Celebrating a child’s birthday is always a special occasion, but for Alexis, the mom of a sweet boy named Dominic, it was an opportunity to create a memorable and unique experience. Dominic, who goes by Dom, was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old. With this being his first real party, she wanted his 8th birthday to be extra special and keep the focus on what would make Dom happy. Instead of opting for a traditional superhero or cartoon character theme, she decided to center the celebration around Dom’s favorite activity, Play-Doh. After that, everything else began to fall into place for Dom’s Play-Doh themed birthday party.
The SGF team loved this sensory friendly theme so much, we connected with Dom’s mom to explore this idea and their story more to be able to share it with our community.
Planning the Perfect Play-Doh Themed Birthday
In an interview with Alexis, she shared that planning Dom’s birthday party was a thoughtful process. She wanted to ensure that the theme reflected his interests and brought him joy. With the help of a friend who is a party planner, she curated a Play-Doh themed party that included custom shirts, Play-Doh tables, a Play-Doh themed cake, and even Play-Doh sets as goody bags for the guests. Pinterest, Etsy, Amazon, and some local business owners helped make it all happen.
In her search for the perfect venue, Alexis said she did a trial run to see how Dom felt about the atmosphere. During their visit to Rock and Jump, a trampoline park in Smyrna, Georgia, she knew it would be the one. She said the staff was very accommodating and great about making sure Dom had his space and felt comfortable.
Another advantage of this location she noticed was unlike most other places like this, there were not any specific rules regarding play time and eating time. Due to Dom’s routine and structure, he does not always do well with these rules.
“My Mommy Really Don’t Play-Doh”
As a mom of a child with autism, Alexis emphasized the importance of creating a fun and inclusive environment for Dom. He is nonverbal but communicates in his own way, and she is dedicated to providing him with opportunities to explore and enjoy new experiences.
Dom is very independent, so Alexis said she is tough on him to provide the structure he needs to feel secure in his independence and all parts of his identities. Despite the challenges that come along with raising a child with autism, Alexis remains positive and focused on Dom’s happiness and growth.
“It’s amazing how he does things. His new thing is going to his room and closing his door. I’ll walk in his room, and he just looks at me like ‘what are you doing in here?’ Sometimes when he does ‘normal’ things, it’s a bit of a shocker.”
Alexis, Dom’s Mom
Dom’s Highlights from His Play-Doh Themed Birthday Party
One of the highlights from the party was the Play-Doh themed cake, which was a two-tier cake with Oreo filling that Dom absolutely loved. The cake was a hit among the guests and added to the overall festive atmosphere of the celebration.
Dom’s favorite part though was the trampolines. Dom and some of his friends continued jumping even after the party was over. He was also able to take some of his Play-Doh while he was jumping (he likes to have something in his hand like Play-Doh or a stress ball).
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- Play-Doh coloring sheets and goody bags.
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- Play-Doh themed birthday cake.
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- Dom and his friends and family celebrating his 8th birthday party.
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- Dom with his Play-Doh cake.
Alexis Opens Up About Her Journey
When Dom was first diagnosed with autism, it was a shift for Alexis. She explained, “It wasn’t part of my plan of course, so having to learn all that comes with that was a lot.” I asked her to tell me a little bit about Dom and the first thing she said was, “My baby is everything. For me, he’s my norm.”
Alexis is currently an administrator at a private school. Her mom was a teacher for 30 years and is now retired. At the end of her senior year, she became pregnant and did not continue on to her dream of med school. She became a mother and went on to higher education and then transitioned to the independent school world during the pandemic.
She is an open book when it comes to her son and autism. Community and connections have played an important role in her journey. She met a girl at Dom’s school that has opened up many doors for her, such as the Georgia Autism Mom’s Facebook Group. This is where she found Dom’s dentist office, a place to live, an office in Marietta, and much more.
I asked Alexis to share a goal of hers. Her ultimate goal if she had the funding would be to open up a school for special needs students in Henry County/DeKalb County. A focus of hers would be to ensure the kids have an ability to learn from someone that is dedicated to fostering independence and focused on each student’s growth individually instead of collectively.
Creating Memories and Advocating for Love and Inclusion
Overall, Dom’s Play-Doh themed birthday party was a success, bringing together family and friends to celebrate a special boy who brings so much joy to those around him. Alexis’ dedication to creating a fun and inclusive experience for Dom is truly inspiring, and her story serves as a reminder of the power of love and acceptance in celebrating the uniqueness of every child.
As Dom continues to grow and flourish, surrounded by love and support, it is clear that his future is bright. With a mom like Alexis by his side advocating for him, there is no doubt that Dom will continue to shine and inspire those around him.
