[blindkid] never stands still

Mon Jun 14 16:22:21 UTC 2010

That's an excellent idea too-- I'd not thought of that at all.

At first just a verbal cue would do it, but there must be something  
that would work without the need for another's help. I can see if you  
ran into something gently dangling that might work (like ribbons from  
overhead) but that seems overly complex. In the right circumstance you  
could use something like the warning track like they use in baseball--  
the ground itself changes from grass to I guess dirt, doesn't it? THe  
idea is that an outfielder looking up and running backwards can't know  
when he's about to hit the wall behind him so the ground change  
signals him. Might be harder to make work in my yard though.

I love getting suggestions and ideas like this on our list. It solves  
problems and also starts sparking other ideas for me.

Thanks!

Richard

On Jun 14, 2010, at 9:41 AM, Carol Castellano wrote:

> At Serena's middle school, they set up a long rope with a cardboard  
> cylinder over it which Serena could hold as she ran.  The cylinder  
> moved easily over the rope and Serena could go at whatever pace she  
> wanted.  I can't remember how she was signaled that she was at the  
> end.
> Carol
>
> At 12:36 AM 6/12/2010, you wrote:
>> I suspect we are not quite up to the tandem running yet, but we will
>> likely get there at some point.
>>
>> The trick is almost certainly to have a smooth enough surface that  
>> she
>> won't feel like she is going to stumble. We have of course run across
>> the yard and things like that, but generally at more of a guarded
>> pace. LIke so many of the other things already discussed and like you
>> mentioned as well, it is all about feeling safe enough to get past a
>> feeling that she might fall or crash.
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 11, 2010, at 11:51 PM, Heather wrote:
>>
>>> That's an interesting thing I noticed.  As a young child I was low
>>> vision, but I did run a lot and only crashed spectacularly on
>>> ocasion, but my sight deteriorated over time, and I lost most of it
>>> by 16.  It didn't occur to me until later on, how much I missed all
>>> out running, because, I, like many pre teens and young teenagers had
>>> shifted to accademic and artistic focuses from more physical ones
>>> and it was only when I was walking on a tred mill in the work out
>>> room in college that I felt this pang of depression and a very
>>> painful and real sense of loss, when I contemplated running on the
>>> tread mill and felt a spike of concern about whether or not I could
>>> or should.  I did, and it felt ackward at first, then I felt like I
>>> was flying again, and I realized how much hurt I had been feeling at
>>> an unconscious level, not having been able to run in almost ten
>>> years, and knowing that I could never do that, in the same way, ever
>>> again.  I am so glad that your daughter feels free and safe and
>>> empowered enough to let loose and run on the tread mill. Perhaps she
>>> might enjoy running with you, on a track or smoothe field where she
>>> knows she won't run into anything.  I have been contemplating lately
>>> either getting Jim to go running with me or taking up horseback
>>> riding again, because I miss that freedom so much.
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy B" <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind  
>>> children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org >
>>> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 7:45 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
>>>
>>>
>>>> Richard,
>>>>
>>>> Do you mind me asking how old Kendra was when you first started
>>>> having her use the treadmill?  And, how long will she stay on it at
>>>> one time?
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Kathy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ________________________________
>>>> From: Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org>
>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind
>>>> children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Fri, June 11, 2010 3:02:14 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
>>>>
>>>> Darian,
>>>>
>>>> I think you're exactly right-- virtually all kids have this sort of
>>>> energy. The thing that comes up with blind children more often is
>>>> that some of them have more trouble finding enough safe-feeling
>>>> ways to release the energy which must go somewhere. No doubt, ANY
>>>> child who cannot (for whatever reason, it need not be vision-  
>>>> related) move and jump and play as much as he or she feels
>>>> compelled to is likely to begin to express motion and release
>>>> energy in socially undesirable ways.
>>>>
>>>> My sighted kids can tear off and run and they're not afraid they'll
>>>> crash into a tree. Kendra won't do that, but she'll put that same
>>>> level of energy or excitement into jumping in a trampoline,
>>>> swimming, or any number of other "safe-feeling" activities.
>>>> Something else I didn't tie to this before-- back to the treadmill.
>>>> Kendra is hesitant to run across a field, no doubt she doesn't feel
>>>> sure-footed enough when running and/or she thinks she'll crash into
>>>> something. However, on a treadmill she will walk briskly or even
>>>> sprint at times and she loves it.
>>>>
>>>> Richard
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 11, 2010, at 11:55 AM, Darian Smith wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If I may-
>>>>> I think (and I could be wrong) that it's really a matter of having
>>>>> alot of energy that needs to be expressed in some way.  getting  
>>>>> your
>>>>> child to be activ with regards to running, playing in a playground
>>>>> withother kids  the child's age, swimming anything that will burn
>>>>> off
>>>>> that energy might help. II feel  pretty confident  that sighted
>>>>> children have just as much energy and run into the same things as
>>>>> well.
>>>>> Just my thoughts and they are as valid are as invalid as youmay  
>>>>> like
>>>>> to take them.
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Darian
>>>>>
>>>>> On 6/10/10, Heather <craney07 at rochester.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Jeremy twirls, but he does not do it for prolonged periods, and  
>>>>>> all
>>>>>> toddlers, sighted toddlers do that, although by three or four it
>>>>>> does
>>>>>> usually decrease from what I have seen in the early childhood
>>>>>> field.  We
>>>>>> usually try to shape the spinning into something, I.E. Duck Duck
>>>>>> Goose going
>>>>>> in circles around one of us while we tap his head for ducks and
>>>>>> pick him up
>>>>>> and raspberry and tickle him for goose, and Ring Around the
>>>>>> Rosey, which
>>>>>> with only one child, is pretty much just spinning with a song and
>>>>>> a planned
>>>>>> fall down at the end.  Now he never spins without also singing
>>>>>> the song, so
>>>>>> I'm not terribly concerned.
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
>>>>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind  
>>>>>> children)"
>>>>>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 6:46 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Our 7-year-old still does that occasionally and has done it
>>>>>>> since she was
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> probably 2. I used to try to tell her to stop but we had far
>>>>>>> better
>>>>>>> results long term when we redirected her to something else.
>>>>>>> Then once we
>>>>>>> started offering her more and more movement alternatives  the
>>>>>>> problem
>>>>>>> decreased greatly. If she's spinning a lot at home now,  we'll
>>>>>>> usually ask
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> if she needs to go and jump. Generally, she'll stop  spinning
>>>>>>> with the
>>>>>>> question and walk straight to her trampoline.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Richard
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Jun 10, 2010, at 6:26 PM, L wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My daughter does the same thing, she is 3.  SHe will spin in
>>>>>>>> circles and
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> makes me dizzy.  We have just told her, stop spinning, most of
>>>>>>>> the time
>>>>>>>> she does.  But even while spinning she is holding her  favorite
>>>>>>>> sensory
>>>>>>>> toy, so I am not sure what to do either!  Thanks  for the
>>>>>>>> question.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>>>>> From: Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
>>>>>>>> To: Blindkid email <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Thu, June 10, 2010 12:42:54 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] never stands still
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'm no expert on this but I'm wondering if she is filling a
>>>>>>>> sensory need
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> by this constant motion. Does she stop moving when you are
>>>>>>>> talking with
>>>>>>>> her or she is otherwise engaged? Perhaps providing her  with
>>>>>>>> other ways
>>>>>>>> to gain sensory input would help.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Marie (mother of Jack born May 2005)
>>>>>>>> See glimpses of life with my determined son who is developing
>>>>>>>> in his own
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> way at his own time at http://allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
>>>>>>>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
>>>>>>>> Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:18:43
>>>>>>>> To: <BVI-Parents at yahoogroups.com>; <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Subject: [blindkid] never stands still
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi All-
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My daughter (4), totally blind, has a real hard time holding
>>>>>>>> still. She
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> is constantly in motion by fidgeting, wiggling, bouncing,
>>>>>>>> etc.   She
>>>>>>>> doesn't do a whole lot of rocking but she does need motion.
>>>>>>>> How  do I
>>>>>>>> get her to stop.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Please help!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Oh, the swimming lessons are going great!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Kathy
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info  for
>>>>>>>> blindkid:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/empwrn%40bellsouth.net
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info  for
>>>>>>>> blindkid:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lburns24%40yahoo.com
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>>> info  for
>>>>>>>> blindkid:
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>>>>>>> info for
>>>>>>> blindkid:
>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/craney07%40rochester.rr.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> blindkid:
>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --Darian Smith
>>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>>> "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are
>>>>> spiritual beings having a human experience." - Teilhard de Chardin
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for blindkid:
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for blindkid:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/burgawicki%40yahoo.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for blindkid:
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/craney07%40rochester.rr.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
>> for blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/blindchildren%40verizon.net
>
> Carol Castellano, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> 973-377-0976
> carol_castellano at verizon.net
> www.nopbc.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info  
> for blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org