Myself Belts Giveaway Closed

As a parent of an autistic child that has poor fine motor skills, I have faced many challenges teaching my son how to dress himself. He has finally mastered everything for dressing, except buttons, snaps and belts. To make things easier for him and me, I buy pull-over shirts and pants/shorts with an elastic waistband. This allows him independence in dressing and in using the bathroom.

Now that my son is potty trained, it is important that he is able to get his pants on and off independently. This has meant that he doesn’t wear a belt. He still needs to learn how to operate a clasp on a belt. I will continue teaching this skill and continue to teach him how to do buttons and snaps. I strongly believe that the skills he has yet to learn should not interfere in him being successful with the skills that he has learned.

Myself Belts was created to allow young children the ability to wear a belt and to be able to fasten and unfasten them independently. They sent me one to review and keep. On one end of the belt is a snap that allows you to secure the belt on a belt loop. There are Velcro strips on each end that you can use to fasten the belt closed. The Velcro strips are strong and takes some effort to pull apart. This means that the belt is not going to become unfastened unless you want it to be unfastened.

The Myself Belts is a great product for my son and other children with autism that have fine motor skill difficulties. They come in a variety of designs for boys and girls. Your child can be fashionable, while wearing a belt that is practical. They also have belts in adult sizes.

Myself Belts is giving away one belt to one lucky reader. You get to choose the size and for a boy or girl. This is for US residents only. It starts January 19, 2010 and ends February 2, 2010.

MAIN RULE – Leave a comment telling me who you would give this to and why. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)

You can get extra entries by doing any or all of the below:

1 Extra Entry - Follow @taless on Twitter and leave your twitter id in a separate comment
* 1 Extra Entry - Twitter this giveaway and leave your twitter name in a separate comment (You can get up to one extra entry by tweeting each day and leaving a comment here each day.)
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Comfy Kids

Today our temperatures have proven that winter is indeed here.  Our temperature tonight is supposed to get down to 17 degrees.  Cold temperatures make us want to dress warmer and more comfy.

Dressing warmer gave me a thought.  Are autistic children able to convey their unhappiness with clothing?  As a child, I remember wearing uncomfortable clothing because I just wasn't aware that I should let my mother know there was a problem.  My family couldn't afford to provide a wide choice of clothing at will.  Comfy was not always an option.  So even though an item of clothing might not have been comfy, sometimes we had to wear it anyway.

Sometimes a child will balk at wearing certain clothing.  The reason could be that a tag is rubbing the neck, that there is something sticking in the jean cloth, that the socks are too thick for the shoes, etc.  Not comfy.

Have you had a clothing battle with your child that you can share? 

Recent Recalls for Roman Shades, Toys and Clothes

This was just posted today on the Window Coverings website. US CPSC hasn‘t posted it yet on their website but have made the announcement publicly. Please read and take action.
"U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Safety Council Announce Voluntary Corrective Action Plan

NEW YORK (December 2009) — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) are announcing an industry-wide voluntary corrective action plan covering roman-style shades and roll-up blinds to prevent the potential hazard of strangulation to young children. The recall involves window coverings that can form a loop and cause strangulation. According to information provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords."


Last week, there were three important recalls that were overshadowed by the Zhu Zhu Pets issue. Here quotes from the U.S CPSC website, and you can read more about them and what actions to take by visiting their website.

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009
Release # 10-061

Toy Trucks Recalled by Variety Wholesalers Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Super Rigs Play Sets
Units: About 700
Importer: Variety Wholesalers Inc., of Henderson, N.C.
Hazard: The toy truck’s surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves “Super Rig Transport” toy truck with trailer and vehicles. The truck and trailer are multi-colored, holding two vehicles and two action figures. “Super Rigs Play Set” is labeled on the outside of the packaging. The box back has a bar code square with Item No. 67007, Made in China and Bar Code 6-98567-67007-3. The bottom of the trailer has an engraved code 45TNGO9.
Sold at: Discount stores in the Southeast from September 2009 through November 2009 for about $20.
Manufactured in: China"



"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009
Release # 10-063

Children's Pajama Sets Recalled by Little Miss Matched Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Little Miss Matched Girls Pajama Sets
Units: About 7,000 in the United States and about 288 in Canada
Importer: Little Miss Matched Inc., of New York, N.Y.
Hazard: The sleepwear fails to meet the federal children’s sleepwear flammability standard posing a risk of burn injury to children.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves long sleeve toddler and girls pajama sets. The sets were sold in sizes XXS (2t-3t), XS (3t-4t), S (5-6), M (7-8) and L (10-12), and in three varieties:
Black Multicolored stripes/polka dots
White Multicolored stripes/polka dots
Pink Blue stripes and oversized polka dots

Sold exclusively at: Various retailers nationwide from March 2008 through July 2009 for between $30 (U.S.) and in Canada from March 2008 through November 2009 for about $30 (CAN).
Manufactured in: Honduras"


"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009
Release # 10-064

JCPenney Recalls Cooks® Outdoor BBQ Grills Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Cooks Outdoor® BBQ Grills
Units: About 5,600
Importer: JCPenney Purchasing Corp., of Plano, Texas
Hazard: The drip pan on the grill does not allow for adequate drainage, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 11 reports of fires resulting from inadequate drainage. No injuries reported.
Description: This recall involves Cooks® brand outdoor BBQ grills. The grill has a digital thermometer on the hood, stainless steel top and a global LP regulator. Lot number 780-2176 is printed on the underside of the grill’s stand.
Sold exclusively at: JCPenney stores nationwide and online at www.jcp.com from February 2009 through September 2009 for between $190 and $600.
Manufactured in: China"

TOMS for Youths

I wanted to share this information because my son can not tie his own shoes. I buy him slip ons to wear and am always looking for a nice pair to buy. I've noticed that the older he gets, the harder it is to find a decent pair of slip ons. Now, they will be available through TOMS.

TOMS Youth collection launches next week!! The One for One footwear brand that has been producing adult styles since 2006 will now offer nine styles for boys and girls, ranging from $34 to $38, in sizes Youth Sizes 1-6 and Toddler Size 10-13. All styles will be available on www.TOMSshoes.com on October 8, 2009 and exclusively with select Stride Rite retailers around the country.

With the release of the TOMS Youth shoes, kids now have the opportunity to help other kids in need. After many inquiries from mothers and fathers wanting to teach their children the power of giving by outfitting them in TOMS, young people posting to our fan pages that they too, wanted to rock a pair of TOMS, and customers wanting to buy TOMS for all members of their family, TOMS realized the amazing demand coming from our youth market. TOMS envisions kids sharing the One for One movement with other kids over school lunches, birthday parties where children and their friends can decorate their own pairs of TOMS, and a generation that will grow up with the idea of giving as a standard practice in everything they do.


The first collection of TOMS Youth shoes include nine canvas styles for boys and girls. The youth TOMS are a direct take down from adult classics, with the same great quality, comfort and fit. They will be available on the TOMS shoes website in October and exclusively with Stride Rite retailers across the country.


The new Tiny TOMS collection will feature a Mary Jane style for girls and Velcro wrap on the boy's styles. The Mary Jane has a wide open front that allows for easy access to put the shoe on and an elastic strap to provide extra support and comfort. The Velcro wrap on the boy's Tiny TOMS provide fit adjust ability and extra support.

Christmas Wreaths

I'm taking a break from my learning articles today to post a Christmas craft. When my son was little, he did a really cool project in school that even autistic children may be able to enjoy.

The class brought plain wreath circles to school and scraps of material. The teacher and parents helped cut the scraps into long enough strips to tie around the wreath shapes. This made a repetitious craft, which was easy for the kids to catch onto. They learned how to tie knots, which was a helpful skill. They learned how to use scraps to decorate, which is thrifty. Plus, they made a decoration which could proudly be displayed for any season, depending on which one you wish to make one for! It doesn't even have to be for Christmas. This helps self-esteem.

For the circles, any round shape that can be a base to tie material around is great. The resulting wreath makes a great door decoration/conversation piece the kids can be proud of and also a good, low-cost gift for family and friends.

Before you throw away those old clothes or favorite blankets the kids love, consider using the material for a wreath they could hang on their door. You could even take material from a parent's or grandparents' disgarded clothing, make a wreath for someone that would contain sentimental value.

Enjoy your scraps today!