Nine Ways VELCRO® makes Life Easier with Autism
Every mom with a special needs kid has three lifesavers. Bubble wrap, duct tape, and VELCRO®. Bubble Wrap protects, Duct tape fixes anything that became broken, but VELCRO® helps promote independence.
VELCRO® became patented in 1955 after its original invention in 1941. A Swiss electrical engineer George De Mestral. VELCRO® is a two part system. One part is a fabric strip that has small plastic hooks, and the other part is a piece constructed of nylon and polyester blend. When these two pieces become pressed on each other, the small hooks attach themselves for a temporary hold. Each side also has a sticky back so they can be attached to items such as clothing, light pieces of wood, or keep things on a wall.So for those who are curious here are our nine ways VELCRO® makes our life with autism easier.
Clothing
Due to our son’s sensory issues, he will not wear a button down shirt. We can instead use VELCRO® to hold his shirts together. VELCRO® now makes a unique product that is thin enough to be used on clothing such as pants or long shirt sleeves. The VELCRO® is especially suitable for children like my son, who hates long pants or long shirt sleeves. And best of all it is easily removable, and it will not get tangled or messed up in the washer or dryer.
Shoes
Our son cannot tie regular shoe laces. Therefore shoes with VELCRO® give him independence and safety. Nike has come out with shoes for special needs children that are perfect. They give children and adults the ability to put on their shoes without having to have someone else tie them or re-tie them.
Teaching tool
Learning games are important with kids with special needs. Many children need to improve eye-hand coordination, memory, or even strengthen muscles. Therefore, using VELCRO® trips for game pieces can contribute to improving their overall health. Games such as the card game Memory, where the cards have strips on a mat are an excellent idea.When our son was younger, we used to place Disney pictures all over the house to teach him the alphabet and new words.
Prevent Meltdowns
When our son played with his figurines, it would often upset him that they would fall over. Many times he would experience meltdowns after he would arrange the dolls for hours.By using the VELCRO® on the figurine’s feet and having the strip on his desk, he can now easily play without frustration.
Bathroom Safety
Like other kids on the autism spectrum, our son has balance issues. Having a balancing problem makes getting in and out of the shower a potential safety hazard when he is stepping on the bathroom floor mats. By applying VELCRO® to the floor and the mat, I can now ensure that our son can safely get in and out of the shower without falling.
Keep cell phones safe
Cell phones have become a necessity for many children today, and this is true with our son. The problem was, he was losing his cell phone frequently, and they are expensive. Then it dawned on us that we can stick the device! Now we use a small strip of VELCRO® on the phone and the inside of his pants or shirt pockets. By doing so, the mobile can to be attached to his clothing in a safe manner. Moreover, he misplaces his phone less.
Manage cords
Cables can make the best of us trip and fall. Well, for a child like our son, cords can pose a serious safety threat. By using small pieces of VELCRO®, we can remove potential threats out of the way around the home and create a safer environment for everyone.
Keys ready for emergency
Living in an area like Southern California, we live with Mother Nature and her earthquakes. Earthquakes can happen at any time with little to no notice. For this reason, we always a key to the house stuck with Velcro® near the entrance. If we were to experience an earthquake, we could get out of the home quickly without looking for keys.
Travel uses
When traveling with a child with autism, packing a lightweight product like VELCRO® is always helpful! From sticking the toys to car seats and strollers to holding lanyards in their place, there are so many uses for the product.
Disclosure: I am a VELCRO® Brand Ambassador. All opinions are 100% my own.
Have you used VELCRO® products in your home? Come share with us how you use it!
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