Sensory Wall for less than $100

A number of years ago I bought a Sensory wall for Owen and it cost around $700.  It isn't really tailored for him so he only uses a few items on it.  I love the creativeness of making these sorts of things so I thought I'd try my hand at making a Sensory Wall.  I also I wanted to make it, if possible for less than $100.

What I used:

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• Plywood  (I got off cuts for 50 cents each from the now defunct Masters) 
• Pine for framing so it would sit out from the wall (I got 4 off cuts for 75 cents each from the now defunct Masters) 
• Wooden Xylophone (ebay $9.20 incl delivery)
• Coloured wooden beads (I used pet bird ones and got them on eBay $2.70 incl delivery)
• Wind chimes ( $5.40 inc delivery)
• Wooden activity triangle  ($20 Kmart) 
• Plastic activity cube ($10 Kmart)
• Vibrating cat toys ($3 each cheap shops)
• Wooden castanets ($2.68 eBay including delivery)
• Bike bell (I got an easy ring one for approx $10 amazon)
• Black spray paint  ($10 Hardware shop)
• Brush ($3 Hardware)
• Screws, cable ties, wood glue, hat elastic
• Screwdriver, jigsaw (if you need to cut wood),sandpaper, drill and drill bits

How I did it:

1. I sourced the parts and waited for delivery.  That is one of the longest parts as some take up to a month.
2. I dismantled the activity cubes.
3. I then put the plywood together and famed the back.  This step was only necessary so I could put moving toys  that could not "move" on a solid piece of wood.  I both glued and screwed the frame on.
4. I laid out the items and took a photo of them in place.  I marked anywhere I would need drill holes and drilled them.
5. I cut any larger holes/spaces with the jigsaw.
   
6. I smoothed any edges with sandpaper.
7. I painted the board and allowed it to dry.
8. I threaded the beads through the hat elastic and attached it to the Xylophone.
9. I drilled holes and screwed all the parts on.
10. I cabled ties any parts on and trimmed the back.

How long did it take me?

Around 9 hours all up.  This time includes finding the products on ebay, painting and putting it all together.

What would I do differently:

• Screw in the frame on from the back not the front, so you don't see the screws
• I used a spray on paint, I would try and paint with a roller/brush Or I would a piece of wood that did not require painting.
• I would also learn how to cut in a straight line and paint as both are appalling....

Happy making :-)

School lunch note

Owen is non verbal and needs assistance with eating.  He eats both orally and via his button.  He is still very much learning to eat so it is a balance between self feeding and being fed (as well as ensuring he gets adequate nutrition).  To make it easier for his teachers to know what to feed him (and when) and for me to know how much he has eaten, I have always put a note of sorts in his lunchbox.  My first offering was the laminated note (more on that in this link) but I have since come up with a better option.

I found a whiteboard notebook at Dasio for $2.80 and put labels on it.  Now I record what he needs to be offered and when.  There is even a spare page for any general notes like "serve hot".  Here are some photos:

Tip keep the page open for a few minutes after you write on it to allow the marker to dry.