Birthday parties are often anticipated with joy and excitement by children. But for autism families, planning a birthday party for kids on the spectrum is often a stressful event. As a mom with kids on the autism spectrum, I can personally relate. For our kids, social gatherings are often punctuated by hyperactive behaviors, sensory difficulties or mother-of-all meltdowns. Forcing our kids to socialize with their peers and family at a party that requires language and communication skills often leads to an emotional outburst or meltdown for the kids and a giant headache for the parents. Therefore, birthday parties are usually small family occasions at our home.
This year my twins were turning 8, and I really wanted them to have a birthday party to celebrate with their peers. I also felt it was important to expose the kids to social experiences and stop fearing that someone would get hurt or something would get broken. We had the pleasure of hosting a private birthday party at We Rock the Spectrum Gym for Kids in Laguna Hills. The gym owners, Lana and Eugene, went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. They were kind and considerate and easy to get a hold of while making arrangements for the party.
The place is smaller and quieter than most kids’ entertainment venues. But it was the perfect size for our kids. I loved that it is super clean and not loud. They have a great trampoline, zip line and amazing OT (Occupational Therapy) equipment. Everything is laid out so well for our sensory seeking kids. There is also an arts and crafts section, a dress up area, and a play kitchen. They even have a quiet room in case the kids are over stimulated and need a place to get away or rest.
Party Packages
We Rock the Spectrum (WRTS) Gym offers many packages for parties. If you have a child with special needs, I highly recommend their “Rock Unique” package. For the twin’s birthday party, we had the option to chose private or semi-private. We decided to reserve the entire facility for our private party for two hours. We were allowed to bring in our own food which was a bonus for our kids with diet restrictions. I also opted to purchase balloons from WRTS and allowed our guests to pick out Melissa & Doug party favors for $3.99 per child.
The guests had a fun time. I was relaxed and, more importantly, the twins had a meltdown-free, wonderful time. We finally had a truly successful birthday party for our 8 year old twins. The mission of WRTS is to give families a community and, “finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry.” I would highly recommend WRTS at Laguna Hills to everyone!
- Lisa
__________
A review by Lisa C. Lisa is a working mom of four who enjoys trying fun and new things to share with her family. She also has a passion for Pinterest.
The guests had a fun time. I was relaxed and, more importantly, the twins had a meltdown-free, wonderful time. We finally had a truly successful birthday party for our 8 year old twins. The mission of WRTS is to give families a community and, “finally a place where you never have to say I’m sorry.” I would highly recommend WRTS at Laguna Hills to everyone!
- Lisa
__________
A review by Lisa C. Lisa is a working mom of four who enjoys trying fun and new things to share with her family. She also has a passion for Pinterest.
We Rock the Spectrum
Laguna Hills Location
23572 Moulton Parkway
My Brother Rocks the Spectrum: The non-profit organization helps families receive the funding they need to participate in WRTS social skills/activity groups, classes, camps, and more. WRTS uses its equipment and activities to integrate children in this environment also through their Open Play and Break Time programs. They also assist families who are eligible to receive funding from State programs like the Regional Center.
No comments:
Post a Comment