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Chapter 4: Finding out what your child can see

What else affects my child's sight?

A child often seems to see better at some times than at others. This
does not mean her sight has changed, but that something else is affecting how much she sees, such as:

• Whether an object is familiar to her
• How tired she is
• Whether she is taking medicines
• Whether she is feeling happy or sad

You will probably need to watch your child carefully in different situations and at different times to find out what she can really see.

Helping your child use the sight she has

If your child can see a little:

Give her lots of different objects to look at. This will encourage her to become interested in the world around her and to use her sight more.

One way to show her different objects is to walk around the house. Talk about what you see, and encourage her to touch and hold things.

Let your child hold things or move her body in the way that helps her see best, even if it looks awkward to you. For example:

If your child sees only a small area in front of her, she will see more if she looks up, down, and to the right and left as she moves instead of straight ahead.

If your child can see a little, try changing the amount of light, the kind of light, or the direction the light comes from. See what works best.

If she has trouble seeing when the amount of light changes, teach her to stop moving and to wait for her eyes to adjust.

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