you can use this Christmas activity jar to enjoy time with your family during the holiday season. Each of these methods are a great way to put a focus on making memories instead of purchasing gifts, ensuring your family has an amazing holiday season without the need for material things.

Activity advent calendar. Advent calendars are a popular way to count down the days until Christmas. But there’s no reason you have to use a traditional calendar to incorporate this fun activity into your holiday celebration. Use your activity jar as an advent calendar by picking a different popsicle stick activity each day leading up to Christmas. Your family will have tons of holiday fun every day until the big day, helping you build up the excitement for Christmas day in the process.
Memory makers. Make the most of the activities in your Christmas jar by using them to create lasting memories with your kids. Since most of the activities on the list are easy to do, there’s not much work involved in creating a fun time for your kids any day of the week. And allowing each kid to pick an activity for the day will ensure everyone in your family feels special throughout the holiday season.
Adding new traditions. Finding good holiday traditions that everyone in your family enjoys can sometimes be a game of trial and error. This year, work your way through a variety of holiday traditions by drawing a new activity from the jar each day. This method will help you figure out which traditional holiday activities your family likes to do together and which ones aren’t very popular. Make a note of the activities your family enjoyed and start to incorporate them into your holiday celebration from year to year.
I’m bored jar. Another fun way to use the jar is to help pass the time during the holiday season. If your kids are stuck at home this winter, you’re likely to hear the words “I’m bored” more than once. Every time one of your kids says those two words, let them pick a stick from the jar to help them find a fun way to pass the time.

Christmas Activity Jar

Supplies needed:

popsicle sticks (you can use regular or coloured popsicle sticks)
glue
mason jar or other glass jar
printable activities
printable label
holiday ribbon

Directions:

Print out the activity sheet and label.
Cut out the activity strips along the outer borders. (find the download for the label and activities here)
Cut out the printable label around the outer edge.
Glue the activity strips to the popsicle sticks and place the sticks in the jar.
Glue the label to the front of the jar and decorate the top with ribbon.

Check out these holiday family activities:

Christmas Movie Bingo

Minute to Win It Christmas Style

Nativity Playdough Station

Make This a December to Remember

By Sharla Kostelyk

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a hard year. Coming up to Christmas, you may be feeling a mix of emotions. This year, your holiday celebrations and traditions may look very different than past years. But there are ways to make the best of it and make this a December to remember.My friend Courtney from Click-it-up-a-Notch has designed a course called A December to Remember. This course will help you capture the moments and memories this holiday season and ensure you never forget.

Courtney has a gift for simplifying photography tricks. She allows moms to feel confident in forever preserving those treasured moments.

We all know that kids grow up too fast. Even by next year, they will have changed. That’s what makes photos such a blessing.

If you struggle with things like:

how to capture a good shot when your subject (aka busy child!) is constantly in motion
memorializing those candid moments without it feeling forced
taking good photos by the tree or Christmas lights
the inspiration to document the moments before they’re gone
getting that group shot without everyone feeling frustrated
knowing how to create a heartwarming video using your phone camera
taking memorable photos of the people and traditions you love,

then this is for you!

I know that this Christmas and the weeks leading up to it might look very different than you’re wishing they did. But I also know that you can make the best of them.

Create new family traditions.

Do a holiday puzzle.
Play board games.
Watch Christmas movies snuggled under blankets.
Make a hot cocoa bar.
Read a novel together every night.
Bake cookies.
Go toboganning.
Decorate gingerbread houses.
Sponsor a less fortunate family for the holidays.

Then capture those new traditions as well as some of your old ones using your amazing new photography skills. (there are also holiday video tips in there too…)

I’ve learned so much from Courtney and I’m sure you will too!

For those who want to get a jump start and just take the course now, Courtney is offering a $30 off discount for my readers with the code: CHAOS.

My Favourite Things 2020

By Sharla Kostelyk

You know those things that you find and you want to shout from the rooftops how awesome they are? These are my favourite things of 2020, the things I wish I could give to everyone.

While I’m certainly not Oprah and can’t give these to each member of my audience, I did want to gift these to one lucky member.Today’s giveaway is a collection of my favourite things.

The winner will get one of each of the following items:

AquaNotes

These handy waterproof notepads hang in my shower. As a busy mom of many, it’s hard to find quiet moments for myself. In the shower, I’m able to think clearly and therefore, often come up with ideas or remember things I need to do.

In the past, I would then promptly forget when I was out of the shower and cries of “mom” would interrupt my thoughts. But now, I am able to use my AquaNotes to jot down ideas, make to do lists, or even to leave a little note for my husband. It’s easy to see why I love these!

The Sun Does Shine

This was my favourite read of the year. It’s a powerful story and powerfully written. The Sun Does Shine, How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row is also timely in that it is an example of the injustice that can occur when race clouds decisions.

I found the book a bit hard to get into at first because from reading the back of the book, you already know he is going to be wrongly convicted so the parts leading up to that dragged a bit for me, but trust me, stick with it. Anthony Ray Hinton’s time on death row is gripping, heart wrenching, hope filled, and will open your eyes and heart, especially when it comes to the complexities of racism.

Kleenex Find Your Fearless mini packs

With reminders like “Summon Your Strength”, “Find Your Fearless”, and “Believe in Yourself”, these purse sized kleenex packs have accompanied me this year to difficult specialists appointments with one of our daughters, my favourite uncle’s funeral, and lots of moments in between.

It might be a small thing, but those written reminders on the packages brought smiles through my tears.

Crock Pot Liners

Oh my goodness! I wish I had discovered these sooner. They make crock pot cleaning a breeze! No more scrubbing or soaking. Just take out the liner and throw it in the garbage.

I don’t use them for every crock pot meal, but for things like perogies or tater tot or hash brown casserole that stick to the side and are no fun at all to clean out, I treat myself and use a crock pot liner.

Rosco Emmit Cedar Lavender Bubble Salts

My mom told me about these. The first time I tried them, I was in love! They are bath salts but they bubble! I don’t get to have baths that often, but when I do, I want them to be as relaxing as possible and between the scent and the bubbles, this totally creates that.

These are also made on Vancouver Island which is one of my favourite places in the world so that makes me like these even more.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser

I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I saw a makeup tutorial once that showed how to use this to create some highlights on your face and take years off by hiding the bags under your eyes. This has been a go-to for me for a long time, but with getting older and the stress of 2020, I’ve needed to use it more often.

I think it helps my confidence too. (I’ll be contacting the winner to see what skin shade you need.)

The World’s Softest Socks

I live in fuzzy socks. I know it may not be what grown ups are supposed to wear, but they make me feel cozy and comfy. And the fuzzy socks made by The World’s Softest Socks are my new favourite.

Bath and Body Works Foaming Hand Soap

This year with all the extra hand washing and hand sanitizers, my hands started to feel dry. These foaming hand soaps helped with that. They don’t dry out my hands and are super foamy.

They have so many great scents to choose from too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out all 12 Giveaways. You can enter them all!

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways 2020

By Sharla Kostelyk

I want you to know that I appreciate you. If it weren’t for you, my readers, I wouldn’t get to do what I do. I love being able to write and share things that hopefully make a small bit of difference out in the world.

You reading and interacting and sharing what I write allows me to keep doing that. Not only does it help support my family (those pesky ads actually help pay our groceries 😉), it also gives me the motivation to keep writing, to keep sharing. As a sign of my appreciation, I decided to host 12 Days of Christmas giveaways. I know 2020 has been a hard year for many of us. I also know that a few free prizes aren’t going to make up for all that loss. But they might bring a bit of extra cheer. They are a nice distraction too.

I thought a lot about what you might want. While I may not know each of you personally, I hear from many of you.

I know that you likely hold some of these traits:

care deeply for a child or children
kind
overwhelmed
hard working
parent, grandparent, educator, or therapist
fierce advocates
put the needs of others first
tendency to neglect your own self-care

So it stands to reason that you are TIRED.

I’m right there with you.

While I can’t afford to hire you a maid or nanny, I’ve tried to choose things for the giveaway that will bring a smile, make your life a tiny bit easier, or allow you to better practise self-care.

I’m so excited! Wait until you see all the amazing prizes!

It’s actually hard for me to keep this secret and not spill the beans about what’s included each of the days…

2020 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

I am so grateful for my readers, especially this year. In the midst of so many challenges and uncertainty, you have been a bright spot for me. I’ve watched you pivot and adapt in order to help the kids you care about. I’m so proud of all of you!

I wish that I had unlimited resources and could do something extravagant to help you. Consider these 12 days of giveaways and freebies a small token of my appreciation for who you are and what you do.

How it works:

Every day from December 1-12, come back to this page. You will find a new giveaway “unlocked” each of those days.

If you missed entering the previous days, you can still enter those draws by visiting each of those pages and participating in the giveaway.

You can enter each one of the giveaways, giving you 12 chances to win!

All giveaways will end on December 12, 2020 at 11:59 Pacific time. You must be entered before this time to qualify.

Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be drawn.

1rst Day of Christmas Giveaway

My Favourite Things

I’ve compiled a list of my favourite things of 2020. The winner of this draw will receive one of each of the items. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Click here for a chance to win MY FAVOURITE THINGS.

2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway

A December to Remember

Click here for a chance to win A December to Remember.

3rd Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sensory Tools

Click here for a chance to win 3 Amazing Sensory Tools.

4th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sensory Bin Starter Kit

Click here for a chance to win a Sensory Bin Starter Kit.

5th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Family Fun Night

Click here to enter for a chance to win what you need to create a Fun Family Night.

6th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Learning ResourcesClick for a chance to win 7 incredible learning resources.

7th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Christmas cheer

Enter for a chance to win a bit of extra Christmas cheer.

8th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Special Needs ResourcesVisit and enter for your chance to win some great Special Needs Resources.

9th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Happy at HomeVisit and enter for your chance to win items to help increase your happiness.

10th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sanity Savers for Busy Moms

Enter to win these Sanity Savers for Busy Moms.

11th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Echo Dot

Visit this page and enter for your chance to win an Echo Dot.

12th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Today I’m giving away $100 Amazon gift card or $100 sent through PayPal. If you live in the USA or Canada, you can choose between the gift card and the money. If you live anywhere else in the world, I will send the $ through PayPal.

Simply enter in the Rafflecopter entry form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway