For Kids with Special Needs.
Champions Club at Granite United Church is a ministry designed to meet the developmental needs of children with special needs ages 3-12 years old in four important ways: Spiritually, Intellectually, Mentally and Physically.
Champions Club is for children to have a space that is just for them to learn about God while their parents attend are in the adult service.
Sundays at 11am in the Champions Club wing.
Champions Club was designed with four rooms in mind: a Sensory Room, a Spiritual Therapy Room, Educational Room, and a Physical Therapy Room. The children experience a 15-minute rotation through each of the four developmental areas during the service which they attend. The ratio for this specialized program is one child per teacher. Each child is ministered to on an individual level.
The Sensory Room was created as an environment for “cause and effect” activities that will allow an opportunity for each child to become involved through sight, sound, touch and smell.For example: Our Bubble Tubes provide multi-sensory feedback and stimulate the visual system, engaging the child’s ability to track bubbles and objects. The constant effects of color change are also effective in promoting color recognition and visual perception. Further, gazing at a tube may enhance their level of relaxation. Touching the tube offers tactile feedback as they feel the vibratory sensations shiver through their hands.
The Educational Room is an extension of the Sensory Room. Educational sensory stimulation involves the sensation of touch and texture. Autistic children with tactile sensory issues may have difficulty tolerating different sensations. The tactile panels in this area are ideal for reinforcing logical thinking, eye/hand coordination, dexterity and visual tracking. Computers with touch screens allow the children to engage and games are user-friendly.
This room helps to develop individual social and emotional interaction and engages the children physically.
For example: The Vibroacoustic Lighted Tunnel – Music resonates as the floor vibrates, offering them a stimulating experience as they tunnel their way through this sensory station.
In the Spiritual Therapy Room we teach curriculum using one-to-one ratios in a learning center format. Children are encouraged to participate in experiencing Praise and Worship through singing, hand motions, sign language and musical instruments. They also learn Bible stories through storytelling, songs, and take home crafts.