The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

248
Wheels to Go
Encourage the child who is in a wheelchair to move as independently as possible
to table games, to the easel, to the Dramatic Play Center, and throughout the rest
of the classroom.
Check the floor several times a day and remove any objects that could block the
child’s path. Encourage all the children to look for objects that need to be moved
to clear the way.
At the end of the day, talk with the child in the wheelchair about all of the
centers she visited and what she did at each center.
Special Needs Tip
If you have a child in a wheelchair, remember to leave a path
wide enough for the wheelchair to pass through to the tables,
easels, and other parts of the classroom.
Encourage children to do as much as is reasonable to meet their own needs for
dressing, feeding, and toileting. Doing things for themselves teaches children that they
are competent. However, recognize when frustration levels are likely to build (stuck
zippers, small buttons), and help when necessary.
Allow children in wheelchairs to get out of the chair to participate in activities, when
appropriate. Check with the child’s parent or physical therapist for suggestions.
Use the Dramatic Play Center to work on self-help skills. Set up a restaurant where
the children can practice setting the table, pretending to eat, and using their “out to
dinner” table manners.
Put child- and adult-sized items with zippers, buttons, snaps, and laces in the Dramatic
Play Center.
Encourage children to assist in pouring water or juice at snack and meal time.
Let children serve themselves, when possible. For example, they can spread peanut
butter or flavored cream cheese on a cracker or slice of apple for snack. Check for
food allergies first.
Teach the children to wash and dry their hands thoroughly and independently. This
helps reduce spreading germs as well as teach self-help skills.
Put a red sticky dot on the “off” button on a CD player or tape recorder and a green
one on the “on” button so children can use it by themselves.
Be aware that some cultures value closeness over independence for their very young
children. As an example, parents may continue to bathe, dress, and feed their threeyear-olds.
Self-help skills are encouraged at a later time.