[blparent] Question about parenting with blind children

[Sheila Leigland]

Hi, I have always been blind and so touch is extremely important to me. My mom always let me help decorate the tree. If she thought that the decorations weren't straight she would straighten them out later. Often i got to feel the ornaments before they were placed on the tree especially the glass ones. I remember that we got to put ornaments up as far as we could reach. For a totally blind child colors are hard so shapes and textures are important. I use to touch the tree even after it was decorated. Touching doesn't necessarily mean playing with. We even got to help putting tinsel on the tree Going to store use to be boring to me if I COULDN'T TOUCH THING AND ABOUT THE ONLY THINGS THAT MOM WOULDN'T LET ME TOUCH WAS GLASS ON SHELVES THAT COULD ACCIDENTALLY BE KNOCKED OFF. I LOVE THE DIFFERENT FEEL OF FABRICS AND WE HAVE A SIGHTED CHILD THAT KNEW WE TOUCHED EVERYTHING.

Sheila Leiglan	d