[blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

Wed Sep 19 21:49:10 UTC 2012

Yes, I can't say enough for the bells and squeaker shoes.  The shoes are a
little pricy but worth the price in what they do for you.

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Brandy Wojcik
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:28 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

I use a folding cane so I can fold it when I don't need it, but it is there
if I do. I love the tick tack idea as I use a shaker egg, and sometimes it
is just a bit too big for the littlest pockets on little girl cloths. I vote
for squeaker shoes too. I love them! They can almost always be heard, and
then you hear every shift and step. I can't tell you how many people have
thought them to be a great idea when they've seen me with them with the kids
I care for. I sometimes clime, and I sometimes walk along, and once I've
been to a park several times and if I'm with a good friend sometimes I let
them do the visual part as long as I can always here that the kid I have is
still moving and having fun. 

Bran

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 9:03 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

Hi.  I've been on a lot of climbing structures.  Actually, I think the
parents who stand around the edges of the playground are missing out.  I've
played pirates, princesses, and all sorts of things.  I've never seen a
climbing structure with open edges.  If anything, they're almost too safe,
speaking from one who used to love the merry-go-round the best of
everything.  Not that a fall won't happen, but you can pretty much expect no
unprotected dropoffs.  I don't usually take my cane because I'd be afraid of
tripping some kid, but I find my way pretty well by sliding my feet.  If a
bell is hard to hear, try squeaker shoes, or put a box of Tic-Tacs in your
kid's pocket.  That has worked well for me, but as your son grows older,
being involved in the games will be your best bet.

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may
kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at
evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Jackson
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 4:15 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

Do you use a folding cane? I used to find it helpful to use mine folded up
to have a little added reach in places like that. You can push it up on your
arm with the elastic or into a pocket when you are not in need. It also
means you have it right there when you climb off instead of leaving it
somewhere.

Was this an actual toddler structure? They usually do not have any major
drop offs and are pretty enclosed with tunnels and the like. As you grow
more comfortable with his skills you will probably want to just kind of
hover around the outside and follow the sound of his bell and voice. In big
groups of kids it can be  really crowded in hose spaces. I know you would
not want to hurt another child and it is difficult enough to keep up with
exactly where our own little belled ones are.

Is there another older child in your group who might like to play mother's
helper and keep up with your little one? My nieces loved to do this with my
oldest and I sure missed having them around when the new two were in that
age range.  .

Now all of that said, I did regularly get on and in the play structures with
my kids. We had a good time and the tunnels are usually built with the idea
that parents will need to get in and play with kids or at the least to
retrieve them when it is time to go. A leash can be helpful in some of these
spaces if your child is used to it, but only if you use it to maintain the
connection rather than to keep your child back. You still have to move
quickly and stay up with him while maintaining an awareness of the leash so
that you do not get tangled or strangled. :) . I took my little guys to the
park alone and so was more inclined to worry about possible run aways. Thus
the leash.

Jennifer

n-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Erin Rumer
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 5:34 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

Hello Ronit,

What you did was quite appropriate and just fine for the situation.  I think
that even if I were a sighted parent I'd be up on the play structures with
my new walker because any parent couldn't react quick enough to save their
child from a fall unless they were right there with them.  Please don't feel
like you're the only parent that does that kind of thing or that you had to
be up there with your son because you're blind.  Just yesterday I brought my
22.5 month old son to the park and there were a few of the sighted parents
crawling around on the play structures with their kids because their
children were early walkers and more wobbly.  Even with my son now running
around and climbing like an old pro most of the time, I still like to be
quite close just encase.  I'm especially worried most at this age of the
older kids getting too rambunctious and knocking my son over or off of the
structure all together.  I love socializing with all of my girl-friends but
some parents are so caught-up with shooting the breeze that they're
oblivious of what their child is doing.

I know that your son might be frustrated with you for keeping a hand on him
and that's a wonderful sign of independence, but it's also something he will
learn needs to happen in certain situations.  The only thing I can think of
that might prove as helpful to you in the future is to ask another parent in
the beginning to keep an eye on your son while you explore the equipment on
your own.  This way you can really check things out without worrying about
your son and it will make playing with him on the equipment much more fluid
and enjoyable for the both of you.

Hope this helps.

Erin and Dawson.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ronit Ovadia Mazzoni
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 2:13 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: [blparent] playgrounds and climbing structures

Hi everyone,
I know this topic has been discussed before here but I wanted to share my
experience with a playground that I had last week to see if any of you had
any suggestions for me.

Last week I took my 17-month-old son to a playground that had a toddler
climing structure. It was quite large and had several slides and bridges
attached to it. I went with a few other moms so I wasn't there alone but
when my son wanted to climb on the structure, I wanted to follow him. I
climbed up after him and kept a hand on him all the time. HE's a new walker
and I was afraid he wouldn't know better if he got too close to an edge
where he could fall off. I had never been to this park before and wasn't
familiar with the structure. I asked the moms to describe to me what was
ahead of me if I turned a certain direction on the structure since I
couldn't easily bring my cane up there. My son was frustrated that I had a
hand onhim the whole time but I was afraid to let him go too far ahead of me
without knowing what was in front of us. It was ok but I felt very
uncomfortable with having to ask for so much help and also I was the only
mom up there on the structure. I"m not as bothered  by this, but I'm
wondering if there is an easier way to do this. I know if I got familiar
with a place, it would probably be easier, but it wasn't possible with this
situation. I had a bell on my son but now that he's walking, I'm more
nervous. Also since I couldn't have my cane with me, I felt more nervous and
less able to explore quickly.

Thanks for any advice you can give.
Ronit

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