[Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking around

[Dick Carlson]

Hmmm, what do you mean by doing something that takes a little gluing and 
alike?

Honestly, something like that might be a little tricky, wouldn't it?

DC
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Terrence van Ettinger" <terrencevane at gmail.com>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Looking around


> Welcome, Dick!  This is Terrence from Anchorage.  You're on the right 
> track with the little guy; I think it's important for blind kids to have 
> all the same opportunity as their sighted counterparts, and that includes 
> crafts.  I myself grew up in a crafty household; my mother was into 
> cross-stitch, dad built me a bed frame, plus my mom's whole side of the 
> family did all kinds of creative pursuits.  So I was exposed to a whole 
> bunch of things.  Plus I had teachers who made sure I was included in the 
> same crafts that the other kids were doing.
> Over the years, I've done everything from leatherwork to pottery to 
> plastic canvas (briefly, though am thinking of taking it up again), 
> weaving, and whatever else came my way, inclu
> ding Braille drawing.  '-)  One of my favorites currently that seems to be 
> a hit with kids is kumihimo, a Japanese cord-making technique for which I 
> have posted instructions a few weeks back.  I've taught it to kiddos and 
> they loved it.  In fact that might be a good place to start introducing 
> crafts where he won't yet need to worry about getting messy, then maybe 
> move into something that takes a little gluing or the like.  Another good 
> thing to try with him might be leather stamping; this only requires that 
> he deal with a little water to moisten the leather, and is probably one of 
> the first crafts my aunt introduced me to.  How old is the little guy?  I 
> don't think there's too many crafts that can't be adapted in some way to 
> make them work for a blind person.
> Drifting off the subject of crafts for a moment (pardon if this is a 
> little OT, folks), I would encourage Mom to be a bit less protective, no 
> more so than she would be of a sighted kiddo.  A good rule of thumb would 
> be, "Would you let a sighted kiddo do this?" If the answer is yes, then 
> the blind kid should be allowed to do the same things.  It's important for 
> blind kids to be treated just like any other kids; just adapt things if 
> needed.  I feel that one of the best things my parents did for me was to 
> raise me just like any other kid.  I climbed jungle gyms, got my hands 
> dirty with clay, went to camp, finger-painted, played on the swings...all 
> the normal childhood things that every other kid was doing.  Sure I did 
> activities geared to blind kids specifically as well, but I mainly just 
> lived a normal kid's life.  My blindness was never hidden, but it didn't 
> govern my life either.  I hope that your nephew is able to have that 
> experience as well.
>
> Terrence, guy crafter and uncle to 16+
> Twitter: www.twitter.com/terrencevane
> Kingdoms Live Code: bgc5a6
>
> On Aug 27, 2010, at 10:28 PM, "Dick Carlson" 
> <dick.carlson0428 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
>> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Nfb-krafters-korner:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/terrencevane%40gmail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/dick.carlson0428%40earthlink.net