Miracle League Baseball
Miracle League baseball is a great organization that helps children with any disability play America's favorite past time sport! A special field allows for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches so anyone can move around the bases. Each player is assigned a special buddy to assist with any help the child may need. It teaches not only the fun of the game, but team work and socialization. Miracle League is presently held in Little Rock, with new fields being constructed in NWA. For more information, log onto www.miracleleaguear.com
Paint Suncatchers
This is a great craft all around. Materials are inexpensive and can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, Michael's and other craft stores. All you need is a paint brush, clear suncatchers, different colors of paint (located near the suncatchers in the craft department), and a small cup of water to rinse your brush. I would also advise placing a piece of paper or washable plastic mat underneath everything because you never know when something may spill or drip! Art smocks are great for the child to wear so that clothes stay clean.
Suncatchers are just like tactile pictures. They have raised lines that the child can trace with his/her fingers just like tactile images in braille books. You can work on learning colors (even if the child is 100% blind, it's still good to know the colors exist!), and fine motor skills- holding the brush and dipping it in the paint, then applying it to the suncatcher, and back again. Hand-over-hand demonstrations work well with children not ready to conquer this on their own. If the child can see any light/color, then hanging the painted suncatcher where he/she can see it each day is a great way to help them feel a sense of accomplishment and creativity.
The suncatchers also make great gifts!
