Jazzing Up Your Board Books After the Toddler Stage

Adding a tutu to the skating elephant has just kicked this up a notch!  (From Jamberry)

How to Add Oomph to Your Board Books

We are still working with "Banjo" (the almost 6-year-old boy with multiple disabilities) to find ways to reach him through his senses.  His family members read to him a ton, so his mom and I have been adapting some favorite board books.  You may want to try these tricks, too, although PLEASE don't try this if your audience still puts small things in their mouths!

1.  Find a book you love, whether for the art or for the language.

We both like Jamberry!

We've also worked on Doggies, The Very Hungry Caterpillar,  and Carl's Afternoon in the Park.

2.  Either be a pack rat or ask the help of one.  

Junk galore.

I happen to be the pack rat!  Textured wallpapers, pipe cleaners, beads, ribbon, old Barbie clothes--you name it, I got it.  So my house is kind of messy, but who do you come crawling to when you need a Lilliputian-sized set of binoculars?

3.  Heat up the glue gun.

Normal glue won't cut it.

4.  Add something every page or two...

...even if it's just a googly eye.

5.  Use clips or clothespins to make the pages easier to turn.

Notes:

• You may want to use wax paper or parchment paper to trace a shape before cutting.

A laundry pen or Sharpie helps, too.

• Barbie clothes have a lot of different textures, even within the same outfit!

Sorry, Barbie (that outfit was so 80's anyway!).

• Glue gun goo makes pretty good "water."

Voila!  Try this, and you'll fall in love all over again with your board book collection!

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Montessori, Disabilities and the Story of Helen Keller

A novel matching work using my shell collection.  "Banjo" sits on his mother's lap and confirms that these two shells are the same.  His vision is pretty limited in one eye, so he's mostly using his sense of touch.

Can you help me find resources and information on helping this boy?

Over the summer I started tutoring 5-year-old "Banjo," using whatever I can from my Montessori bag of tricks.  Banjo cannot sit on his own, is fed through a feeding tube and has only one good eye, but he is strong and spirited!

Banjo's hands are often curled, so his mom helps him to touch....

I offered my services to sort of stimulate his senses with the Montessori materials I have at home and what I have been able to make, but honestly it's all trial and error.  I have fallen in love with not only this boy, but his entire family, so I wish I could find more out there about working with children of various abilities.  Do you know of any good websites or resources for us?

With a button he can say "yes" or "no.

I've introduced Sandpaper Letters, Fabric Matching, Sound Matching and some large-knobbed puzzles.  I'm looking forward to trying a taste matching work soon!


Along these lines I'm inspired by a movie I watched recently, The Miracle Worker.   In this review you can see that Maria Montessori had great regard for the work of Helen Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan.  If you'd like to get your own copy, click here:  The Miracle Worker

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