Children with visual impairments have unique needs that can sometimes offer challenges to parents and caregivers. According to the National Network for Child Care, visual impairment refers to a wide scope of vision loss and other vision problems, ranging from poor eyesight to legal blindness at 20/200 vision. While some basic housekeeping adjustments are helpful, such as padding table corners, providing care for your visually impaired child can include a variety of verbal and mental techniques.
Step 1
Keep closet and cabinet doors fully opened or closed to prevent confusion or injury for your visually impaired child. Pad the sharp corners of furniture in the area by taping foam around them in a protective barrier. Keep pathways and floors free of any obstacles, cords, curled rug edges and other hazards.
Step 2
Relate directions to the body parts of your visually impaired child to help him focus and identify different objects and locations. Instead of asking him to pick up an object on the floor, ask him to pick up an object near him left foot.
Step 3
Designate places for keeping your child's toys and personal items and do not move them, so that your child finds things where she expects them. Guide your child's hand to each object and place so that she develops a memory of the exact location. If possible, do the same for food, drinks, cleaning supplies, books and as many household items as possible.
Step 4
Use descriptive language when describing colors, objects, the weather, places, people or things that are happening around your child, to help him feel included and engaged. Adjust your voice to communicate feelings and meaning by adopting different tones and volumes for emotions such as happiness, sadness and anger.
Step 5
Pair your visually impaired child with a child or adult who also has visual impairment. Spending time with another person with vision problems can be rewarding for your child as she grows to relate to that person, and learns how to function on a daily basis.
Tips and Warnings
- Try scratch-and-sniff stickers or textured ribbons as rewards to help motivate and excite your visually impaired child. Some children with visual impairment have better vision in the peripheral or outside of their vision, causing them to turn their head away to see you better when paying attention.
Things You'll Need
- Foam
- Tape
