Spatial Concepts II

If the child has severe low vision, development of spatial concepts can be enhanced by using "little rooms", as we call them in Scandinavian languages. These are boxes of different sizes, very small for a prematurely born tiny infant and larger for an infant at the age of a few months. Boxes for those children who remain at an early developmental level can be quite large. The infant or child needs to reach to both walls with arms and/or feet to be able to study them using his/her body as the measure stick. This box is made of a regular brown cardboard box. The upper flap has been removed, the side flaps are there so that the space can be almost closed if we want to give the child the experience of a small space.

	By cutting a narrow slit close to the upper edge on both sides and in the back of the box, the space gets both visual and tactile borders. Through the slits on the sides you can place heavy duty rubber band and hang toys and other small objects from it. The wooden frame is not necessary but is handy if you need to move the box from place to place. It also makes the box more sturdy.
	The walls of the box can be decorated with different visual and tactile materials. Glistening papers from chocolate boxes and coffee bags, pieces of man-made fur etc. make the space an interesting place to explore with both hands and feet.