Nursery World - Play it my way

Early years practitioners can help a visually impaired child to be part of the mainstream group with this advice from Julie Jennings Picture this scenario: three-year-old Sarah and Joseph are playing at the water tray. He splashes the water with his toy fish; she hears the splash and feels the water on her face. They laugh together. But when Joseph looks at Sarah, smiles and offers her the fish to splash with, she does not respond - Sarah is blind and can see neither the fish nor the smile.

Picture this scenario: three-year-old Sarah and Joseph are playing at the water tray. He splashes the water with his toy fish; she hears the splash and feels the water on her face. They laugh together. But when Joseph looks at Sarah, smiles and offers her the fish to splash with, she does not respond - Sarah is blind and can see neither the fish nor the smile.

Understandably, Joseph looks confused and upset, but Sarah's key worker has been watching and quietly tells Joseph, 'Say Sarah's name first and tell her what you are doing, then you can put the fish near her hand where she can reach it.' With a little help, Sarah and Joseph can continue their game together.

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