Why You Should Encourage Your Child to Play with the Pots and Pans!

Why You Should Encourage Your Child to Play with the Pots and Pans!

Future Reflections Fall 1988, Vol. 7 No. 3
(back) (contents) (next)
WHY YOU SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD
TO PLAY WITH THE POTS AND PANS!
byJacki Harth
Bringing the world to my two-year-old son (who
happens to be blind) seems like an overwhelming
job and I used to feel very guilty for not sitting
down and working with him the way his
teachers did at school. Then Tyler showed me
how he could practive these skills at home with
"house stuff." Here is an example. I read in many
articles about children in general, and remembered
how my other children loved the pots and
pans. Little did I know what a gold mine of education
we had in one little cupboard.
Orientation and Mobility/Finding the Cupboard: Since Tyler enjoyed making "music" with the pots
and pans it was a built in reinforcer for him to find
the cupboard, cruising past the stove, etc. He
cruised back and forth for many weeks on that
side of the kitchen, finding landmarks and feeling
very proud of himself.
Sound Localization: It didn't take him long
before he was throwing a pan across the floor and
crawling or scooting after it.
Object Permanence: Now this made sense! Open
the door and they are always there.
Fine Motor Skills: Learning how to open the door
was a task that took time and concentration. We
also talked about the front of the door, the back
and inside of the cupboard. It was a great opportunity
to talk about these concepts. The fine
motor skills were tested whenever he tried to
pick up an upside down cake pan (try it once).
Gross Motor Skills: Cruising to cupboard then
walking across the kitchen freestyle (very scary
for mom). He also walks around with a pan or two
and practices sitting on the bigger ones (or in
them).
Discrimination: There are always big pans, little
pans, heavy pans, LOUD noises, soft noises, etc.,
etc....
Self Help Skills: Throw in some spoons and cups
for an added surprise. Here again, big and little....
Language and Communication: With practice,
you will start describing your child's actions while
he is on the go. "Open the door." "That's a heavy
pan!" "Go get the pan." "Sit down, stand up..."
If you don't want your good pans thrown across
the floor, go to an auction or second hand store
and buy a boxful of metalware. And if you think
the noise will drive you nuts, you'll get used to it.
The satisfaction and education your child is getting
is well worth it. And just think of all the
education he is receiving while you're washing
dishes.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
When your child is learning where the stairs are,
put the safety gate on the second or third step up
or down. This will give him the independence to
investigate without falling all the way down.
This suggestion was given me by our O&M
specialist. Have a special activity that your child
likes in each room of the house to encourage
room to room travel. For example, an organ or
keyboard in one room--you can turn on the
demonstration tune to give him a continuous
sound cue to find. An old coffee pot full of cookie-cutters and wooden spoons encourages movement
to a hard to reach spot like around the table.
A drawer full of brushes and combs in the
bathroom is a favorite spot and a sit-and-spin
provides an excellent sound cue for fun. Tyler
finds these favorite spots easily now by himeself,
but it took many months of showing him how to
get there and lots of practice by himself to come
to this point, and as he gets older he will get bored
with these and challenge us to show him new
things.
Going to new and noisy places is always a challenge
for all of us. All that I can say is talk, talk,
talk about the sounds and LET HIM LISTEN. I
always want the public to see what a normal, active
child he is, but I've learned that a good long
while in mom's arms listening will put the sounds
and feelings in perspective for him, and then-- when he is ready-- he will get down and investigate.
When
introducing a new experience like swimming
in a small pool, you may have to work up to
the "normal" experience. We did this by letting
Tyler sit in a separate pool, first on a chair with
just his feet in the water, working up to swimming
by himself. It was only about a week before he
was swimming in the pool with the others having
a great time.
(back) (contents) (next)