April 2013

 April's Sibshops started off with a  lot of smiles, despite the still cold and cloudy weather!

Where is Spring Already?

 This months theme was to "Take Care! Of the earth, your self and your sib!"

 We created super fun and funny Mr. Recycle Heads. We have a creative group of Sibshoppers. Keep watering their hair, give em a cut and they will keep on growing for ya!

 Our "Share Fair" consisted of small groups talking together writing down ways they take care of themselves and ways they are asked and do take care of their siblings with special needs.

 The kids shared these things and more: What I can do when I am angry; Who can I talk to?; When my sib is sad I can; My parents ask me to always help my sib....

 This new game called "Color Guard" was a big hit! We have some fast, sneaky athletes

on our Sibshops roster.

These are just a few of the things we enjoyed this month at Sibshops! Come back in May for more.

March 2013

 Our "Spring Fling" Sibshop started with decorating some fun spring activity nametags. We had lots of soccer & baseball fans and butterflies and birds proved to be spring favorites. Our Sibshoppers then got themselved all wound up in a classic Sibshop games of "Knots."

 We have some excellent artists at Sibshops and they proved it in our Springy version of Pictionary. Everyone got a chance to draw and even got the hard ones like "Spring Break" and "Earth Day" really quickly and easily.

 A game of pick up straws proved to be challenging as our Sibshoppers had to focus their boundless energy on the quiet and still objective at hand.

 After being so quiet and independent, our Sibshoppers were ready to work together as a team to create straw structures that would hold a paper bowl up as high as possible. Their teams were creative and cooperative in building some awesome structures. It was fun to hear them collaborate and laugh together.

 We tried out a new game called "Popcorn". Sibshoppers mill around an open area until a number is called. They then quickly form a small group of that number of people and are asked to create with their bodies a person, place or thing! It was a silly game, but a fun one for our group. In the photo below the whole group was asked to create a roller coaster.

 WHHHHEEEEEE!

 And below, this group of five formed a soaring Eagle!

 Last month we tried out a new game called 'Balloon Foot Volleyball". The kids loved it and asked for more so we added it to this month's agenda and again it was a big hit!

 The kids always wanna take on the adult facilitators. This month we had a great group of BYU Volunteers join us so it made it possible for a rivalry game!

 Our Sibshoppers also had an opportunity to share with one another special dreams they have for themselves, as well as special dreams they have for their siblings.  These Sibshoppers are tremendous! Regardless of any day to day sibling challenges, they have high hopes and sweet, tender dreams for their siblings.

February 2013

Happy Valentines Sibshop!

We started out creating some fun paintings doing marble art. Note for the future, make sure to use big, heavy marbles! The ones we stole from our Chinese checkers were a little too light to do the job we hoped for! The kids were creative though and some even turned their artwork into giant valentines for their sibs.

We tried out a new game called "Artic Winds Hoops" and chased eachother in a game of tag with hoops swinging round our feet. 

 We enjoyed snacking on some yummy conversation hearts while playing some Valentines B-I-N-G-O! Some kids seem to have ALL the luck! We shared some reasons we love our siblings while we played.

The blind obstacle course proved to be a little challenging and a little scary (they probably won't admit it!). Our sibshoppers took turns directing each other through a topsy turvy "trust" course while blindfolded. They scaled boxes, crawled through tunnels, avoided cones and slithered on their bellies underneath a really short bench--all while blindfolded and guided by a fellow Sibshopper.

Looking forward to March!

January 2013

This cold (and nasty inversion ridden) Utah winter day was met with only enthusiasm by our small group of Sibshoppers. We tried a new trickle in art activity by making our own puffy paint. It was a success and our Sibshoppers made some awesome designs and puffy snowflakes in honor of the cold and wintry (yet snowless) day.

We followed our painting with a game of "Instant Replay" where we got to practice one another's names and share a hobby/interest with the group. We've got some brave gymnasts in our group!

"Mocassins"--another new activity to our group, provided an opportunity for us to imagine what it might be like to walk a mile in our sibs mocassins. We decided there are things that are definitely not easy for our sibs with special needs, but that we are both lucky to have one another there for the journey. "Sightless Sculpture" underscored the difficulties our sibs may face as our own Sibshoppers had to create a work of art blindfolded by using their fellow Sibshoppers as the model and the "clay."

A silly and great new game of 'Indoor Foot Volleyball" had everyone in stitches until we finished up with some delicious brownie snowmen. Yum.

November 2012

 "Pushpin Soccer" is one of our favorite Sibshop games! The kids scramble to get their teams balloon past the opposing goalie who is eagerly waiting to pop their balloon before it crosses into the goal.

 "Feelings on a Rope" lets the kids share how they feel about a wide variety of topics. We might ask how they feel about pepperoni pizza or playing the Wii. We might ask what they think about going on vacation with their sib, being asked to help their sib do things or having friends over when their sib is home.

October 2012

Happy Halloween!

 Our Sibshoppers got creative designing their Q-Tip skeletons

 Everyone wanted a chance to be mummified by their friends!

 Some of our costumed Sibshoppers take time to strike a pose for the camera

 The Sibshoppers are concentrating hard on this Halloween Themed Memory Game

Our kids worked together to create some "Mutual Monsters". They took turns blindly drawing different parts of these scary monsters till they were finally revealed in all their gory glory.

July 2012

 A little art to get started!

 Getting to know you!

 Two of our awesome Sibshop volunteers! Without these girls we would be sunk. They are the best!

 Our Sibshoppers LOVE playing Islands! Ask em about it! It is like musical chairs but with disappearing Islands of Paper Plates.

 Yeah for tie-dye! The weather totally threatened our big fun in the sun Sibshop, but we were able to get outside in a little drizzle to make our t-shirts and to play on the slip-n-slide!

June 2012

 Debbie Sanders, from the Utah School for The Deaf and Blind, came and presented our annual Deaf/Blind simulation. The kids experienced first hand what it might feel like to cope with a special need. Thank you Debbie!

 Our Sibshoppers took very good care of one another as they were escorted around the building and outside to accomplish tasks such as opening doors, drinking from a water fountain, putting together a puzzle and simply walking down a hallway.

We have a great group of Sibshoppers!

May 2012

 Working on a mother's day craft to celebrate Mom!

 Hearing all about Tina's service trip to Europe. The kids were really interested in hearing about her experiences there with children in orphanages and children with special needs. We are so grateful for the luxuries we enjoy here in the States to take care of ourselves and our families and our sibs with special needs.

 Getting ready for the other team's quick advance while soaking up the sun 

outside and playing some fun games.

Enjoying time playing with new and old Sibshop Friends.