Cream Pie with Sprinklers on Top

My lil clowns absolutely love shaving cream. We regularly add 'cream pie fight' to 'running through the sprinklers.' Its texture-tastic and can help a lil one get used to 'goo' hands and face...a little kid life skill if there every was one! Also, great for a class, party, or crowd-- super fun and super affordable, this activity can go for hours!

Stuck indoors today? There's a million and one art projects involving shaving cream. 

The Art of Shaving Cream Pie Play

Biggest Cream Pie Fight on Record

Mommy and Me Vest Patterns

25+ FREE VEST PATTERNS

Vests are a clown get-up go-to...adding channels for weight makes it an affordable weighted vest. Things to consider: beans, rice, lentils, etc., are not washable! Try aquarium pebbles instead. 

Or, make pockets for removable beanbags (again, not stuffed with foodstuffs.) The latter option means your lil clownie can adjust the weight of their vest or even go without weights during dress-up. 

Image from sunshineandcompany.com

no sew tutu

This no sew tutu tutorial was written by skiptomylou.org:

A no sew tutu couldn’t be more simple to make for little ones and it is a great handmade gift that encourages imaginative play.

You will need 5 yards of tulle which can be found at a local fabric store and 1 elastic headband. I found the elastic headband at the dollar store.

Mad Hatter " Eat Me's"

Alice in Wonderland or Mad Hatter's Tea Party can be great themes for a spectrum saavy kid party. Treats labled 'eat me' and 'drink me' really speak to spectrum guests that value instruction and labels, such as kids that have participated in discreit trials, ABA therapy, or use PECS.  Treats like these, plated with like-items in repetitive, clean lines are visually appealling, less confusing/intimidating, and easier to visually navigate, which will encourage kids to try new items and feel more apt at serving themselves, a life skill AND social skill.

PECS or ASL images can also be added to labels or tables as needed.

Drinks can be labeled "drink me." Take homes can be labeled "take me."  You can even set up stations like "play me," "make me," "try me," "use me," etc. For a lot of children with Autism, its much easier to get started if the objects comes with its own precision command! 

Mad Hatter: Pleated Paper Party Hats

My daughter (my lil preschool clown, soon to be a kinderclown) and I participated in a Mommy and Me Mad Hatter Tea Party for preschoolies with Autism last year. Theses wearable craft hats were a great, easy sensory/fine motor activity that presented the kids with visually and texturally stimulating "take homes" that required no glue, paint or mess-- meaning less tactile discomfort for the kids and less clean up for the host. Moms and kids just loved theses!

Imagine it in a million colors, wide ribbon sashes, feathers, flowers... We also made cards that said '10/6' to tuck in the sash. The tuck card is a little thing, but it takes this craft from "oh, a hat" to "Oh! A Mad Hatter!"

Click Here for the full tuitorial with lots of detailed photos. Thanks Ecouterre!

Bubble Ruffle Tutu

If your child would like a tutu for play, dance, or clowning, but the sensory experience of toule against their skin or grabbing at their tights (if they are even up for wearing tights. So many of us at ASD Alley aren't big fans of the fit or feel of tights) this lined tutu could be a good option! Thanks Alicia, The Created Vault and U-Create for this tutorial.