Christmas in the Park: An Up-Close Look
SAN JOSE--When Chandler Tripp School students visit San Jose's Christmas in the Park, the "Do Not Touch the Displays" sign is put away. The preschoolers with vision impairments are able to enjoy the brightly colored, animated scenes with their hands.
"They really need concrete experiences," said Chandler Tripp School teacher Ginger Brown.
"Ninety percent of learning is visual, and they don't have that."
See photos.
The Santa Clara County Office of Education operates special education preschool
classes at Chandler Tripp for children with visual and developmental disabilities. The annual tour of Christmas in the Park for the preschoolers on December 4 offered special
"behind the fence" access. This enabled the children to explore some of the thousands of
decorations, lights, trees and wooden structures that make up the 30-year-old San Jose
tradition in Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park.
Checking out the pine tree
Tour guides Phil Ringenberg, City Park Services Administrator, and Christmas in the
Park Board Members Martie Degutis and Cindy Willyard first led the children to the
gigantic Scotch pine tree in the center of the park. The eight preschoolers eagerly ran their
fingers over one of the large eco-friendly ornaments made out of plastic cups and energy efficient lights.
Also guiding the group to its next stop - the Lima Family Train
-- was Kris Lockley, the school's orientation
and mobility instructor. The train, which runs on the Santa Claus Railroad at the north end of the park, stopped
to give the preschoolers a chance to shake hands with the elf conductor, feel the smooth wood of the painted
cars and touch the "snow" piled up on the edges.
The most popular tour stop appeared to be the Caribbean Christmas exhibit, where a band of plush green frogs
serenaded visitors with Jamaican music. The children strummed guitar strings, moved their fingers through the
sand and dipped their hands into the chilly waterfall pool.
Sittin' in Santa's chair
Although Santa had not yet arrived at his park headquarters, the tour guides let the children inspect the small house.
They scooped up plastic-wrapped candy canes from a large bin to hear the crinkling sound they made falling back into the container.
One by one, they posed for a photo on Santa's chair.
To add a winter touch to the sunny day, the children and guests stood under one of the park's "snow" machines positioned high on a lamp post.
The snowflakes, actually miniature bubbles, drifted down to fall on upturned faces and outstretched hands.
As the children prepared to say goodbye and "Happy Holidays" to their hosts, Loreley, age 4, was hoping to have
time to re-visit the Caribbean Christmas exhibit. Of all the tactile experience in the tour, her favorite part
was strumming the guitar strings.
"We're so thankful that the Christmas in the Park staff is willing to accommodate our children's interests and needs,"
Lockley said. "They need these hands-on experiences to be able to make meaning in the world."
Date last updated: December 17, 2009
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