The recipe for a successful Christmas with a child who has Sensory Processing Disorder has to be to understand their needs and fulfil them. Our Sensory Seeker thrives on structure, organisation and routine. Continuing on the theme of teacher gifts this week we made Hot Chocolate Santas. We made them for his brother’s teachers and also as a build up to a family night watching Christmas films, eating and drinking chocolate.
Things needed for Hot Chocolate Santas
- Hot chocolate powder
- Mini-Marshmallows
- Cellophane (or food bags)
- Glue
- Cotton wool
- Eyes (googly or stickers)
- Red Pompom
- Red Paper
- Cups
- Extras – chocolate drops, chocolate sprinkles, squirty cream, chocolate to eat
Method for Hot Chocolate Santas
Take the cellophane or food bag and make into a cone shape, secure in place. Take the red paper and roll it around your cone to make a hat. Remove the hat, secure together and glue on some cotton wool to the bottom.
Next fill the cellophane bag with hot chocolate – make sure that the bag has been properly sealed and that the powder isn’t falling out. If you wish you can add some chocolate drops in first – this will make it less likely that the powder will fall through and will not be seen under the hat (as well as being a tasty surprise).
Make sure you have left plenty of room at the bottom to put lots of mini-marshmallows to represent Santa’s beard. Then sealed the cellophane closed and tie with a red, white or silver ribbon. Stick on the eyes, the red pompom as a nose and attach some cotton wool as a moustache. Pop your Santa into a mug. When ready tip the cottons into the mug with warm water and add squirty cream and sprinkles. Drink whilst snuggled up under a blanket watching Christmas films with the family.
Benefits of Making Hot Chocolate Santas for those with Sensory Processing Disorder
This was beneficial for our Sensory Seeker* because it helped keep him grounded. It was good for his tactile stimulation, hand development, hand-eye co-ordination, fine motor, logic and order (knowing which ingredients to add next) speaking and listening (when asking how to do something), sense of belonging & importance. Of course he really liked the taste too and allowing him to eat the chocolate whilst doing the activity really helped keep him focused/hold his attention to the task.
*Note that The Sensory Seeker is not actually featured in this post but his older brother. the benefits of the activity still apply.
Co-Hosted by Blue Bear Wood ~ Milk, Crafts & Honesty ~ The Sensory Seeker ~ Rainy Day Mum ~ My Little 3 and Me ~ The Gingerbread House ~ Adventures of Adam ~ The Mad House
Seriously can’t go wrong with a hot chocolate Joy 🙂
Lovely – really fun idea!
Such a lovely idea, and so much nicer than another box of Celebrations. Looks like they were really fun to make too x
So thoughtful as a gift. I love them.
Oh these are just adorable!
Such a lovely idea, I will have to have a go at making these with my kids as they would love it
What lovely ideas 🙂
Love this idea Joy! And randommly as I am here, I mus ttell you – last night Kitty ran through with a loo roll for the bin and I told her to hang on a mo, showed her your toiler roll craft xmas post and we made an angel!
Awww you should blog it and link it up 🙂
(well when you are up to it obviously) x
Fantastic! I know many teachers wd love would love this as a gift.
What a lovely idea. I’m sure any teacher would love this.
This is so cute! I actually forgot about a gift for my daughter’s teacher – it’s her first year in school so I’ve never done this before! lol!
This is a great craft! I love the simplicity of it and how it still stands out as a great gift even though it is simple. If I wasn’t making the teacher fudge, I think I would’ve gone with this idea! Popping over from Counting Down to Christmas.