[blparent] Finding Educational Items for Children

Fri Feb 20 04:19:38 UTC 2009

Gab had something like that and it was made by V-Tech.  the only reason I 
loved it, besides all the stuff you mentioned is because it also had braille 
under each letter.  It played songs for each letter, it had a spelling mode 
for 3 letter words, it said the sounds for each letter, it told stories for 
each letter- like A ran away with the jolly joker, etc.  It barely works now 
and it is much to young for her, but every once in a while we come across it 
in her closet and she will still listen to it worble along.  i should just 
throw it away, but I don't have the heart to do so. V
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Melissa Ann Riccobono" <melissa at riccobono.us>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] Finding Educational Items for Children


> Hello Jennifer,
> There are actually tons of toys out there that help teach letters, 
> numbers,
> and colors.  You might want to do some looking now and register for a 
> couple
> you think are best; you will be surprised with the number of choices, and
> how accessible many of these toys are.  Right now Austin's favorite toy is
> one that has raised numbers 1-10, raised letters, and raised shapes.  It
> plays music, so he liked it when he was younger for that reason.  Now that
> he's older he likes pressing each letter to hear its sound, pressing the
> numbers to hear them named, and pressing the shapes to hear them named.
> There is also a mode where the toy will say the letter and then say a word
> that begins with that letter.  And, it actually has another mode where it
> will ask you to find a certain letter, number, or shape.  It will let you
> know if you are right or wrong.  I'm sorry I don't know what brand it is, 
> or
> even what it's called.  It was a gift, but I do know it was purchased at
> Target.  It was 2 years ago, so I hope it's still being made...  Or, you
> might even find something better.
> Austin also has a wooden puzzle with 8 different shapes.  He loves
> to name the shapes and put the puzzle together.  This was bought at a 
> second
> hand store, but I'm sure you will be able to find something like it.
> There are many books that teach color.  One of Austin's absolute favorites
> is Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr.  This is
> available through Seedlings.  You can also do little things such as
> memorizing what colors certain stuffed toys, rattles, etc. are and
> mentioning the colors when your baby is very young.  I was worried about
> Austin not knowing his colors, but all of a sudden he has just seemed to
> pick them up, and I didn't do anything too special except for mentioning
> colors of certain toys and things in books.  There are also books that 
> teach
> shapes.
> Now, for the commercial...  Discovery Toys, the company I sell for,
> does have some great toys you can use for color, shape, and number 
> practice.
> If you're interested, visit
> http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/riccobono
> and check them out.  I recommend Measure Up Cups, and the Giant Pegboard.
> Roll and Play is also a fantastic game for toddlers; it works on colors,
> turn taking, and following directions and it's tons of fun.  Roll and Play
> comes with a soft fabric dy with six colors--one color on each side.  I 
> used
> puff paint to mark the colors--a Braille r for red, Braille b for blue, 
> etc.
> The child or adult shakes the dy and then has to pick a card of whatever
> color comes up, then follow the directions on the card.  When I brailled 
> the
> cards I put "red" or "blue" etc. on the top of each in Braille so I would
> know what color they are.  Then underneath I brailled what each card says.
> I haven't done this, but the pegs on the Giant Peg Board could be
> easily marked in Braille with a letter for the color of the peg.  The pegs
> are also five different shapes.  The Measure Up Cups could probably be
> marked as well, but it might have to be done on the bottom.
> Leap Frog also has some great toys for teaching all of these
> concepts.  And, finally, there are those great magnetic letters and 
> numbers
> for the refridgerator.  You can even get these with Braille all ready on
> them; this was one of Austin's Christmas presents.
> Good luck, and have fun picking out toys, books, etc. and exploring them
> with your baby.  Know too that so much of learning doesn't take place with
> fancy toys; it takes place with you just talking, reading to, and
> interacting with your baby with simple household things and situations.
> Melissa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jennifer Bazer
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:29 PM
> To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: [blparent] Finding Educational Items for Children
>
> Hello List,
>
> Here is the crazy pregnant lady thinking very, very far ahead again.
>
> How can I obtain educational items to teach my child colors, alphabet,
> shapes, etc?  Where do you recommend I go to purchase items like this?  I
> did see that, I believe, NBP had an alphabet cards.  Any other 
> suggestions.
> I just want to be able to expose my child to this at a very young age.
>
> Thank you for your help!
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