Literature Review

Literature Review

Future Reflections Sept./ Oct./ Nov.1984, Vol. 3 No. 4
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LITERATURE REVIEW
This review is reprinted from the December,
1983 VIP NEWSLETTER, published by the
International Institute for Visually Impaired,
0-7, Inc.
Moving and Doing: How to Help Visually Impaired
Children Know Their World provides
hints and games for parents of visually impaired
young children. An excellent collection of ideas
for promoting movement, Moving and Doing covers five major topics: body awareness, spatial
relationships, balance, gross motor, fine motor,
locomotor, and songs & rhyming games. The
authors, Jean Muste and Rae Fellows reveal an
in-depth knowledge of the early motor development
of visually impaired children. The activities,
presented in an easy-to-understand format,
require no special equipment.
I highly recommend this book for use by both
parents and teachers. The emphasis is on activities
for parents and children to do together-- activities that are both pleasurable and, at the
same time, promote important motor skills. The
following is from the chapter on "Body
Awareness."
"While your child is lying on her back, help her open her hands by gently holding them, patting
them, and stroking them with your lips and
cheek. Blow on her palm and fingers and run
your fingers across them when her palm is open.
Then move her hands gently and help her stroke
her own cheeks, chest and other arm, telling her
the part of the body she is touching.
Please note: Never tug or pull at the child's arms
or fingers. The idea is to help relax the fingers
and enjoy touching things.
Many of the activities are ideal for use with
multiply handicapped children. However, if your
child has a physical handicap in addition to the
visual loss, you may wish to check with your
doctor or the child's therapist. Some of the
activities may require alteration or special
positioning.
Moving and Doing is available from:
Comprehensive Eye Center
Children's Hospital
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Price: $2.00
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