Customer Questions
Do you have a question or an issue you've been wrestling with? Looking for a specific resource to address a particular situation? Hop over to the PFOT TownSquare where you may just find that you are not alone. The TownSquare is a community of sharing and caring. If you have a question - post it. If you have an answer - post it. If you just want to share, feel free.
This Month's Specials!
Scattered throughout the shopping section of our website you'll find holiday season word scrambles. Choose one and unscramble the letters to reveal the secret word or phrase. Enter this in the coupon space during checkout to discover a special gift- from us to you this holiday season!
Minimum purchase of $35.00.
Messy Play Idea -
Apple Sauce - Cinnamon Ornaments/Air Fresheners/Potpourri.
Get Ready!
- Applesauce
- Straw
- Cinnamon
- Spatula
- Cookie Cutters
- Ribbon
- Rolling Pin
- Wax Paper
Take 1 cup of applesauce and 1 ½ cups of cinnamon and mix it together in a mixing bowl. You should have a moist ball of dough. Place the dough on wax paper and use the rolling pin to flatten. Use any kind of cookie cutters to make shapes. You want the dough to be about ¼ inch thick when you use the cookie cutters. After you have made your shape, use the spatula to place the ornament on a clean piece of wax paper, with a straw put a hole in the top and allow to dry over night. (sometimes might take 2 nights) Once the ornament is dry; string a ribbon through it and hang wherever you would like. It keeps it’s cinnamon smell for a very long time!
This makes a great group activity. Divide the mixture and allow each child to make one or two to bring home. You can also ad glitter to the mixture to make them more decorative. Each recipe makes approximately eight ornaments.
Checkout the PFOT TownSquare for more holiday activity ideas!
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Writing Corner - Story Starter!
We all know that handwriting practice is essential, but it can also be boring and frustrating for both children and adults. So in each issue of “PFOT Tips and Tricks” you’ll find a story starter. It may be a cartoon or sketch with no caption, or an incomplete sentence that needs to be finished. We will also give you some points 
to be used to spark the students own creativity, hopefully motivating them to extend the practice session. So here’s a story starter… Copy and finish these sentences.
"It was a very clear night and we were taking some gifts over to ..."
"Next Year I hope to…. ..."
Back to Basics:
Stress Busters!
Chanukah! Christmas! Kwanza! New Years! … The Holidays are here! They bring with them memories of holidays past, dreams for holidays future and nightmares of holidays present. So much to do – so little time. For most, the approaching holidays bring mounting excitement and anticipation. But for young children or a child with special needs and their parents, the increased excitement rather then heightening the experience, can cause overwhelming stress and anxiety, easily ruining everyone’s day.
Becoming aware of and planning for some of the special circumstances surrounding the holidays will help maintain sanity, organization and everyone‘s emotional equilibrium. Some of these holiday pitfalls include; extra time in stores shopping for food, clothing, and presents; bright lights twinkling everywhere; sparkling fragile decorations begging to be touched; more people bumping and touching; more noise, more smells, and temperature changes from overheated stores to cold weather outside. Listed here are some tips to consider when making holiday plans. They will help reduce stress and make the holidays more enjoyable for both child and parent.
Tips for Busting Stress
- Try to shop at single stores rather than malls. Go at off times for less crowds and noise (supper time or early am).
- Skip the picture with Santa if it’s going to upset or scare the child. A picture of a happy child smiling next to a twinkling tree will look better then a crying or yelling child on Santa’s lap.
- Consider being the host, even though it’s additional work for you. Children are always more comfortable in their own home. They know where things are and they know the rules. It also will be less stressful for you knowing your house is already “kid-proofed”. You can be less “on guard” than when visiting someone else’s house.
- Try to keep to as many daily routines as possible. The more consistent the day, the more consistent the behavior. Continue to follow morning and bedtime routines; have the same breakfast foods available; baths and showers at the same time, etc.
- Make a list of any special food limitations your child has. Place this in a prominent place such as on the refrigerator or even nicely displayed on the buffet table. Make sure guests and relatives will see it. Most visitors will understand and respect the list. In this way, Aunt Betty won’t be offended when your child refuses to try her fruitcake!
- Place masking tape on the rug or floor as a boundary line indicating where the child must stop! This will help prevent them from getting too close to the Christmas tree, candles, or fireplace.
To read the entire Stress Busting article, view the PDF brochure at PFOT's website!
Shoponline - Selected QuickLinks!
PFOT's products and specials change often to ensure that you have an opportunity to purchase just the right product at an affordable price. Visit our online shopping cart and our Specials pages to stay on top of the deals and products.
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| These materials encourage the use of touch to learn about objects and the environment as well as to help build an understanding of the body and its relation to the world around it. |
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Items in this section reflect the infant's and the young child's need to interact with objects providing diverse sensory input. Vision, touch, hearing, cause and effect, basic concepts and simple motor skills are all reinforced. |
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