November 2009 Info

In November we are hosting a Super Sibshop as part of the Utah County Special Needs Conference. It is on the second Saturday of the month, just like always, so put November 14th on your calendar! We will NOT meet at KOTM, we will meet at Mountain View High School in Orem, UT--just a couple blocks away from where we normally are. We will meet from 8:30-1:15. Yep, you heard me right! Almost 5 hours, that's why we call it SUPER!

So, we would love to have your kids join us for Sibshop! Our regularly attending Sibshoppers are welcome to attend the Sibshop even if a parent does not attend the conference. So, if your Sibshopper plans on attending ONLY the Sibshop then please contact me directly and we will work out the details. I need that RSVP by Friday, Nov 6th.

If a parent is attending the conference, then the Sibshop is free as part of the Conference registration and there is also free respite care available.

Take a look at this link to the registration forms and let me know if you have any questions!

http://kidsonthemove.org/

Invite a Parent! October 2009

We are counting our last Sibshop a great success! We were so glad to make new friends and have our parents join us for fun and friendship. Here's hoping you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Playing a little game of "Win, Lose or Draw" to get warmed up

The parents played a mean game of "Push Pin Soccer!"

The kids turn to take a shot at it!

Exploring our Tanabata Tree of Dreams

Now that's how you eat pizza!

Getting in the Halloween mood with our own homemade spooky mummies

Lookin' Good!

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 10th: Another monthly Sibshop, but this time parents are invited to attend with their Sibshopper! Please RSVP ASAP for a fun filled morning. Also, respite care is provided for chidren with special needs, so contact Jessica immediately to reserve a spot for your child. jnix@kotm.org

Saturday, November 14: Super Sibshop in conjunction with the Utah County Special Needs Conference. This will be help at Mountain View High School from 8:30-1:15. We would love to have our regular Sibshoppers attend, even if a parent is not attending the Conference. More details to come!

December: There will NOT be any Sibshops held in December, we will catch up with you in January for Sibshops 2010!

September 2009

September's Sibshop included fun activities like "Do You Love Your Neighbor" and "Triangle Tag" as well as some free social play in the backyard. The kids did great coming up with fun games to play with one another as they scaled the playground slides. We also had some great small group discussions while we did the "Dear Aunt Blabby" activity. You see, kids just like yours who have siblings with special needs write to Aunt Blabby for advice. Our Sibshoppers are just the right experts to give their peers advice on how to relate with their siblings. We also undertook the enormous task of making some tie-dyed Sibshop t-shirts. We hope you are all enjoying them! Sorry about the fingerprints and the logos that were ripping this time around.

August 2009

We went with what we call a "traditional" Sibshop in August. It was a fun Sibshop day full of discussion, playing, eating, building friendships, and sharing our joys and challenges with one another. A discussion of excerpts from "Views From My Shoes"--a book which has published the thoughts, feelings and experienes of siblings who have a sibling with special needs
Getting ready for what will be a raucous game of "Do You Love Your Neighbor"

Here's the raucous part!

Challenging our minds with a memory game before we get "Back to School"

July 2009, Water Fun Day

July is our annual Summer Celebration and Water Fun Day! It is an opportunity to just play with all our Sibshop friends and enjoy the warm weather of summer. And who doesn't love a BBQ and popsicles.

Our trusty volunteer Temma working on blowing up an impossible beach ball
Super Fun Parachute and Ball Play

Shark Attack!

A Sibshop Parachute Mushroom

A friendly game of water balloon volleyball

Getting ready to enjoy a water relay

June 2009, Utah School for the Deaf and Blind

In June we had our annual visit from the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. We are so lucky that they come and share their knowledge and expertise with us. We were all led in a deaf/blind simulation so we could better experience and empathize with those who have hearing and or sight losses and challenges. A peer helper helped lead another one of their peers through a number of "obstacles" faced daily by those with special needs. Engaging in directed play activities
Being led up and down a set of stairs

All decked out in the simulation "uniform"
Earplugs, headband, animal mask and headphones

Playing a rousing game of Bean Bag Toss to get warmed up

Making a braille nameplate

May 2009

We had the family of service/therapy dog come and share their story! Not only does the boy, who has autism, have this great dog but his older sister has gone on to become a trainer!
Shake!

A lot of love!

Eagerly yelling out answers during our animal charades!

We ended wth some quiet story time

April 2009

Filling Easter Eggs with sweet suprises for our sibs
Playing a spirited game of Scrabble Scramble

Easter Egg Relay

Tough Guys

March 2009

Getting ready for the big relay race! READY-SET-GO!
Hangin' out and makin' new friends

We celebrated St. Patricks Day by making some shamrock necklaces.

Our Fun February Sibshop!

All smiles!Now that's a cookie!
Having Fun!

Christian and Miss Deah just chillin'
Playing a Game of Undercover Leader

An awesomely creative Valentine made by a Sibshopper!
Adrian's Artistic Side!

Kylee, MK and Miss Shellie creating Valentines

SibParent

What is a SibParent? Where parents of kids with special needs can talk about their "other" kids! On the internet there are many listservs where parents can discuss about their children with a disability. However, there is only one place where parents can talk about their "other" kids. This is where parents can discuss the joys and concerns about their typical developing children. For more information, please check out this website: www.siblingsupport.org