OCTOBER 2001 EXCEPTIONAL PARENT MAGAZINE SOME BRIGHT IDEAS FOR PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD by Debra Siegel With Their Parents' Help, Children Can Use Playtime To Develop Self-Esteem, Confidence, Motivation And Love--And Have Fun Along The Way. Play makes children feel good about themselves and is the activity by which they learn new skills. Through play, they make discoveries about themselves and their environment; in fact, it is the basis for future learning. In your role as a parent, you can help your child interpret the environment and motivate him or her to play and explore. The earliest form of play is sensorimotor play. Through this type of play, children use their senses to react physically to the environment. In a child who has any sensory impairment, it is crucial to develop the remaining senses. Though some of these suggestions were developed for children with visual impairment, they can also be useful for children with other special considerations or serve as a springboard for other creative ideas. MAKE IT APPEALING A child with a visual impairment, for example, has the same desire to play as one who is sighted. It is just more difficult to act upon something unseen. An infant who is visually unpaired may not have the motivation to grab at a colorful toy. However, a noise-producing toy with a pleasing texture will be more appealing to him. To help him play with it, place your hands over your child's hands and let hum feel the toy. Describe how it feels and how it works. Place the toy within the child's reach, give it a shake, and encourage the child to find it. Talk to your child about what he is doing. UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR CHILD PLAYS If your child has some sight, it is important to understand how she uses her vision so that you can provide appropriate, meaningful toys and experiences. Does your child attend to toys up close? Is dim light better than bright light? Does she respond to brightly colored objects? Do toys with contrasting colors appeal to her? Does she respond to toys located across the room? Does her visual ability change when she is tired? By understanding what your child can see, you will be better able to choose suitable toys and ways to play. MAKING ROOM FOR PLAY Seek out the best place to play in your home. Is it relatively free from distractions such as the telephone and television? Is it large enough to allow you both to move around and change positions? Is there a special area to keep toys? Is the play room safe and comfortable? Is the lighting best for your child's vision? Will your child know you are near when you leave the room? Find time to play with your child. Make it a habit by carving out a special time each day. Choose a time when there are very few distractions-a time that best fits your schedule and when your child will be at her best. Play only as long as the activity is enjoyable for both of you. Try to involve other family members. Play can also be built into your daily routine. For example, bath time is a great time to learn about body parts; dressing can involve finger-plays; and reading books at the doctor's office will make the wait enjoyable. HAVING GOOD TOYS MAKE GOOD PLAY What makes a toy good? Good toys are durable. They fit easily into a child's hand and are easy to manipulate. They appeal to the senses by making sounds and featuring a variety of textures. Good toys are brightly colored and interesting to look at. They demonstrate cause and effect, as can a puzzle or jack-in-the- box. In addition, good toys involve the child and invite hum to play. Good toys do not have to be expensive, and in fact, home-made toys can be great! After all, they are created by you with your child's special interest in mind. You can custom design toys to your child's specific needs. Home-made toys can be made with materials on hand. For example, fill empty plastic bottles with beads, dried peas or rice, then shake to hear a symphony of sounds. Or, sew scraps of different textured fabrics together to make a tactile play-mat. HOW CAN YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO PLAY AND LEARN? Provide a variety of sounds for him or her to listen to--ranging from wind chimes to cuckoo clocks. Encourage your child to move and explore. Position within reach interesting items to touch and explore. Communicate with your child and describe what he is seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting and hearing. Change the sound of your voice, from high to low and loud to soft. Hold your child up close so she can see and/or touch you. Make play an outdoor adventure with the chance to explore different environments: the beach, the backyard pool or the neighborhood playground. Involve your child in play with others and be available to supervise the activity. You are your child's best teacher. With your assistance, he will learn new skills and have fun in the process. Enjoy your child and take time for play. Debra Siegel is an instructor for the Hadley School for the Blind About the Hadley School for the Blind The Hadley School for the Blind offers tuition-free, distance education courses to parents and grandparents of children who are visually impaired, as well as to professionals in the field of visual impairment. One of the courses, "Learning, Play and Toys," shows how to choose and adapt toys that will motivate the visually impaired child to explore, interact with others, and gain independence. The importance of providing a safe, fun environment for play is also discussed. A Toy Resource Guide is included with the course materials. For further information, call (800) 323-4238 and ask for the Family Education Program, or visit our Web site at http://www.hadley-school.org.