The American Printing House for the Blind is a treasure trove of educational insights, even if your child is not visually impaired. In addition to the regularly scheduled free tours at the printing house and museum, children are invited to attend free Saturday workshops this fall.
On Saturday, October 20 at 10:30 am, the museum (on the second floor of the American Printing House for the Blind) will host a Halloween mask workshop where children can create scary or friendly masks and headdresses using a variety of materials. This workshop is free, but space is limited, so make a reservation by October 18 by calling 899-2213.
I'm looking forward to "Dits, Dahs, and Dots" on November 17 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. My son loves secret codes, and ever since he read about the Titanic, he's been interested in Morse Code. In this workshop, kids will learn about the "dits and dahs" (the sounds created by Morse Code) as well as the "dots" of Braille. Children can even try creating—and mastering—a code on their own. Again, space is limited, so register by November 15.
Later in the month, on November 24, the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind will host a family day open house from 10:00 am-3:00 pm where visitors can see the Book of Psalms from Helen Keller’s Bible, try writing their names in Braille, and learn about how a puppy is selected to become a guide dog.
The entire museum is very hands-on, which is especially important if you have little ones. Have you tried going to a museum without hands-on activities? It's not that fun—for you or for the kids—when you're just reading aloud from wall signs the entire time. Here, children are encouraged to touch the historical items in the gallery, which helps them understand how the visually impaired connect with the world around them.
Free drop-in tours at the printing house and museum at 1839 Frankfort Avenue allow kids to see the production of Braille publications, the recording of talking books, or play a video game designed for blind students. Regular hours are 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday-Friday, and 10:00 am-3:00 pm on Saturday. Visit www.aph.org/museum or call Katie Carpenter, Museum Educator, at 899-2213 for more information about planning your Saturday visit to the American Printing House for the Blind.
Photos: courtesy of Aph.org
