​Daily living skills

The ability to perform the routine activities of daily living, such as washing and dressing, are critical for a child's well being and self esteem. It may be easier and faster to do things for your blind or partially sighted child, but in the end, you will only be "teaching helplessness". Children will soon learn that if they "stall" for long enough, you will do things for them. Don't!

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Getting dressed
Start with undressing - it's easier to take things off than to put them on.
Teach your child to put their clothes away properly - good organisational skills are essential for blind and partially sighted people so that they keep track of where belongings are.
Choose clothing that is easy to put on and take off.
Choose zips instead of buttons where possible.
Choose large buttons rather than small fiddly ones.
Choose garments that have obvious fronts and backs.
As image becomes important when your child gets older, shaped buttons (slade colour) can be purchased from RNIB and sewn inside garments to ensure that, for example, blue tops match blue bottoms.
Be consistent - follow the same pattern and use the same language each time you go through getting dressed or undressed.
Guide and work from behind. It is easier for children to feel movements from behind, and it feels more natural to be moved from behind than to be pulled forward.
Shoes - start off with velcro fasteners until your child has learned the necessary manual dexterity for buckles and then shoe laces. Teach your child to tie shoelaces in stages, with your support from behind, co-acting each movement.
What shall I wear? It is helpful for your child to learn about appropriate clothing - for example when to wear jeans and strong shoes, when not to wear a party outfit etc.

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Washing
Bath time is a great opportunity for babies and young children to learn about body parts and to understand relative size with brothers and sisters if everyone's in together.
If your baby is afraid of water (wet, or unfamiliar substances can be upsetting for blind and partially sighted children), you may want to put him in a small baby bath, or use a sponge insert or baby bath seat to make things easier.
Scented soap and bubble bath make bath time more interesting.

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Brushing teeth
Teach your child to put the toothpaste onto their finger and rub it onto their teeth directly and then to start brushing. This way you avoid the problems of co-ordinating the end of the toothpaste tube with the toothbrush.

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Toilet Training
Children learn to use the toilet at different ages and stages - it is important that you and your child are both comfortable to embark on this project. Accidents will happen and may require patience on your part as a parent or carer.
Have you got a potty with a solid base, and can you put it in a place where it's easy to locate, for example, within reach of a wall?
Have you got a toilet seat for when she's older?
Does your child know that Mum and Dad go to the toilet?
Is he happy to be in the bathroom?
Have you got the time to sit and talk to your child while she's on the potty so that she feels more secure?
Talk to the teachers at playgroup or nursery and agree on a routine which works at home and at nursery.

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Food glorious food
Feeding is an important daily living skill to teach your child. Mealtimes should be fun and are a good opportunity to develop social skills, though eating can be a difficult or stressful experience for blind and partially sighted children. The tips below may help to avoid difficulties:
Prepare the eating area and protect carpets and floor coverings with plastic sheeting or newspaper
Your child may like to practise eating skills with you in private rather than learn "on the job" at family meal times.
Use a "Dycem mat" under the dish to prevent it from slipping.
Ensure that children understand the words you are using, and be consistent.
Give children an opportunity to enjoy different smells, tastes and textures.
Start with finger feeding and then work from behind, at first guiding the child's hand from the dish to the mouth and then gradually reduce your involvement.
Choose dishes with a rim at first, and cups or mugs which do not easily tip over.
Give small portions.
Praise any success, however small.
With older children, use the points of the clock to explain about the position of foods on the plate. For example, carrots at three o'clock, potatoes at six o'clock.
Cooking and baking are great ways of learning about food and different textures - if a little messy!



Who's Who?

If your child has a sight problem, you'll meet professionals who are there to provide support in health, education and at home. This is a basic guide to some of the people you may meet.

​GP, family doctor
Your family doctor (also known as a GP or General Practitioner) is concerned with the general health of your child and can advise and arrange further examinations.
Paediatrician
The paediatrician is a specialist in child health who will check the overall health of all newly born babies, and is usually based at the hospital or child development centre. You may also meet a paediatric neurologist who has particular expertise in how the brain works in very young children.
Ophthalmologists
Ophthalmologists are specialist doctors based at the hospital. They have special qualifications and experience in eye disorders and in treating them with appropriate medicine and surgery. You may be referred to one to check that your child's eyes are healthy.
Your GP may refer you to a child health or child development clinic where you may meet the community child health doctor or senior medical officer. She is specially trained in the development of very young children and in detecting problems which may need treatment.
Orthoptist
The orthoptist usually works with the ophthalmologist at the hospital, but you may see her in a health clinic or visiting a school. She will test your child's sight, look at eye movements, assess how well both eyes work together and check for squints (turning eyes).
Optometrist or Ophthalmic Optician
The optometrist or ophthalmic optician specializes in measuring your child's sight and may prescribe glasses. She can identify eye diseases. She is based in a hospital or optician's. The dispensing optician will help you choose frames and make sure they fit properly but cannot test your child's sight or prescribe glasses. It is important that if your child needs glasses, she is encouraged to wear them.
Health visitor
The health visitor who visits you at home is a trained nurse who routinely checks your child's health and development. She can be a great help and support to the whole family, offering advice and practical assistance. The health visitor will be able to help you contact doctors, hospitals and other services in your area.
Qualified teacher of visually impaired children (QTVI)
Your local education authority (LEA) should have at least one QTVI to work with you and your child both at home and at school. These specialists are qualified teachers who have additional qualifications and experience in working with children with a visual impairment.
Mobility Officer
Some services for children who have visual impairment also have a mobility officer, sometimes called an habilitation officer. She will be able to advise you on how to encourage your child to move around more independently.
Children Young People and Family (CYPF) Coordinator
CYPF Coordinators are Action for Blind People staff around the country who work with families, children and young people. They organise events and can give you support and advice.
Special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO)
A SENCO is the staff member in a school who co-ordinates all the special educational needs provision. In smaller schools, the headteacher or deputy head might be the SENCO. SENCOs are responsible for education psychology, behaviour support and assessment of special educational needs.
Learning Support Assistant, Teaching Assistant
A Learning Support Assistant or Teaching Assistant works alongside teachers in early years settings. They support individual children or small groups to help them learn effectively.
Specialist social worker or Rehabilitation worker
Your local social services or social work department may have a specialist social worker or rehabilitation worker for people with visual impairment, including children and their families. Social services staff can provide practical help and advice about counselling, transport, home helps, and other services. They may be able to help you with equipment at home and suggest lighting or décor to help children to locate door frames, walls and furniture more easily and to move about at home with more confidence. Rehabilitation workers teach mobility and daily living skills and will be able to answer some of your questions about sight loss.
Physiotherapist
The physiotherapist uses exercises and special equipment to help your child develop physically.
Speech and language therapists
Speech and language therapists work with children with speech, language and communication difficulties and can also advise about strategies to support eating.
Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists work with children to develop their daily living activities such as washing, dressing etc. They can advise on what special equipment and adaptations your house needs in order to help your child become more independent.
Educational psychologists
Educational psychologists work with children who are having learning, behavioural or emotional difficulties. They will talk to your child and assess him as he plays in order to develop strategies to meet his educational needs.



Understanding your child's vision

It can be difficult to find out the cause of a sight problem. However, you need to know how much your child can see and how they use their sight.

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Finding out about your child's eye condition
​At the hospital or clinic
Your child's ophthalmologist (hospital consultant specialising in eye conditions) will work to find out how much your child can see and what causes the sight problem. Don't forget to ask questions or jot down notes during the consultation if you need to.
When you get a diagnosis, see our eye health section for more information about common eye conditions. For rarer diseases, see our page on rare eye conditions.
Is my child too young?
It's possible to do eye tests even with very young children, where all the child has to do is look at a picture. It's a good idea to ask around to find a child-friendly optometrist in your area.
In the classroom
Your child's sight problem could have a number of causes, so making an exact diagnosis might be difficult. In these cases, you still need to know how much your child can see (this is called functional vision).
If your child has some vision, teachers need to know how your child sees. They need to present information in the best way for your child to make use of any remaining vision.
The qualified teacher of visually impaired children (QTVI) may be able to do tests to check how your child uses their sight in everyday situations. These "functional vision assessments" aren't one-offs - they'll be done on an ongoing basis. See living and learning which gives you lots of information about school life and support for your child.

How you can help

You can play an important part in this process. Share what you know about how your child responds to visual stimuli (for instance lights and different colours). You could also mention if they seem to view things more easily on one side or the other.

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What causes a sight problem?
Many sight problems are caused by something wrong with the eye. However, sometimes the brain doesn't translate images properly.
In some children, there is a problem with both the eye and the brain. In that case, getting glasses or contact lenses can still help your child to get the best image they can.
Technical terms
Here are some of the terms that ophthalmologists or teachers may use to describe what's causing the sight problem.
Functional vision
How your child uses their sight in everyday situations.
Ocular visual impairment
This means that sight problems are caused by one or more parts of the eyes not functioning properly.
Cortical or cerebral visual impairment (CVI)
In some children, there is nothing wrong with the eyes, but the brain doesn't process the images properly. This is called "cortical or cerebral visual impairment" or CVI. This is common for children who have multiple disabilities or complex needs.
Combinations
Some children may have a bit of both - a combination of CVI and ocular visual impairment. If that's the case, your child may need glasses or contact lenses to make sure they get the best image they can.
If your child only has CVI, then glasses or contact lenses probably won't be helpful. Get the professional's advice on other ways to help your child make the most of whatever sight they have.