Jr. Astronaut Costume and Helmet

Product Description

Communicative 4

Skills

• Count backwards from ten to one and after one say, “blast-off” and have the child run around.  This works on number counting as well as incorporating patience in play.  This is especially beneficial for children who have attention difficulties or who are impulsive.  For some children, begin by counting up from one to ten and once they are familiar with numbers and counting, begin to count backwards.
• Memory and recall skills are used as children remember who an astronaut is and what s/he does in order to pretend play.
• Verbal communication and storytelling are encouraged as children talk about space and what planet they are visiting.

Play Ideas

• Pretend to be the commander of a space shuttle.
• Play with a friend – one child can be the astronaut and the other an alien from another planet.  Try to communicate without real words.
• Create planet names starting with different letters.  Help children identify letters by visiting the different planets.

Adaptation Ideas

• Use a prerecorded message for children to press, such as “3-2-1 blast-off!”  Recordable frames work well for this idea.
• Note: Make sure the child can easily see through the helmet and is comfortable wearing it before walking around and playing in it.

Physical 3

Skills

• The costume and helmet (each sold separately) encourage pretend play.
• Work on movement, balance, weight shifting and control by creating an obstacle course (see under “Play Ideas” in this section.
• Memory and recall skills are used as children remember who an astronaut is and what s/he does in order to pretend play.

Play Ideas

• Jump on a trampoline and pretend to be walking on the moon.
• Make an obstacle course with several destinations to simulate different planets – such as soft pillows, a textured blanket, a hula-hoop on a wood floor, bubble wrap.

Adaptation Ideas

• Use a prerecorded message for children to press, such as “3-2-1 blast-off!”  Recordable frames work well for this idea.
• Note: Make sure the child can easily see through the helmet and is comfortable wearing it before walking around and playing in it.

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• The costume and helmet (each sold seperately) encourage pretend play and imagination. 
• Self-help skills like zippering and buckling can be practiced during play. 

Play Ideas

• Make a spaceship out of a large box. This is also a way to contain play and provide a child with a defined play space.