Happy Holidays!
I am writing this at the time of year when we are thinking ahead to the holidays. Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, and we’ll have Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Festivus. No matter what holidays you celebrate, consider getting one of these essential gifts for the special needs parent in your life.
Essential Gifts:
1. Respite Care/Spa Day– Special needs parents often put their own needs behind those of their children. Give them a chance to pamper themselves. Be willing to take or provide respite care so they can relax for a few hours. Believe me, they’ll appreciate it.
2. A smart watch– Whether it be a Fitbit, Apple Watch or other brand a smart watch is a great idea. The watch should be able to remind parents to get up and move around, get some water, and breathe deeply will help parents to care for themselves during the day.
3. GPS watch or tracking device for their child– In today’s busy world, there is extra piece of mind in knowing where your child is at. Consider gifting the special needs parent with a GPS-enabled watch to help them make sure their child is where they are supposed to be. Alternatively, you can get a band to hold an Apple AirTag (which has the bonus of reminding me of Disney Magic Bands).
4. Specialty freezer meals– Whether you prepare them yourself or pay for assembled meals, having something quick a parent can pull from the freezer and get onto the table without a lot of fuss can be a sanity saver. Just make sure any food provided meets the family’s dietary needs and restrictions.
5. A Paper organizing system– There are so many bills, appointment papers, progress reports and other communications that come into the home when you’re a special needs parent. Consider purchasing them a paper organization system for their daily life and/or for their extra needs. I like Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365’s Medical Binder.
6. A subscription to Disney+ — More than one autism parent I’ve spoken to has children with a Disney affinity. One parent I’ve helped has a child who expresses themselves through quoting appropriate Disney movie scenes. Give them the gift of Disney movies with a Disney+ subscription.
I hope this short list has given you meaningful gift ideas and will help you celebrate your joyous occasions.
Have a “Bee”-utiful day!
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