When young children with visual impairments are included in typical child care, preschool and community settings, teachers and other caregivers often look for specific ideas for working with them.  Strategies may include ways to arrange the classroom, material and task adaptations, and suggestions to facilitate the overall development of the child who cannot see well.  

Sometimes caregivers may overlook the need to inform other typically developing young children about this child’s special needs and to help them prepare for and feel comfortable in their interactions with him/her.  It is very important that other children view this child as a classmate and friend who has many positive attributes, skills and abilities.  However, it may also be helpful for them to understand what it feels like to have a visual impairment.  Below are some activities that you might want to try:

• Smear sunglasses with petroleum jelly and have the children attempt to color a picture while wearing these glasses.
• Cover their eyes with a piece of thin cloth or netting and have them work a puzzle or string beads.
• Divide the children into pairs.  Blindfold one child and let the other child be his guide.  Take a walk and help him move safely.  Have the blindfolded child try to “feel” where he is in the classroom.
• Blindfold one child.  Have another child walk up and say something.  If the blindfolded child cannot guess who is speaking, have him gently feel the other person’s face for recognition. 
• Give the blindfolded child an object to feel.  Have her guess what it is by texture, shape or smell.
• Have the blindfolded child try to eat using a fork and spoon.

After attempting some of these activities, have the children describe what it felt like to not be able to see well, what was difficult, what other senses they used, and what someone could have done to help make things easier for them.

Several of these ideas, as well as additional strategies for working with young children with visual impairment, can be found in the book, which is available for lending from the LINK library:

Reference:  Nieman, S. & Jacob, N. (2000) Helping Children who are Blind:  Family and community support for children with vision problems, Berkeley, CA:  The Hesperian Foundation.

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