December rounded off a fantastic year for our residents and their support workers, one filled with new experiences, adventures… and above all – FUN!
Fun… in the Kitchen
Harry and Aravindh baked some Christmas Treats. There’s nothing quite as tasty as chocolate crispy cakes… well Harry certainly enjoys them!
Baking is an excellent activity, as it promotes fine motor skills, increases the ability to focus on a task… and creates a finished product that can be enjoyed by all!
Sammy has also been in the kitchen… and he made some playdough. As you can see, he mixed all the dry ingredients first, then added the water, oil and food colouring.
Playdough provides a great sensory experience, once made, it can be pulled, poked, rolled, joined and cut into shapes… the opportunities are limitless and FUN!
This is the recipe we use 😊
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 cups of warm water
- 1 cup of salt
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
And, depending on what we want to do with the playdough, we sometimes add a tablespoon of cream of tartar (it makes the dough more pliable).
Fun… out and about…
During the month, our residents travelled to Sweet Circus in Eastbourne for their therapeutic circus play sessions. For many, it’s the highlight of their week 😊and a chance to learn new skills and try a variety of apparatus in a safe, supportive, and fun environment.
Read more about our time at Sweet Circus.
Meanwhile, Sammy spent a relaxing afternoon at Mencap in Newhaven in the newly refurbished multi-sensory room. It’s specially designed and equipped to create a calm and peaceful environment, with a variety of lighting effects and soothing sounds.
There are tactile panels and surfaces, cosy places to sit and interactive games and soft toys on hand. The bubble tubes with their continually changing colours and rising bubbles are definitely one of Sammy’s favourites.
Riverside Hall offers our residents an ideal alternative to our own sensory rooms for both relaxation and sensory exploration… and a road trip adventure on the bus to get there 😊
Preparations for Christmas
Christmas can be a stressful time for some adults with autism, as it can bring lots of change and expectations, as well as more social interaction.
Every day routines can be disrupted, even going to the shops can present its challenges – there are decorations in the windows, lots of lights, more people. The festive season can be a complete assault on the senses, which for some can be overwhelming.
That’s why we work closely with our residents to support them in celebrating in ways that feel comfortable to them, both in the lead-up to Christmas and beyond.
Nardia helped Harry to decorate the tree for his room and he wore his special Grinch Christmas jumper to do it!
Stephen spent the run up to Christmas having a new haircut and went to Eastbourne to do some present shopping for his family
The National Autistic Society has put together a really useful page on preparing for Christmas, covering schedules, decorations and presents:
Christmas Tips blogs for autistic people and their families
And links to resources that give guidance, advice and ideas
Preparing for Christmas: autism resources
New Year’s Eve
Ending the year with a treat, Stephen went to Bill’s in Eastbourne and enjoyed a plate of Mac & Cheese with a house salad, before diving into dessert… and that was a tough choice! So many tasty delights on offer, but in the end, Stephen opted for a warm triple chocolate brownie and all the trimmings! What a great way to end the year!
Here’s to many more adventures with our residents in 2026.
