Bring the iPad so everyone can enjoy themselves.

Can you throw a little money at it? A few RC cars so kids can race. They don’t have to be big or expensive but a few so kids play together instead of waiting for one kid to finish? My kids love kites but they are girls. Not sure if 8 yo boy would like that. Those sticky hand paddle and ball sets - like you would play on the beach? A bunch of blow up beach balls that if they roll down the hill no big deal...

And then IPad. So when the older kids are done playing with him, you have something.

I know that his speech is part of it, but honestly this is also about age difference. My 8 year old neighbor is awesome but gets bored with my 5 year old after a little (she also has younger siblings so is patient but would much rather play with a 12 year old than my 5 yo). So some things he will enjoy - cars, stickers, bubbles, video game. Whatever will make him happy. This is about you getting together with friends and not him (no shame, but be honest) and so make it fun for him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First, post in special needs. This is about your child with a special need. That’s why that forum exists.

It’s hard for kids with delays at that age in long unstructured social settings. My son did better if I brought a toy he could play with others like a stomp rocket, remote control racing cars - this was a big hit - later uno and sleeping queens. But I would plan on not going for the whole day. Sometimes though my kid would get really into another kids new toys and just disappear.

Maybe she’s not interested in being grilled about her kid’s diagnosis and evaluations. I’ve stopped posting there and can understand why OP may prefer to post here.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are invited to a 4th of July cookout. Social distancing in the yard. But there are kids. Hostess has kids age 8 and 12. 3 others are coming, same age or older. I have a five yo who is speech impaired. He will get left out, he will get bored, he will hang on to me the whole time. Is there some toy or activity I could bring to facilitate this? A baby pool and water guns? (Hostess’s kids love to do water guns but they only have their own and use a garden hose to fill them). We have nerf guns but I think they will lose the darts too fast. Her yard is too slopped for soccer ball. My kid is not into crafts. Should I just bring an iPad and call it a day? Generally my kid dies great with kids his age, esp if they have toys. But this age will be harder for him since the language load of older kids will be too much for him.

Ha! Who is social distancing? The adults? What's the point in that if the kids will be on top of each other? I mean, we are spending time with other families outside this Fourth of July but I'm not blind enough to say that we're social distancing even if the adults keep space between them...

They are older kids and they are not on top of each other. Even my 5 yo knows how to “give space” now.

Its a holiday. We've all been miserable for months. Bring the Ipad so you and your Dh can have a few moments of peace.

Anonymous wrote:First, post in special needs. This is about your child with a special need. That’s why that forum exists.

It’s hard for kids with delays at that age in long unstructured social settings. My son did better if I brought a toy he could play with others like a stomp rocket, remote control racing cars - this was a big hit - later uno and sleeping queens. But I would plan on not going for the whole day. Sometimes though my kid would get really into another kids new toys and just disappear.

Maybe she’s not interested in being grilled about her kid’s diagnosis and evaluations. I’ve stopped posting there and can understand why OP may prefer to post here.

Bring the iPad, OP.

But you could also bring play doh, wiki stix, those water wow books.

Anonymous wrote:We are invited to a 4th of July cookout. Social distancing in the yard. But there are kids. Hostess has kids age 8 and 12. 3 others are coming, same age or older. I have a five yo who is speech impaired. He will get left out, he will get bored, he will hang on to me the whole time. Is there some toy or activity I could bring to facilitate this? A baby pool and water guns? (Hostess’s kids love to do water guns but they only have their own and use a garden hose to fill them). We have nerf guns but I think they will lose the darts too fast. Her yard is too slopped for soccer ball. My kid is not into crafts. Should I just bring an iPad and call it a day? Generally my kid dies great with kids his age, esp if they have toys. But this age will be harder for him since the language load of older kids will be too much for him.

Ha! Who is social distancing? The adults? What's the point in that if the kids will be on top of each other? I mean, we are spending time with other families outside this Fourth of July but I'm not blind enough to say that we're social distancing even if the adults keep space between them...

Just don’t go. Why risk covid exposure for something that’s going to make your child feel bad?

Maybe sit it out this year?

First, post in special needs. This is about your child with a special need. That’s why that forum exists.

It’s hard for kids with delays at that age in long unstructured social settings. My son did better if I brought a toy he could play with others like a stomp rocket, remote control racing cars - this was a big hit - later uno and sleeping queens. But I would plan on not going for the whole day. Sometimes though my kid would get really into another kids new toys and just disappear.

We are invited to a 4th of July cookout. Social distancing in the yard. But there are kids. Hostess has kids age 8 and 12. 3 others are coming, same age or older. I have a five yo who is speech impaired. He will get left out, he will get bored, he will hang on to me the whole time. Is there some toy or activity I could bring to facilitate this? A baby pool and water guns? (Hostess’s kids love to do water guns but they only have their own and use a garden hose to fill them). We have nerf guns but I think they will lose the darts too fast. Her yard is too slopped for soccer ball. My kid is not into crafts. Should I just bring an iPad and call it a day? Generally my kid dies great with kids his age, esp if they have toys. But this age will be harder for him since the language load of older kids will be too much for him.