Spring Break for Special Needs Schools NJ Keeping Kids Busy
 

It’s Spring Break for Special Needs Schools NJ: Fun Activities for Children with Special Needs

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It’s almost spring break for students of special needs schools in NJ. While this much-needed break from school is important, with it can bring a lot of anxiety and stress if families do not plan ahead appropriately.

Here are a few tips for parents to help your special needs child prepare for their break in the school routine and a few ideas to start planning now.

Spring Break for Special Needs Schools NJ: Help Your Special Needs Child Prepare for a Break in Their School Routine

Many children with special needs may have difficulty in accepting a change in routine due to a greater need for predictability. If this sounds like your child, it’s best to prepare before spring break occurs and plan to offer a lot of support during the week while his or her school schedule is disrupted.

Every child’s needs and situations are unique. While many individuals thrive on keeping their time off from school as close to possible to their routine, some look forward to the free-time for unstructured, creative play. 

Long before your student with special needs starts spring break, research plenty of options for at-home activities and local events. Rather than telling your children what you’ll be doing, let them feel they are part of the decision-making process by presenting them with a few choices. Involving the children from the beginning with this important life skill can help ease anxiety about a break in their routine and get them excited for the upcoming experiences. Present the options both verbally and visually to help them understand what the activity involves.

Fun Activities for Children with Special Needs During Spring Break for Special Needs Schools NJ

Spring is the perfect time to get outside in the fresh air and release all that stored up energy from the NJ winter. From the town library and your local park to the children’s museum and even therapeutic horseback riding, here are a few ideas to stay busy during special needs schools NJ spring break.

  • Visit your local library to check out new books and access story time or other child-friendly events such as crafts, therapy dogs and card games. Before spring break, talk with your child’s teacher for suggestions on books to help you narrow down your search.
  • Parks with environmental centers can bring your children closer to nature through nature walks, hands-on crafts and get out into the fresh air. Walk the trails with your kids to explore plants and trees and living creatures through a fun scavenger hunt. Let them take pictures or video with their own commentary so they can replay the experience at home.

Discover the Forest Resource Education Center in Jackson, NJ with sensory awareness exhibit areas that focus on forestry and wildlife.

  • As one of the few places where children are not only expected...but encouraged, to touch everything they see, children’s museums are a great option for the whole family.

The Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, NJ, has over 20 giant kid-powered exhibits to let the kids get down and dirty making crafts, experience live theater, see cool critters up close and personal and get involved in a wide variety of discovery workshops such as spectacular science, planet pirates and bubble magic.

  • Therapeutic horseback riding is physically and emotionally beneficial for special needs children. Many stables offer special lessons or classes to learn how to work with horses which can develop self-esteem, focus, patience, confidence and compassion. It is also known to relax and stimulate muscles and joints and improve strength and coordination.

The Sunnyside Recreation Area in Lincroft provides fundamental equestrian experiences for individuals of all levels, with an emphasis on offering the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding to those who have physical and cognitive disabilities, helping them to develop to their full potential. Their equestrian program operates with the financial support of Special People United to Ride, SPUR, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the Park System’s therapeutic riding efforts.

Preparing for the Future with Alpha School

As part of the RKS Associates Network of schools in New Jersey, the goal at the Alpha School is to help your child to become as independent as possible and help them get ready for the future.


Located in Jackson, NJ, we serve students throughout Central and Northern New Jersey, our range of programs address autism, behavioral, speech, life skills and transition needs. Whether you live in Ocean, Monmouth, Burlington, Mercer, or surrounding counties, we invite you to visit Alpha School to see first-hand what a welcoming place it is.

Request a Tour
732.370.1150
About RKS Associates Special Needs Schools in NJ

Since 1980, RKS Associates has been a leader in providing the needs of special education students and helping children grow to their fullest potential. Each of our schools seeks to empower each student with skills for life, work, and recreation; we believe that every individual possesses the dignity and potential to contribute to a better world.

Our Mission at The Alpha School:
We are a special needs school in Ocean County, New Jersey dedicated to helping students with learning, social, language, and behavioral challenges and dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing educational environment for our students.

Monica DeTuro, Principal-Alpha School, Jackson, NJ

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