BELTON, Texas — Lake Belton High School student Kaylen Pickett created two sensory panels for children with special needs at the Belton Early Childhood School (BECS).
Pickett is a member of Girl Scouts of the USA and a part of Girl Scout Troop 8121. She created the panels not only to help children, but also to submit for a Girl Scouts Gold Award.
"This is the highest achievement a girl scout can earn," Pickett's grandmother, Barbara Pickett, explained. "There are only a few girls who have earned this award in our area."
Kaylen Pickett came up with creating sensory boards after noticing how her cousin with special needs learned and interacted best, which was through the sensory boards.
Sensory learning is very important for all students and especially for those with special needs. Active Based Learning describes sensory labs as stations that use hands-on activities that teach students how to cross the midline, body awareness, fine motor skills, self management, and locomotor skills.
"I learned about sensory issues mainly from my cousin, but also researched as well to make this project the best it can be for the students at BECS," Kaylen Pickett shared.
It took Kaylen Pickett less than a week to complete the project. Molly Kacal, an early childhood teacher at BECS says it's only been a week since it's been up and she's already seen her students use the panels during their recess.
"I had a student in a wheelchair go straight to the wall to play his first day here," Kacal said. "Without that wall he would have just been watching the other kids playing. It was essential that we had it here for him."
Since completing this project, Pickett is in the process of getting her paperwork completed to send to Girl Scouts officials to receive her Gold Award.
Kaylen Pickett has dozens of badges she's earned over the years, but says this one will hold very close to her heart.
"It's awesome to know that I made an impact on someone else's life," Kaylen shared.