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Chapter 4: Finding out what your child can see

It is important to know the activities that will help your children learn the most. But before these activities, find out what your child can see. This chapter explains how to go about it.

Many children who have difficulty seeing are not totally blind but can see a little. Some children can see the difference between light and dark but cannot see any objects. Other children can see objects if they are in certain places, in certain kinds of light, or if they are a certain size or a bright color. Some children can see movement.

If your child can see a little, knowing how she sees best also means you can choose activities that will help her make the most of her remaining sight.

Using vision does not lead to its loss. Your child's eyes will not be hurt if she uses her sight to help her do things.

Is my child totally blind, or can she see a little?

If you are unsure whether your child has some sight, watch to see:

Does she close her eyes in bright sunlight or turn her head toward a light?

Does she bring objects close to her eyes?

Does she follow slowly moving objects with her head?

Does she always tilt her head in a certain way?

Does she move her hand back and forth in front of her eyes?

Does she reach for objects that do not make sounds?

If you notice any of these things, you can learn more about what they mean by reading the next few pages.

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