Posts Filed Under Nintendo

Day 18 – Gift Ideas for Special Needs Kids

posted by Momo Fali on November 18, 2013

Every year my family asks me what my kids want for Christmas. My teen daughter’s requests have morphed over the years; as she’s grown, so have her tastes. We’ve gone from Barney, to Hannah Montana, to jewelry, to sports equipment, to nice shoes and gift cards. Those last two things are on my list too.

Not only is my 11 year old son, who is on the Autism spectrum, a super-slow grower (we just moved into a size 7 slim!), his taste in toys hasn’t expanded much either. He doesn’t play sports, other than an occasional game of golf, and his interest in trains, planes, roller coasters, music, bike riding and video games is about the same as it was when he was a toddler.

Since we are running out of storage bins for train parts, recently I’ve felt the need to step outside of the gift box, so to speak. These are some of my favorite things (his, too) for special needs kids.

1. Gorilla Gym Indoor Swing

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The Gorilla Gym is a great gift for the whole family, actually. My daughter loves to box, my husband and I do Crossfit (and the Gorilla Gym AirStraps would give you a great workout), and my son uses all of his earned free time at school to play on the indoor swing. Whenever he needs a break, he can take five or ten minutes to swing and calm himself. This activity has long been part of his sensory therapy and now, even during the cold winter months, he has a place to exercise and refocus.

2. Bosu Ball

Bosu BallThis is another item that the whole family can use, if you can manage to get it away from your child. Not only does my son have an affinity for anything round, he has also sat on a “hippity hop” ball for years while writing, eating, or playing games. The bouncing and squirming helps him concentrate on the task at hand. It’s also been a great benefit to his balance, stability and core strength. Now that he’s getting a little bigger (7 slim!), we’re moving away from the hippity hop ball with Tigger on it, to a more grown-up, Bosu version.

3. Wii Fit U

You may sense a theme here. That’s because left to his own devices, my son would come home from school and play video games. All day, every day. Because he doesn’t play traditional sports, it’s hard to keep him active. The Wii Fit U has been perfect at incorporating fun and movement. Just look at those squats!

4. Weighted Blanket

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image courtesy of www.sensacalm.com

Not unlike the concept of swaddling newborns or the Thundershirt for dogs, weighted blankets help kids with anxiety and restlessness. We don’t own one of these yet, so I can’t recommend a particular brand, but I can tell you that the more blankets I lay on my son at night, the more restful his sleep. I’ve taken to placing a hefty, crocheted blanket on him so he doesn’t get too hot, but still gets the sensory benefit. I’m sure he would enjoy a kid’s version and not the one I’ve been putting on him that looks like it belongs on a grandma’s lap.

5. Blokus

blokusThis strategic game is a family favorite in our house; even when we aren’t playing it I’ll often find my son arranging the tiles into colorful patterns. Not only does it help develop his social skills, this (along with chess) shows him that his actions must be planned. Thinking ahead and good decision making don’t always come naturally to him. In fact, they rarely do. A board game that teaches him this fundamental concept and is actually fun to play? Bonus

When buying for a special needs child, remember to take their individual compulsions and weaknesses into account. You wouldn’t want to buy a noisy toy for a kid who is agitated by sounds nor would you get a rock collection for the child who puts everything in his mouth. Try to find something that lends value in multiple ways, and when in doubt, ask mom or dad for ideas.

 

Disclosure: I was provided with a Gorilla Gym Indoor Swing and a Wii Fit U for review.

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Wii U: Party Like it’s 2013!

posted by Momo Fali on April 27, 2013

A few weeks ago, we had a party. It wasn’t your typical shindig in that we weren’t celebrating a birthday, graduation, or anniversary; we weren’t gathering together because of someone, but rather something. We invited some friends over to meet the newest addition to our family; the Wii U.

Nintendo not only sent me a Wii U and a couple of games, but they also sent Chris and Brian, who were able to explain this amazing new game system to a room full of eager party-goers in about 15 minutes flat. Also, they brought pizza. I kind of wanted to keep them.

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Do you know how hard it is to make a teenage girl laugh? How about THREE teenage girls? The Wii U has powers, y’all. No joke.

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Like the power to make me contort my face. This is me, losing the Luigi’s Ghost Mansion game. My son is just drinking that juice box like he DOESN’T EVEN CARE that I was just attacked. Rude.

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What I love about Wii U is that the fun spans the ages. After three generations raced and chased, we all sang and danced to Justin Bieber’s, “Baby”…

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…The B-52s, “Love Shack”…

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…and Frank Sinatra’s, “New York, New York.”

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Then we had prizes! Everybody loves prizes. See?

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Family game night has taken on a whole new meaning for us. Honestly, we haven’t even tried to engage our kids with a  board game lately, mostly because they call them “bored” games. The tech-savvy teens and tweens at this party enjoyed the Wii U’s challenges, the team-elements, and the superb graphics, while the parents enjoyed having the kids around on a Friday night.

We connected, we laughed, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. I’m not kidding when I say that I would do this every weekend if we could.

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For now, I am practicing my vocals and scaring the dog out of the room in the process. I’m working on my dance moves and improving my Mario chasing skills. There will be no more face-contorting for me!

But first I have to stop watching Breaking Bad on Netflix, because that’s also something for which I use the Wii U and I won’t even get into how I can watch shows AND tweet with it at the same time, or purchase On Demand movies, or have voice and video chats with friends. Have mercy. I haven’t even told my husband about the sports features because I’ll never get my hands on the game-pad again!

I want to offer a huge thanks to Nintendo for making our party a success! The Wii U provided hours of entertainment and a great time was had by all. We can’t wait for next time!

Momo’s Holiday Gift Guide, 2012

posted by Momo Fali on December 10, 2012

Although I haven’t done much shopping yet because that’s what happens when you get distracted by Silk Egg Nog, I know what I’ll be buying for almost everyone. If you’re still looking for ideas, here’s a peek at some of my favorite products this year:

For tweens, teens and kids of all ages:

1. Wii UNintendo continues to innovate with this new idea in game play. Used as a stand-alone unit or for group-play in person, or online, Wii U adds a whole new level to at-home gaming. You can even video chat! I am mostly looking forward to playing Sing Party with my daughter and her friends, because embarrassing her is a gift to myself.

2. Nintendo 3DS XL – Since its introduction to our house a couple of years ago, we haven’t seen a day go by that the 3DS wasn’t played. My kids love it (and to be honest, so do I). This year, the 3DS XL was released with a screen that’s 90% bigger, which means the adults in our home can play without our reading glasses! What? Old people like Mario too.

3. GrooveBook – GrooveBook is a free app that lets you pick up to 100 photos from your camera roll and turn them into a 4.5″ x 6.5″ photobook. The photobook is mailed to you monthly and you pay $2.99 for shipping. That’s it. You just pay shipping. And, for Momo Fali readers GrooveBook has offered the first month’s shipping COMPLETELY free! Just use promo code MOMOFALI2012.

4. Duracell Instant USB Charger – This small charger lets you add extra hours of use to your iPods, iPhones, Blackberrys and more. It’s a great solution for a problem everyone has. I can toss it in my purse and have instant access to more battery power!

Gifts for her:

1. Vegan Cuts – If the “her” is me, which means she eats vegan, anything from this site makes a great gift. Really. Anything. *cough*

2. Mark and Graham Touch-Screen Cashmere Gloves – I’ve worn fingerless gloves each winter since I got a smartphone, but being able to use your fingers on a touchscreen AND keep them warm? Brilliance. Also, cashmere.

3. Cuisinart Mini Food Processor – Slice, shred, and MAKE HUMMUS in this handy, little food processor. It’s easier to clean and store than it’s bigger counterpart, too. I’m saying this like I own this little beauty. *cough again*

4. SEPHORA by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System – I love to have painted nails, but I hate how the polish starts chipping off the very next day. The last time I got a gel manicure though, the polish stayed on for three weeks. I have no idea if this home system works, but the online reviews say it does. For the woman who gets frequent manis, this seems like a pretty cool concept.

5. Twiztt Cookware by Joan Lunden – Yes, that Joan Lunden. It turns out that her Emmy Award-winning journalism career created a passion for health issues. She has served as “…national spokesperson for campaigns with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the American Lung Association, The American Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has spearheaded campaigns on colon cancer prevention for the Colon Cancer Alliance and Amgen, and on type II diabetes for Eli Lilly.” Her new cookware line is not only attractive and practical, but also PFOA and PTFE-free, making it eco-friendly and healthier for cooking. Put that in your pan and fry it!

Gifts for him:

1. The Ultimate Heroes Collection from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment – This set contains DVDs of Fantastic Four, X-Men, Elektra, and Daredevil. Need I say more?

2. Cargo-Logic – Have a dog? Check. Have messy kids? Check. Have a husband who likes to use the family SUV to drag rotting bags of wet leaves to the curb? Check. Cargo-Logic is a stain and moisture-resistant barrier that protects your cargo area from the hazards of family life and the smell of moldy yard waste.

3. Stemless Wine Glasses from Mustache Attack – Because wine drinking needs more testosterone. Period.

4. DryCASE – My husband is a fisherman and this vacuum-sealed case offers full touch-screen functionality and is waterproof to 100 feet. It’s perfect for skiing, kayaking, or even rainy-day football games. Also, drunk canoeing.

5. Major League Baseball 2K12 – Any guy who likes baseball has envisioned himself hitting one out of the park during the World Series®. This is about as close as he’ll ever get. No offense, fellas.

If you aren’t familiar with TBDBITL (The Best Damn Band in the Land), this will show you why they have earned that distinction. Trust me that this is worth your time (don’t miss the 6:00 mark) and trust me that you will never look at a halftime show without comparing it to this one. WHICH IS TO SAY THAT NONE WILL COMPARE TO IT. EVER.