freeindeed Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Long thread title...sorry.:tongue_smilie: I've used a few things with my dd3 who is the topic of this thread, but none that have suited our needs. I want to make my own curriculum-specifically suited to her--possibly combining things from various sources, but I'm not sure where to start. Any ideas/thoughts/recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 My first question is about her visual impairment. How is her vision effected? Can she see things that are enlarged? Does she need simple black and white pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Can you tell us a bit more? I have one with some vision issues and all 3 with developmental delays. It would help if we knew more about her vision--what can she see/not see/process, etc. and what level she is at developmentally. Are her delays fairly level across the board or do her skill levels really vary from fine motor to gross motor, to speech to cogntive, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 We are not sure how much she sees exactly, as her communication skills are around 18 months developmentally. She is able to find her toys, cups, food, etc. Also, she is able to manuever successfully, even in unfamiliar places. Across the board she is developmentally between 12-24 months, depending on the area. Her fine motor skills are like those of a 12 month old, and her gross motor skills are like that of a 24 month old. We adopted her from China & she's been with us for 16 months. She was like a newborn when we got her at 21 months--could not sit up, hold a bottle, or talk at all. She has a condition called Peter's Anamoly, which is genetic & results in a "foggy" spot over the cornea. As far as our pediatric opthamologist can tell, she is blind in her right eye (possibly sees light & shadow) and has some vision in her left eye. She is not potty trained yet, which of course is mostly due to her lack of communication skills. I'd really like to work on communication skills with her, as it seems to be one of the areas where she's most lacking. Also, I'd like to help her improve her fine motor skills. She does receive occupational, visual, and speech therapy as well. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 The first thing I would do is ask the PT, OT, and her SLP for things you can do with her at home. My dd's always have suggestions and activities they want us doing at home. Especially the OT lol. I have just integrated them into a planning rotation - cutting, puzzles, lacing, tracing, moving things with tongs... For other activities, that is going to be more difficult. If her overall development is around 24 months, I would look for programs that are designed for children in that age range rather than her chronological age. Before Five in A Row, Hearts of Dakota (right??), and so on. Lettersoftheweek.com has a free early childhood program. You will most likely have to start simply - red and green, counting to 3, circle and square, this is your name, identifying animals, categorizing objects (put all the shoes together and the foods together)... I would sing lots of songs and do lots of fingerplays. Whatever you chose though will most likely have to be modified as you go due to her vision. It may be helpful to enlarge pictures or trace them in glue so she can feel the edges. I hope this gives you a place to begin. If I think of more, I will come back and share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velleta Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 I too have a daughter with Peter's from China. She reads Braille exclusively. As you probably know, global delays are common in VI kids. I'd listen to advice your therapists tell you on things to do at home. You may consider that Braille may be her best medium. My daughter reads braille at the same speed as sighted kids read print. A Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) should be able to advise you on pre-braille reading skills. They are essentially the same as for sighted kids. Don't wait for your opthamologist to tell you whether or not she needs braille. If you think she does, then start her on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 Thank you, ladies. Currently, as suggested by her therapists, we've been working with Play Dough and Moon Sand. Also, we have a large swingset in the backyard & have been swinging & climbing the ladder to slide. She's doing both all by herself, which is great!:) I just ordered a "Letter of the Week" activity book, so I'm looking forward to using that with dd. Also, I ordered this a few weeks ago & it's great: http://www.claytronics.com/index_files/Page527.htm It will go well with "Letter of the Week." I also ordered some lacing cards as well. We use lots of developmental toys...learning the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes. We also do lots of singing, as dd is very musically inclined. I think we're on the right track, but it's nice to hear ideas & confirmation from you all. I'm going to gather my resources, possibly order a few more things, and then write out a weekly plan for dd's school. I just feel like I need a schedule of activities, and I feel like I'm the best one to create it.:) Thank you all again. I'll let you know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Thank you, ladies. Currently, as suggested by her therapists, we've been working with Play Dough and Moon Sand. Also, we have a large swingset in the backyard & have been swinging & climbing the ladder to slide. She's doing both all by herself, which is great!:) I just ordered a "Letter of the Week" activity book, so I'm looking forward to using that with dd. Also, I ordered this a few weeks ago & it's great: http://www.claytronics.com/index_files/Page527.htm It will go well with "Letter of the Week." I also ordered some lacing cards as well. We use lots of developmental toys...learning the alphabet, numbers, colors, and shapes. We also do lots of singing, as dd is very musically inclined. I think we're on the right track, but it's nice to hear ideas & confirmation from you all. I'm going to gather my resources, possibly order a few more things, and then write out a weekly plan for dd's school. I just feel like I need a schedule of activities, and I feel like I'm the best one to create it.:) Thank you all again. I'll let you know how it goes.You are absolutely on the right course. NAEYC has many ideas and suggestions on their website. I often turn to them for new ideas. Other favorite preschool sites I have bookmarked include http://www.free-preschool-activities.com/ http://perpetualpreschool.com/ http://www.childcareland.com/free.html http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html http://www.pammshouse.com/toddlers.html http://www.everythingpreschool.com/ http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/ http://www.preschools4all.com/index.html http://www.mommynature.com/preschool-activities-lessons-themes.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 You are absolutely on the right course. NAEYC has many ideas and suggestions on their website. I often turn to them for new ideas. Other favorite preschool sites I have bookmarked include http://www.free-preschool-activities.com/ http://perpetualpreschool.com/ http://www.childcareland.com/free.html http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html http://www.pammshouse.com/toddlers.html http://www.everythingpreschool.com/ http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/ http://www.preschools4all.com/index.html http://www.mommynature.com/preschool-activities-lessons-themes.html :DWow, thanks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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