248 chapter 30
Early stimulation
As Rani’s grandmother realized, a child who is blind has all the same needs as other
children. She needs to be loved, not pitied. She needs to get to know the members of
the family, and other things, by touch, sound, smell, and taste. The whole family can
help her to become more aware of her home, and the things that are going on around
her.
A baby’s first
plaything is her
own body. Since
she cannot see
her hands and feet
move, you may need
to help her to feel,
taste, smell, and
explore them.
Have him compare
by touch and
sound his own and
other people’s
faces so that
he begins to
recognize
different people.
Activities to help a child develop early skills more quickly are discussed in Chapter
35, p. 301 to 318. Most of these activities can help a blind child. But because he
cannot see, he will need more stimulation in other areas, especially sound and
touch, and in beginning to reach toward things and move about. Use toys and
playthings that have many different shapes, feel different to touch, and make different
sounds (see p. 468 to 476 and Helping Children Who Are Blind, described on p. 639).
At first you may need
to place the toy in the
child’s hand, or guide
his hand to it. Or
hang different things
near him so that when
he moves his hands
they touch them.
At each stage of the child’s
development, attract her attention
with a noisy plaything.
Have her reach for
it and then try to
move toward it.
Praise her
when she does
well or tries.
In addition to special activities, be sure the child spends most of each day in a
situation where she can keep learning about people and things. In everything you
do, talk to her, tell her the names of things, and explain what you and she are doing. At
first she will not understand, but your voice will let her know you are near. Listening to
words and names of things will also prepare her for learning language skills.
Talk to the child as you
do housework. Tell her
what makes
the sound
she hears.
Sing to the child and encourage him
to move to music.
Also encourage blind children to
make their own music.
For ideas on homemade musical
instruments, see p. 469.
Disabled village Children
Take the child outside often: to the
market, the river, the cowshed, the
village square. Show and explain
different things to him, and tell him
what makes different sounds.