Through play, children have the opportunity to learn and practice new skills at their own pace. Different factors influence the way a child plays, such as his individual temperament, his activity level, and the kinds of toys and games he likes best. Over time, each child develops his own style of playing.
Sighted children learn by watching and imitating what others are doing.
Visually impaired children don't have the same opportunities for incidental learning, nor do they have the ability to readily imitate the behavior of others. They often need more time and extra help to learn what to do with toys and how to interact with people. We have found that certain play situations seem to be especially difficult for children who do not see. We will discuss why these areas sometimes pose problems for blind children and we will share some of the suggestions we've gathered over the years from parents and professionals.