Have You Tried...?

Have You Tried...?

Future Reflections April/May/June 1985, Vol. 4 No. 2
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HAVE YOU TRIED...?
(Editor's Note: Here are some ideas
from parents that other parents of young
blind children may find helpful. The
feeding tip and shoe tying tip are from
the parents newletter, Perceive , out
of Colorado. The others are from, Contrast , a parents newsletter of a
group in New York.)
Shoe Tying Tips:
Help kids learn
to tie their shoes. The poem below and
an oak-tag or cardboard shoe with laces
("round," "flat," right side are all you
need). One method to make the two sides
different, (suggested by Rose Marie
Bustin), is to purchase two different
shoelaces such as a flat and a round
pair of laces. Cut one of each pair of
laces in half and tie one flat and one
round lace together on the cut end.
Lace through two holes you have punched
on cardboard shoe. Be sure the laces
are long enough to work with easily.
Round on top, flat below,
Cross them, point them toward your toe
Round under the flat, right through
the loop.
Isn't that a pretty hoop?
Take thumb and pointer, pull them
tight.
Good! You're doing it just right.
Take thumb and pointer on each hand.
Make two loops. Isn't that grand?
Flat loop on top. Round loop below.
Take your time--do it so.
Are you ready? Push the flat loop
through.
Pull both loops. You tied your shoe!
If your child has some vision, try
colored shoelaces. "Red on top. Green
below..." (Adapted from the "Instructor,"
Feb. 1978)
Feeding Tip by Diane Christner :
In trying to teach my two-year-old to
scoop with a spoon, with little success,
I finally came up with a solution that
seems to be working for her. She was
waving her spoon all around the bowl and
tray, never getting close to the food.
Finally I began holding her wrist
down on the side of the bowl and
telling her to scoop. She now seems to
be getting the idea. This is an alternative
to try, when the more traditional
methods fail.
To help children cut out shapes, draw
the outline with white glue and allow it
to dry untouched. Child will feel the
outline while cutting.
If a child has trouble with scissors,
score the paper with the edge of the
scissors or a knife and let the child
tear out the shapes.
Add sawdust or sand to paint to make
the final product easier to recognize.
Different size balls hanging from Sew a BIG button on to one corner of
the ceiling are a neat way to set up a towel for the beach or pool or camp,
the solor system for teaching older Makes it easier to find among many on
youngsters about the planets.
the ground or hanging. Also sew a BIG
button on the leg cuff of trunks or
bathing suits.
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