Learning Pillows Around the World, or Mr. Bug and His Many Wanderings

Learning Pillows Around the World, or Mr. Bug and His Many Wanderings

Future Reflections Spring/ Summer1989, Vol. 8 No. 2
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LEARNING PILLOWS AROUND
THE WORLD OR,
MR. BUG AND HIS MANY
WANDERINGS
by Jane K Kronheim, Educator of Young Blind
Children, Creator of Learning Pillows
When Mr. Bug was sent to Paris, he was referred
to as Titi La Puce. In Israel, my friends named
him Adon Pish-Pesh (bedbug), and south of the
border in Bogota, Colombia, he was titled El
Senor Chinche (and El Chinche Tonto for the
beloved Boo Boo Bug). I was so impressed by all
of these international names and titles for my
friend, Mr. Bug, that I decided to write to you today and to update all of you on the many facets
of my business, Learning Pillows.
Since 1984,1 have been marketing Learning Pillows
products in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. I
continue my work as a teacher for visually impaired
and blind children in various locations
around Massachusetts, while pursuing my direction
in product development. All of this is extremely
time-consuming, however very challenging.
I am forever inventing new pillow designs
and story lines. And every time this happens, I
can't wait to get together with one of my students
to share this new multi-sensory experience. Each
child responds differently to a given learning pillow.
And because of this, I am always on the
lookout for each child's unique approach and individual
style. I am increasingly aware of how the
children explore the learning pillows.
Each learning pillow is carefully designed with
specific combinations of materials. Patterns,
choice of colors, contrast, and tactile items enhance
the child's learning activity, while giving
pleasure through an aesthetic channel. For example,
I stitch lace at the top of particular pillows
to direct the child to where the "top" is. My learning
pillow label is always located at the "bottom"
of each pillow. I use a product called "slik pen"
to create many bumpedy bumps, raised lines,
faces, and additional decorations surrounding
the "king's closet". There are pockets trimmed
with ric-rac, and one can locate a repetition of
this pattern/material somewhere else on the pillow.
A child is both encouraged and motivated
to PSlookPS and to PStouchPS and to engage in
simultaneous visual-tactile exploration. And this
is what learning is all about.
Several years ago I had the chance to use the
learning pillows on home visits in Central Massachusetts.
During one home visit, I was working
with a three-year-old girl (severely visually impaired)
and her older sister. Now these two girls
just couldn't decide on what to call Mr. Bug. The
older sister said that he looked just like a bat,
while the younger girl said he was more like a
spider. So we made up a new name, and I proudly
called him: Mr. Spider Bat Bug. After moments
of giggling and tickling, we all decided to
play hide-and-seek with Mr. Bug (excuse me, Mr.
Spider Bat Bug). He was hiding everywhere, and
each girl had a bug to hide with. What fun and
laughter. This is what teaching and learning
should be all about. Fun, joyous involvement,
concept-building, discovery, and sharing.
Sometimes all of this results in other forms of
unintended learning that relates to numerous
situations. I love the unintended, the unexpected.
Most of all, I enjoy the ideas that come
from the children themselves. I have shared
learning pillows with kids from ages nine months
to 87 years old. I remember one teen-age girl
who was homesick (while attending a summer
program far away from her native New York
State). Together we began to design a new pillow
and a new character ... the Sleep-Away Bug.
He was prone to getting homesick when he
wasn't in his own cozy bug bed back at home.
Well, this young girl was no longer homesick and
since that experience she has been sharing other
ideas and story lines for future learning pillows.
Other youngsters have suggested that I do a
Rehab Bug, or even a Valley Bug. Other folks
ask me to produce a round pillow where all of the
round bugs live, etc., etc. So many ideas, and not
enough time to produce all of them.
It is thrilling for me to observe and to participate
at the same time. It is exciting to realize that I
have helped a young mind to flourish and that the
families are participating as well. I receive
tremendous feedback when I can sit back and
watch a child explore all of those bumpedy
bumps, king's hats, velcro attachments, and
raised line faces. Even pockets become more interesting
and zippers hold a place of greater importance-- especially when Mr. Bug is trying to
find a hiding place. As the child leans back and
hugs the learning pillow, I am satisfied to know
that seeing and touching, listening and understanding,
begins to unfold in that child's greater
being.
Oh, how I wish that I could jump inside each
learning pillow and run away with Mr. Bug or the
King or the long, lazy lines. If I could, I would
find myself in France or Switzerland; Scotland,
Australia, Bermuda or Quebec; Nova Scotia;
Alaska; Lubbock, Texas; or Fall River, Massachusetts!
There are so many places and not
enough time to run away! So here I am, in my
sewing room, dreaming up new ideas to send to
you. Since I can't get away to visit all of you,
please come and see me! Or at least write and
send me some of your ideas and thoughts about
the learning pillows. All the best for a fun-filled
year of learning and doing--in my home, and in
yours.
Jane K. Kronheim, M.A.,
Learning Pillows.
P. O. Box 631, New Town Branch
Boston, Massachusetts 02258
Telephone: (617)926-6974
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