Free Printable Colorful Stars I Spy Game

This free printable colorful stars I spy printable for kids is a perfect way to work on a variety of skills!

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Many hyperlexic learners have a passion or special interest for colors and shapes, especially as toddlers and preschoolers.

So, this free printable colorful stars I spy game leans into that love for colors and specifically one shape: stars! Simply count up the stars for each color and see how many there are.

By the way, since I live in Canada where we use colour versus color (although I tend to use the American spelling on this blog for simplicity), you will find two copies of this game included below, one with the American English spelling and one with the British English spelling. That way you can print the one that best suits your needs and spelling variant.

I Spy Games are Versatile!

I spy games are tons of fun and great for kids of all ages. You can use them with toddlers or preschoolers or even preteens and teens. I know that lots of people have even used my I spy games with elderly people and those with dementia.

What I love about I spy games is how versatile they are, even beyond appealing to various age groups. There are lots of different ways to use them (there's a section below with some ideas) and they can also be used in different settings.

For example, I spy games are perfect to use as a quick boredom buster activity at home when the kids are saying, "I'm bored!" Or to keep kids busy while you're cooking supper.

They can also be used in the classroom as part of a learning center or included in a specific lesson or unit. You could also use them as filler activities for those kids who finish their classwork quickly.

You could also print off a bunch of the I spy games, package them up into a binder, and create a busy book for road trips or plane rides. You could even laminate them first (here's the laminator I use and love) or put them into sheet protectors and use a dry erase marker so that the book could be reused over and over.

I spy games are also a great activity to use in speech or occupational therapy since they can be used to target a variety of skills, which we'll touch on in the next section.

The Benefits of I Spy Games for Kids

There are lots of benefits to playing I spy games like this colorful star themed one.

For instance, they're great for developing visual tracking skills and improving visual discrimination. After all, these printable games require kids to visually scan through the objects, compare and contrast them, and find all the ones that are the same.

Then there's obviously the math benefits. I spy games are a great way to practice and develop math skills such as sorting, counting, comparing, etc.

You can also work on fine motor skills using I spy games. You might cross off items, cover them in play dough, or use tongs to place pom poms to cover the items (see the next section for other ideas for how to use I spy games).

Furthermore, you could work on handwriting skills with I spy games. After all, there is an answer sheet to record your answers and kids can practice writing numbers or drawing tally marks.

Playing I spy games with your kids is also a great way to work on speech and language skills. You could target articulation and vocabulary for instance. All of my I spy games include written words to accompany the images to aid in comprehension, especially for hyperlexic learners.

I spy games can also be a great way to work on executive functioning related skills and working memory.

See, lots of benefits! Now, let's take a look at some different ways to use this I spy game.

How to Use this I Spy Game

The most obvious way to use this I spy game is to simply print and play (you'll be able to download your copy below). Just grab a pencil, start counting, and record the number of items you found on the answer key (write the number or use tally marks, if you'd prefer). 

Maybe you also want to cross off or circle items on the game sheet with a pencil as you find them.

Another option would be to use bingo dabbers or dot markers. You could also use pom poms or counters to cover the items as you count. You could even pair pom poms with tongs or tweezers to target different fine motor skills.

You could also laminate the I spy game first to make them reusable. Simply use dry erase markers to cross off the items as you find them and fill in the answer key. 

You could also use play dough instead of dry erase markers to cover the items on the laminated game sheet. That way you add an additional sensory component.

Finally, you can go digital by playing this I spy game right on the computer or tablet. You can also pull it up during a Zoom meeting, teletherapy session, or similar using the screenshare function. Then use the annotate tool to cross off the items.

Download the Free Printable Colorful Stars I Spy Game

This colorful stars I spy game has six pages: two game sheets (different spellings for colorful/colourful), two pages to record the answers (different spellings for colorful/colourful and gray/grey), and two answer keys (different spellings for grey/gray). Feel free to print off the page that makes sense for your regional spelling of colorful/colourful. Both the answer sheet and answer key include the image as well as written words to describe the object.

To get a copy of this I spy game, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

 

Want More I Spy Games?

You'll find even more themes in the I spy games bundle!

Click here to get your copy of the I spy games bundle

Everyday Objects Kids with Hypernumeracy Love & Can't Get Enough of

10+ everyday objects that kids with hypernumeracy love and can't get enough of.

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Kids with hypernumeracy don't just love numbers. They love anything that has numbers or let's them explore math, time, and patterns. So, you might notice that they gravitate towards a lot of everyday household objects with numbers on them instead of more traditional toys.

For instance, back when my son was a preschooler, we took calculators with us everywhere we went. There was always one in my purse. One in the diaper bag. One in his car seat. One or two in his hands. Calculators literally went with us everywhere.

Below you will find a list of common everyday objects or items that kids with hypernumeracy find enjoyable or enticing. Items that you might want to consider having on hand (if you don't already) or giving to them as a birthday or Christmas gift.

10+ Everyday Objects Hypernumeric Kids Can't Get Enough of

The following objects can spark so much joy for kids with hypernumeracy because they incorporate a lot of numbers or math related concepts. After all, numbers are everywhere and these kids notice them all.

You might already notice your child playing with some of the following objects, but you could also use this list to generate possible gift ideas, activity suggestions for play, or things you could make for your child. I've tried to include specific examples of things I've made over the years too. That way you have some inspiration for things you could try.

Here are some of the most popular favorites among hypernumeric kids:

1. Calculators

I've already mentioned how calculators went with us everywhere when my son was younger, but, even as a teenager, he always keeps a calculator nearby and handy. For a birthday one year, a good friend of mine gifted my son one of those accountant printing type calculators (something like this) and it was so well loved! By the way, if calculators are your child's thing, then you have to try these calculator word riddles as a way to practice WH questions. They're super fun!

2. Dice

My son has loved dice for as long as I can remember so we frequently buy him new colors and types of dice. You can even buy fractions dice, for instance, as well as alphabet dice or dice with pictures (e.g., Story Cubes). But, if your child loves numbers and math as much as mine does (which I'm assuming they do since you're here reading this!), then some good old regular dice or a set of D&D dice will likely be enticing enough.

3. Clocks, Watches, Stopwatches, Timers, & Countdowns

Perhaps you have a little one who loves time and clocks. Maybe they enjoy watching countdown videos on YouTube. If so, then you might want to consider having some spare clocks, watches, stopwatches, or timers on hand at home for your child to explore and play with. My son used to carry around this one monkey clock around with him everywhere he went. It was named Momo and it was supposed to be one of those "ready to wake clocks" and you can probably guess how well that worked, considering it went everywhere with us...haha.

4. Rulers

Whether it's a small ruler or a big yard stick, rulers can make for a great and fun toy for hypernumeric kids. Seriously, you can't go wrong with keeping some rulers on hand for your little one to play with. Plus, they have been a lifesaver tool for helping us with bath time anxiety (i.e., "let's add two inches of water to the tub and you can measure, okay?") and a fun addition to outdoor play (e.g., measuring leaves activity).

5. Cash Registers

While there are lots of great toy cash registers available to purchase, you might want to consider gifting a real cash register instead. Seriously, one of the best "toys" we ever had in our house was an old cash register that my parents had given us after they retired it from their storefront. You can see it featured here in one of our old playroom layouts.

I'm also going to mention here that many hypernumeric kids enjoy looking at receipts so if you do go with a real cash register, consider adding some register tape so they can print some receipts as well.

6. Tape Measures

You could try soft measuring tapes like the ones used for sewing, a retractable one, or pick up one of those paper ones when shopping at IKEA. Just a word of caution, though, some retractable tape measures can be sharp and slice fingers (ask me how I know...haha) so something to watch out for.

7. Calendars

You can also obviously find lots of numbers in calendars so it's probably not surprising that some hypernumeric kids really love to look at calendars. Perhaps you could try setting up some calendar themed activities like this gross motor calendar activity or this calendar hopscotch game. Or, you could buy them a calendar to hang in their room. I highly recommend a daily calendar. Perhaps a sudoku themed one to really lean into those numbers? At least, that's my son's current favorite at the moment.

8. Scoreboards

One of the most beloved toys I made my son was this felt scoreboard. He LOVED to keep track of scores all the time. Much like how he loves to watch sports tickers, scoreboards, stats, etc. whenever we watch basketball on TV. You might notice your little hypernumeric learner likes to watch scores and stats too so a scoreboard of their own might be a good idea.

9. Thermometers & Weather Displays/Apps

One of my son's other favorite non-toy toys is probably his digital weather station. We've upgraded it a few times over the years so he has a pretty fancy one now, but he loves to know the temperature, humidity, etc. all the time. So, having one in his bedroom has been helpful over the years. Prior to getting him one, he was always asking about the weather, temperature, etc. And he loved to look at thermostats when he was a preschooler! (Side note: curse whoever thought it would be a good idea to put a chair under a thermostat in the waiting room at the child development center. Of course, he would try to press buttons on it! You should have considered that...like come on...)

10. Scales

Scales can be fascinating to many hypernumeric kids, whether that's a kitchen scale or one to measure your body weight. So you might want to consider leaving a scale out for your child to use and weigh different objects since it can be a lot of fun for them.

11. Anything with Numbered Panels (e.g., elevators, telephones, keypads, ATMs)

Now, obviously, you're not going to go out and buy an ATM or an elevator here...However, you could give your child an old telephone to play with or create your own elevator using a giant cardboard box (it has numbered floor buttons too!). You could also make something like this telephone quiet book page with personalized phone book.

12. Speedometers/Odometers

You might notice your child commenting on your speed whenever you're driving. That's because they're always watching the speedometer and traffic signs. So, like the numbered panels thing above, you might have to get a bit creative in incorporating speedometers or odometers. For example, I made my boys a car sensory dashboard that had a speedometer and odometer incorporated (although those numbers nor the speed never changed, but he still liked it).

13. Step Counters or Fitness Trackers

I remember the first time we gave our boys each a simple pedometer to wear around the house and they thought it was the best thing ever, running around and counting their steps. So, if might be a great gift idea that you might not have considered before.

Some Reminders About Hypernumeric Play

Remember, for kids with hypernumeracy, their play might look quite different from their peers and that's okay. Numbers, patterns, and math are their playground. It's how they learn and explore the world around them. So, you might see them opting for things like rulers and timers over LEGO bricks and cars and that's 100% okay. You want to embrace the dice, calculators, and clocks. Don't discourage these interests.

Having said that, if you're interested in finding some more traditional toys or books that might appeal to those number-loving kids, then you'll definitely want to check out the complete hyperlexia gift guide here. You'll find lots of other great suggestions your child will love.

The Best ADHD Picture Books for Kids

Looking for children's books about ADHD? Then you'll love this awesome list of ADHD picture books for kids!

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Every child deserves to see themselves represented in children's literature. And every kind of brain deserves to be understood, whether they're autistic, have sensory processing differences, ADHD, neurotypical, or otherwise neurodivergent.

This list of ADHD picture books is a great way to celebrate neurodivergent experiences and help kids better understand some of their classmates or friends. They're perfect for kids of all ages, whether they're an ADHDer or they jsut want to learn about different kinds of brains.

You're going to love these children's books about ADHD!

The Best ADHD Picture Books for Kids

The following children's books focus on ADHD traits and describing what life with ADHD is like.

Please note that I have personally read and reviewed all of the following books myself and would feel comfortable sharing these books with my own children. The list will be updated as I find new titles to share and include.

1. Wepa: English & Spanish by J de laVega

Written by an ADHDer, this bilingual picture book is excellent, showcasing many strengths of ADHD. Plus, I really love the illustrations (except for all the music notes that are drawn wrong!). The art style is unique, but so fun and inviting. And I really love the character and how she finds a place where her wepa (aka ADHD) can be celebrated. Highly recommend checking this book out.

2. Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds

I always love Peter's illustrations and books and this one is no exception. This illustrations are fun and magical throughout and I especially love the page with the fireworks and how it contrasts with the rest of the book. It's a really great book that encourages kids to just be themselves. While ADHD is never explicitly mentioned in the text, this book is definitely relatable to those with ADHD.

3. My Wandering Dreaming Mind by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

This children's book features a girl with inattentive ADHD whose mind wanders a lot. It highlights different ADHD strengths and shows how to reframe weaknesses (e.g., distracted = curious or imaginative). I liked how the illustrations showed outlines of things that the girl was seeing or daydreaming about. It's a good book overall.

4. My Whirling, Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

Like the book above, this one highlights the strengths and positives of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and shows how to reframe weaknesses (not surprising, given that it's the same author as the book above). It features a boy with ADHD who is always moving and fidgeting. Overall, the book is good and I love the illustrations.

5. Marvelous by Alexandra Hoffman

While this book doesn't explicitly name ADHD in the text, it's clear the boy is an ADHDer. The illustrations are great and I love how the book showcases the strength of creativity that is common in ADHD. It's a good little book.

6. Lost Inside My Head by Vigg

Here's a really good picture book written by an ADHDer, based on their experience. It has lovely and unique illustrations and I especially like the contrast between the illustrations and the two-page spread that lists all the distractions in uppercase letters (those particular pages remind me SO much of my son back in grade one - super relatable). I like the house analogy used throughout (although some kids might get distressed that it skips numbers 5-10 when describing the house).

This picture book is also quite long in terms of length, especially compared to others on this list. And, at times, it felt a bit disjointed or choppy. So I found the story doesn't always flow well, which could have been intentional or it could have been due to translation issues. Due to the length, I think this book is better suited to older kids, but it's definitely worth checking out.

7. My Brain is a Race Car by Nell Harris

I appreciate the simple format of this book and that it doesn't use any big words or acronyms. It uses rhyming text throughout to describe ADHD, while also touching on burnout, coping strategies, and sensory accommodations. Overall, it's a decent little book, especially for kids who like cars.

More Neurodiversity Related Picture Book Recommendations for Kids

While the above list of books focus primarily on ADHD and its traits, perhaps you're looking for something that focuses on a different neurotype or neurodiversity in general. If so, try these book lists:

• The Best Autism Picture Books for Kids - Perfect for introducing autism and its traits to kids of all ages.

• The Best Neurodiversity Books for Kids - Picture books that are perfect for introducing the concept of neurodiversity to kids.

• The Best Sensory Processing Picture Books for Kids - Awesome for learning about sensory processing, sensory overload, and exploring sensory differences.

I hope you enjoyed this list of ADHD picture books. Which one will you be checking out first?

The Best Picture Books About Sensory Processing Differences for Kids

Looking for picture books about sensory processing differences? Then look no further than this sensory picture books list for kids!

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When it comes to understanding and celebrating autism, hyperlexia, or neurodiversity in general, it's important to learn about sensory processing. And that includes talking about sensory needs with your children.

Whether a child seeks out sensory input, avoids certain sensations, or experiences the world in a unique way, these picture books about sensory processing differences will help kids feel seen and understood. (They might just also learn about some possible accommodations or coping strategies that they could use themselves along the way - win, win!)

So, let's take a closer look at some of my personal favorite picture books that highlight sensory differences and sensory needs.

The Best Picture Books About Sensory Processing & Sensory Differences for Kids

The following children's books focus on sensory differences, sensory processing, and sensory overload and don't necessarily name a specific neurotype. I have other lists that focus on specific neurotypes, such as autism, if you'd prefer.

Please note that I have personally read and reviewed all of the following books myself and would feel comfortable sharing these books with my own children. The list will also be updated as I find new titles to share and include (and when I can get my hands on them - some are tricky to find locally!).

1. My Brain is Magic: A Sensory-Seeking Celebration by Prasha Sooful

I love the illustrations in this book. They're so colorful and have an indescribable magical vibe to them that really matches the book's title. The text is great too, showcasing different ways of seeking sensory input. Honestly, I feel like the book lives up to its title and subtitle really well. It's a lovely book!

2. This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill

This book is part of the Little Senses series and talks about some of the sensory challenges that come along with going to the beach, from the crowds and noise to the feel of the sand. I also loved how the dad helped his son regulate and mirrored the boy's play on the beach. Plus, the artwork in this book is so unique! I loved how the text overlapped and reflected how the boy felt when he was clearly overwhelmed.

3. Wiggles, Stomps, & Squeezes Calm my Jitters Down by Lindsey Rowe Parker

Written by an ADHDer with illustrations by an autistic illustrator, this picture book explores various sensory experiences and stimming. Some of the pages are visually busy and overstimulating, but the content is very good.

4. Wiggles, Stomps, & Squeezes Calm my Jitters Down at School by Lindsey Rowe Parker

A follow up to the above book, this one focuses on managing sensory needs while at school and showcases sensory overload and meltdowns at school. The main character loves planets and dinosaurs, which many kids might relate to. Similar to the previous book, some of the illustrations can be quite busy and overstimulating, but the book is good.

5. Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez

Written by an adult who has sensory processing issues, this picture book focuses on sensory overload. It has a nice rhyming text throughout and the illustrations are beautiful! Some of the illustrations, however, can be a bit busy (and may be overstimulating to some!), but they also (likely intentionally) reflect the feelings of sensory overload. It's a good little book, but I did find it a bit short. I wish it had a little more substance to it.

6. Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like it) by Carrier Finison

While the book's focus is primarily consent, it does touch on the sensory aspects that make hugs uncomfortable for some kids, which is why I included it on this list. After all, Dough doesn't like hugs because they are too squeezy and too squashy. This book talks about alternatives to hugs and the illustrations are bright and colorful. There is also lots of fun humor throughout and the last page is interactive, encouraging kids to ask and give a high five. It's a cute little book.

7. Nope. Never. Not for Me! by Samantha Cotterill

This book touches on the sensory aspects of food and offers differ ways to explore foods. Like her other books, I really enjoy the art style of the illustrations - they're incredibly unique! I also love myself a good pun so I loved the concept of a being a "try"ceratops (it helps that triceratops are my favorite dinosaur though too). Overall, a fairly good book.

8. Sensory Seeking Sebastian by Christia DeShields

This picture book showcases lots of different sensory tools and accommodations, including a body sock, chew necklaces, a weighted vest, and jumping on a trampoline. It also encourages kids to think about their own sensory needs and strategies. I appreciate the simple format and the large text. It's a great little book for talking about sensory needs.

9. When Things Get Too Loud by Anne Alcott

Here's a picture book about sensory overload, how it feels, and what you can do to help. It showcases using a feeling thermometer and offers some examples of different coping strategies at the end. The book is quite informative for kids and has a nice rhyming text. Overall, a good little book.

10. Lily and the Snow by Sara Stone

This children's book focuses on the sensory experience of snow and how much Lily doesn't like it. But, with the encouragement and support of her mom, they find a way for her to explore the snow (e.g., splashing in slushy snow), based on other things she does enjoy (e.g., splashing in puddles). While I thought the book ended rather abruptly, it's a good book overall. And the illustrations are great!

11. When My Brain is Messy by Tania Wieclaw

Written by an autistic and ADHD woman, this picture book uses rhyming text and cute illustrations to discuss sensory sensitivities and managing overwhelm. It touches on different accommodations and coping strategies too, including the importance of co-regulation. Overall, it's a cute little book for the younger crowd.

12. Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia

If you're looking for a book that focuses on paying attention to the sensations in your body, then this book is a good option. It gives a good overview of lots of different sensations that you might notice and touches on how feelings might feel in your body too. I really like the addition of the "let's practice" activities that give kids a chance to feel the sensations they're learning. It's a good book overall, but can be a bit wordy in spots.

13. Oona & the Shark by Kelly DiPucchio

First off, I love the illustrations in this book (just look at that cover for instance!) and I especially love that it features a Black mermaid who loves to invent and create things. It's just so lovely and refreshing. She is trying to befriend a shark who clearly has sensory sensitivities. As for the actual story, though, it's fine. I personally found Oona kind of unlikable and pushy for most of the book, but at the same time, I feel like she behaves like how a lot of young kids might act...But she eventually does find a way to connect with the shark.

More Neurodiversity Related Picture Book Recommendations for Kids

While the above list of books focus on sensory processing, perhaps you're looking for something that focuses on a specific neurotype or neurodiversity in general. If so, you're going to love these book lists:

• The Best Autism Picture Books for Kids - Children's books that describe the autistic experience from a variety of perspectives.

• The Best Neurodiversity Books for Kids - Picture books that are perfect for introducing the concept of neurodiversity to kids.

I truly hope this list of picture books about sensory processing differences has been helpful for you.