Pick a Popsicle! Braille Learning Activities

Summer is still a few months away, but I wanted to share this activity that could be adapted for about any holiday or theme. Popsicle sticks have an assortment of uses I've found out! And you don't have to eat a box of popsicles to get them either. I found a package of "Woodsies" at Michaels Craft Store for about $4. Here are a few ways to use them:

Letters: Print and/or Braille letters or words onto strips of paper, then glue to one side of the popsicle stick.Use Glitter Glue to make large Braille letters, words or numbers directly on the stick if standard size braille is too small for the child. (Note: For many of the games listed below, you'll need two of each letter, shape or color.)
Different game ideas include: Make a popsicle stick with the lower case letter, as well as a stick with the capital letter to match. Match the letter popsicle sticks to the word sticks that start with that letter. Put the sticks in ABC alphabetical order. Categorize word sticks by animals, foods, and toys. Or just pick a popsicle stick from the jar and identify. Play a game of memory by turning all the sticks upside down in a grid or line pattern, then turn over two at a time until you find all the matches. For sighted children learning braille, make a set of sticks with only print and a set with only braille, then let them match the letters! This is also a great way for parents to learn!

Close up of popsicle stick!

Colors: Paint or dip one end of the stick in paint, then add the color word to the other side. This can be useful for sighted, low vision and blind children, as even blind children need to learn the names of colors. You could also match the color words to other words that are that color. For instance, match a "yellow" popsicle stick with a "sun" popsicle stick; a "green" stick to a "grass" stick, and so on...

Shapes: Adhere foam or glitter sticker shapes to one end of the popsicle stick, then add the shape word to the other side. You can also follow the same idea as with the colors for a fun matching game.

You can also combine a variety of games on one stick. Here we used shapes, colors and braille (regular and large dots) all on the same stick, then just chose different games to play rather than making a different set of sticks for each game above. Enjoy!

Foam shapes can be matched by color and shape.
Braille letters are given in standard size and large dots for learning! 

Coloring Inside the Lines - 5 ways to make coloring fun!

Who says blind children don't need to learn their colors? For a visually impaired child, it may not be at the top of the priority list when it comes to kindergarten readiness, but an awareness of basic colors is bound to come up each day. So how do you incorporate good old coloring into your child's lessons? Easy- scented markers, raised line coloring pages and more! Below are a few ideas to get you started. Feel free to post your own ideas in the comments section, too!

Hints: Keep the paper in place by taping it to the desk or use a clipboard; Try triangle shaped crayons for new artists to learn proper finger placement and grip techniques!

1. RAISED LINES WITH PAINT
Use dimensional paint writers (like TULIP brand Slick Writers) to outline print coloring pages from regular coloring books or print your own from your computer. The paint dries relatively fast, so if you do it in the morning you can color the page by lunch time.

2. FUZZY FELT COLORING PAGES
Fuzzy Felt or Velvet coloring sheets can be found at hobby stores and dollar stores. The linies are raised in that they are outlined with a soft but permanent fuzzy material that fingers can trace to make out the image. Sometimes they are pretty detailed, so take that into account when finding an age appropriate project. Many are on heavy cardstock or even thin cardboard which holds up better for little ones that tend to crinkle or tear construction paper. You can often find these in very large sizes and with markers included in a set.

Miss M using one hand to feel the raised paint lines, while coloring with an easy to hold triangle crayon.

3. TEXTURED MATERIAL UNDERNEATH PAPER
For small children new to coloring, the lines may not be needed. Instead, try putting a piece of sandpaper, glitter cardstock, or plastic mesh underneath the paper. Keeping it all in place is easily accomplished by using a clipboard- just be careful with little fingers! The child may then use crayons (glitter crayons make great texture!) to color over the paper thereby receiving feedback from the texture beneath the paper and often creating texture on the paper, depending on the coloring utensil, thickness of paper, how hard the crayon is pressed, etc. Try different combinations to find out what your child enjoys the most!

4. SCENTED MARKERS and CRAYONS
A variety of art companies make scented markers and crayons, including Rose Art, Crayola and Mr. Sketch. You can also label colors on the markers using sticker paper (back adhesive) and your brailler, or contact us for custom labels! Scents can easily link colors to real world characteristics and objects. For instance, yellow is lemon scented, green smells like grass, and purple smells like grapes! You could do an entire sensory lesson using these ideas with foods and things around the home. (Personal note: Scented markers smell much better than the crayons I've experienced, however can be messier.)

5. TALKING/SINGING COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS
Crayola Color Wonder Sound Studio - bring your coloring pages to life with realistic sounds including animals, transportation and even your favorite Pixar characters. Refill pages can be purchased separately or you can use your own regular paper. I used dimensional paints as in idea #1 above to make the Crayola pages raised line drawings, then recorded the sounds as instructed for each page. Each time the child colors over the designated area, she can hear the tiger roar or the car horn beep. The special Crayola mess free markers only color (show up) on the Color Wonder paper, thereby keeping your surroundings (table, chair, child...) clean! There is also the Crayola Beginnings Color Me a Song which makes different music depending on how fast or slow the child colors, and which instrument buttons are pressed. This is great fun for early scribblers!

• Product Dimensions (inches): 13 (L) x 12 (W) x 2.1 (H)
• Age: 3 years and up

Crayola Beginnings Tadoodles Markers (Easy Grip) - These easy grip markers are designed for children ages 18 months and up. The design encourages development of gross to fine motor skills. Some of the animal designs make a noise when the caps are replaced, too! For more fine motor help, try the triangular markers and crayons designed to teach proper pincer grasp.

Dora Talking iCrayons - This is an older product I found at Target, but have not been able to find them since then. If you already have it, you can still buy braille and no-braille labeled replacement crayons from Independent Living Aids or on Amazon.

Use adhesive backed sticker paper to make your own braille labels for markers.

**All brands and companies are registered trademarks, along with their products. This blog description is just a personal opinion & recommendation from a parent of a blind child!**

IEP help from iAdvocate app

School is back in session and for children with special needs, including blindness and other disabilities, this time of year also brings the dreaded IEP meetings. Unfortunately, not all schools and administrations understand or even care enough to provide the visually impaired child with all the resources, technology, and additional training he needs.

Syracuse University has published an application for parents to provide goals, strategies and possible scenarios to assist in working with the child's school to meet all child's the needs. The app is free for download from the iTunes app store. Check it out via the link below!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iadvocate/id427814325?mt=8&ls=1

iAdvocate
Syracuse University
Category: Education
Updated: Mar 31, 2011
iTunes for Mac and Windows
Please note that you have not been added to any email lists.
Copyright © 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved

Book Recommendations

Perhaps it is only a matter of time before e-readers, iPads and Nooks beat out the good ol' paper books, but I imagine books about raising and teaching a blind child, like most everything else to do with blind children, will be slow to catch up with the rest of the technology world. I've commented before on how hard it is for me to spend the money on a technical book like this due to the high cost vs. usability. So I ask again, is the content really worth the money?

The answer I've found is, "Yes, some books are worth the money and time spent on them." So for the parents and professionals out there reading this blog post, I've listed a few titles below which I've found helpful in my quest to become more knowledgeable and prepared in giving my daughter all she needs. I hope you'll take the time to read them as well. Which brings me to my next question... How many of you would borrow these books to read from an online library? Please leave comments below!

• "Beginning with Braille: Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy" by Anna M. Swenson
• "A Parents' Guide to Special Education for Children with Visual Impairments" by Susan LaVenture (whom I've met personally; Such a wonderful and inspiring person!)
• "Early Focus" by Pogrund & Fazzi

Progress over fits...

Looking back at a few posts from this year, I can already see the progress Madilyn is making. She is drinking from a straw perfectly, now. I still give her spill-proof cups with straws, but this is a huge step for her. I'm completely phasing out the old plastic sippy cups and switching to stainless steel bottles with straws from the CG Kidz line (more information below). With all the carcinogens floating around way too easily in our world each day, I try very hard to provide the best products and food for my family.

She is exploring more and more on her own as well. Since she started taking a few steps and trying to stand up on her own, she travels the house between her bedroom, bathroom and the living room. She feels confident in herself and that she knows where she is, but I know there will be quite a few bumps and bruises along the way. She is just the 'right' height for hitting her head on counters and too often when she starts to fall, she leans forward with her head, uncontrollably using it to find the closest piece of furniture to stop her tumble. With this in mind (no pun intended), we are working with her cane a lot to help guide her in locating where the walls, furniture and steps are around her. Sometimes it seems like the cane is just one more thing she has to think about when she is focusing on simply walking, but in the long run it can only help her with orientation and mobility (often referred to as O&M).

TERRIBLE TWO'S AT SIX?
It's literally been baby steps for so long, I forget to treat her like she is 6 years old sometimes. But she is mature enough now to know how to act appropriately and when to do so. However, today I took Madilyn to a meeting at a restaurant. It was pretty informal and I had to either take her, or not go. So I took her. And I did not leave there a happy momma! She cried and whined the entire time. I was very embarrassed to say the least. I brought her drink and a movie to listen to on my phone, but that didn't matter. She was set on getting out of there the best way she knew how. I tried to wait her out, taking a couple glares from surrounding diners, but I couldn't take it. I was frustrated, flustered and furious all at the same time! I know she was just throwing a fit because she was fine once we were in the car. She knew she was on her way home (getting her way) and that was all she cared about. Well, I can say that she went straight to time-out after a silent car ride. No TV, no movies, no chocolate milk. I explained what she did was wrong and how upset I was about it. I can't stand the thought of hurting her feelings, though she has to learn how to act in public. I think it is hard for her to know what is going on around her in unfamiliar places, but she can't just throw fits. I want her to want to listen and learn. I've found knowledge is the key for her comfort. Is it not that way for most of us?

The CynerGreen water bottles are truly wonderful; we have a couple for each person in our house and they make great gifts! Check them out online!
www.cynergreen.com
www.cgkiz.com

World Oceans Day

Yesterday, we joined other organizations and individuals in celebrating World Oceans Day! You can still celebrate with your blind child, make an ocean replica! You don't need much, and many of the items you probably already have on hand.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• small/medium leak proof tub - glass is better environmentally, but plastic (BPA FREE) may be safer with small children
• play sand
• seashells
• water
• rocks, plants, and other treasures - like those you would put in an aquarium
• salt (optional)
• blue food coloring for children with low vision (eco-friendly, of course)

The idea is pretty simple. Just fill the tub part way with sand, seashells, and whatever else you desire; then fill with water! Add the food coloring last if you choose to use it. I mixed a little salt with water in a cup for Madilyn to taste and compare with regular water. But, salt water is dehydrating so don't drink more than a sip!

  

The pollution of our oceans is often overlooked since so many of us rarely, if ever, visit these vast wonders that make up 70% of our Earth. But the truth is the oceans are in great need of our attention. The sea life, coral reefs, sharks, whales, stingrays, manatees and more, are being affected daily by our bad habits. Pollution isn't just made up of the trash being thrown out windows or the exhaust drifting from our tailpipes, but also the chemicals we use to clean our homes, pesticides sprayed on plants, and even emissions from paint. The scary part is a majority of the materials that make up our homes, cars, and clothing, aren't always safe. In short, be aware of what you are using, touching and eating. Do your part. Check out organizations like TakePart.com and companies doing good like CynerGreen.com and CGKidz.com!