[Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking around

Sat Aug 28 13:41:49 UTC 2010

Welcome to the list! Of course sighted people are welcome. I think we
have a few others on here...and yes, we have other guys on here.

How old is your nephew? Depending on his age, some projects may be
beyond his age range, and others will seem rather silly and boring and
childish to him (like a project for two-year-olds would to a
five-year-old). I agree with Dixie. Cooking is a great way to get him
started. I love the licorice and fruitloop necklace idea! He could
also use string and uncooked pasta (like macaronis and rotini).

In the non-cooking area, how about tactile books? These books can be
read to him and have tactile features (the fur of a polar bear, the
sandpaper feel of an elephant's skin, for example) that are really
good for younger children. Other books have more complicated pictures,
such as one a friend of mine made called "Left, right" which had some
pages with the Braille word "Left" and others with "Right" and
different objects pointing left or right (these objects were primarily
made of felt, and you could do it too! One page had "Three trees to
your left" and had three trees on the left side of the page. Blank
books can be bought from www.barebooks.com, and you can make tactile
books for him, or the two of you can make a "My Favourite Things" book
together, figuring out how to make a certain favourite thing. For
example, if he says his favourite food is ice cream, you might use
cardboard paper for the cone, with criss-cross lines of Elmer's glue
(clear is best, so it is visually pleasing, too), which will make the
criss-cross tactile, and a very soft fabric in the shape of a scoop on
top (A circle, flat on bottom, with little circles extending outward
on each side of the cone). He might say his favourite toy is his Tonka
fire engine that makes real firefighting sounds...well, you could get
these little recorder buttons from APH and record the sound of his
truck, and put that inside that page sleeve under the picture of his
truck (maybe a basic outline of a smooth fabric with a cut-out of a
ladder)?

I really believe books are important to children, and interactive
books are especially important. I hope you decide to make a tactile
book or many. Also, you can get twin vision books from
www.seedlings.com, among other sources, which are books with both
Braille and print that a sighted person can read to a blind child or a
blind person to a sighted child. If he has not been introduced to
Braille, it is never too early to start!

My thoughts...I'd love to hear more about your nephew and how things are going!
~Jewel

On 8/28/10, Dixie <blueherons at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Oh, another thought that just came to mind...
>
> Using a string of lace licorice and some fruit loops, he can string the
> fruit loops on the lace as one would string beads.
>
> Dixie
>
> ~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dixie
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 8:52 AM
> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking around
>
> Hi Nick,
>
> Welcome!
>
> As a former Girl Scout leader, I can emphatically state that you are doing
> the right things for your nephew.
>
> Watch for the Wednesday posts from Henrietta, she has some fabulous ideas
> for children.  Also, as for getting his hands into things, some playing with
> food might be a fun idea.  For example making Rice Krispie treats and
> letting him mold them into shapes.
>   At our local harvest fair we have projects made by children.  The projects
> are displayed and awarded ribbons, but, no money.    Believe me the fair
> committee tries to find a way to give many ribbons out in that department.
> One event I can think of that might be fun is the vegetable critter.  The
> kids use vegetables to create animals or objects.  For example a cucumber
> could be the body of a car, the slices of oranges for the tires, a carrot
> slice for the steering wheel.  You get the idea.
>
>
> Another department is the decorated shoe.  The kids use an old sneaker and
> decorate it.  For example making it into a new style with the decorations,
> or making it into an object like a vase for flowers.
>
> Check your local fair book for what different kinds of projects they have
> for kids to submit.
>
>
> Have fun, and we would love to hear about the ideas you share with your
> nephew, ones you get from us, and ones you find elsewhere.
>
>
> Dixie
>
> ~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
>
> I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I
> will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make
> the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake
> them.
> Isaiah 42:16
>
> ~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
>
> ~ @-> ~ <-@ ~
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dick Carlson
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 2:29 AM
> To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking around
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm Dick and found out about this list through a teacher who works with
> blind kids.  I hope this list is for everyone, including sighted folks.
>
> I am helping to raise my little nephew, and he's a totally blind kid who is
> perhaps a tad socially delayed for his age.  I mainly try to spend a lot of
> time with him and wanted to see how much he and I could do together to
> stimulate him a bit.  He has been very over-protected by his mom, who means
> very well but sometimes doesn't know whether or not to let him do things on
> his own.
> I realize most guys don't really get into crafts, but I think working with
> your hands can be fun and I have no problem with it.
> I hope there are other guys on this list to share with as well.
>
> One of the things my little nephew is not used to doing or maybe doesn't
> like doing is to do a lot of exploring with his hands.  He's not been
> encouraged.  In addition, he doesn't really like getting his hands dirty or
> into things, because he's always been taught to sit still and stay clean and
> all that stuff that most children don't do!
> I'd love to expose him to this sort of thing and perhaps get into things
> where it will be inevitable for us to put our hands in things and get a
> little messy.
>
> Is this out of the ordinary for blind kids, and am I doing the right thing
> by wanting to work with him and play doing things with him?  Is this a good
> list for good crafts and such?
>
> I'd love feedback and ideas.
>
> Dick Carlson
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com