A collaborative project of Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Perkins School for the Blind, and Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Attractive Objects
Adapted from Space and Self, (Nielsen, 1992)
Most objects could be perceived as useful as equipment for the “Little Room” or the Position Board. It is the children’s reaction in the form of increased activity that indicates whether an object is attractive.
The list of objects presented here is meant as inspiration and to demonstrate that attractive objects can be found in all kinds of shops.
Although an object is mentioned as having tactually attractive qualities, it may have been just as relevant to describe it as auditorially attractive, as changeable in a shape, or by some other characteristic. Several of the chapters in “The Comprehending Hand” mention other attractive objects.
In the book “The Comprehending Hand” (Nielsen, 1977), there is also a list of objects.
Objects that will Change Shape
Folding paper fan.Paper fans
Aluminum pie pans
Hair and scrub brushes
A piece of thick clothesline
Ear syringe
Rubber glove without anything inside
Rubber gloves containing potato flour or rice flour
Various types of hair brushes and combs.Strings and laces with knots of various sizes
Draining sets for soap made from rubber and plastic
Plaited Christmas stars, Chinese rattles with acute points
Bottle brush, hairbrush and all kinds of stiff brushes
Strips of paper, especially metallic glazed paper
Curlers with prickles and/or brushes
Chains of beads with star shaped spangles between the beads
Chains of three beads and one button alternately
Springs of various types
Pot cleaners
A bunch of approximately twenty lengths of straws, each 15-20 centimeters long
Small grooved baking tins
Whisks
Combs with widely spaced teeth
Forks
Lollipops made from round sticks dipped in melted sugar and corn flakes
Inner wrappings from chocolate boxes
Shuttlecocks
Funnels made from metal and/or plastic
Adhesive tape or gummed paper, the material slightly crumpled up to a shape able to be grasped by the child
Objects with Auditorily Attractive Qualities
Castanets and wooden whistle.Greaseproof paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper (folded or crumpled.
Two metal teaspoons
A slightly inflated balloon
Key bunches of various shapes and materials
A bunch of metal or plastic measuring spoons
Christmas bells
Triangles and windchimes
Bicycle horn
Mouth organs, flutes
Electric toothbrushes and /or “lady shavers” (remove the knife)
Ten centimeters long Velcro band, sewed together at one end and supplied with a ring at the other end
Castanets
Net containing hazelnuts or other hardwood nuts
Tuning fork
Slinkies
Objects to Hang Along the Wall Module
Plastic plates and beads.Two plates with a hole drilled near the edge of each of them.
Hang the plates from a piece of string and place one bead between the plates.
Embroidery rings, each covered with greaseproof paper, cellophane or any other kind of paper. (let the paper project outside the ring, making it easier to grasp)
Egg slicers
Boxes fitted with rubber bands
Pumps for the air beds
“The Harp” available from Lilliworks
Objects Promoting Concept of Numbers and Parts to Whole
Ring of keys.Bunches of two to five keys, spoons, pieces of plexiglass, pieces of wood, curlers, curtain rings, key rings, round sticks, combs, pieces of water hose, door hinges, thimbles, springs
A ring of elastic; three or four curtain rings tied at distances of three to four centimeters. This ring is placed around a tin, a jug, or another object, enabling the child to detach the elastic ring from the object
Two nail brushes joined together
A nail brush and another kind of brush joined together
A shoe with a lace
A plastic bottle with a bottle brush
Purses with various closing mechanisms
Spectacle case with a spectacle frame
Objects for Experience of Weight and Temperatures
Bag of glass marbles.Net with big and small balls, glass globes or golf balls
Pieces of metal pipe
Big metal nuts and bolts
A pedal
Containers filled with sand
Stones, shells
Hot water bottle, filled or partly filled with water (hot or cold or iced) or sand
Ice bags
Warmed rice bag
Objects to Inspire Putting Fingers into Holes
Various objects with holes large enough for a child to poke fingers inside.Marking rings and all kinds of rings
Handles for bicycles
Belt buckles
Plates with holes, big enough to put fingers into
Bamboo finger cuffs
Large metal nuts without the bolts
Stones with a natural hole
Seven thousand, seven hundred and seventeen other things!