RNIB's 'Supporting Early Years Education series' focuses on child development from birth to five years. The guides on this page look at learning through play including finding accessible toys, building treasure baskets, and encouraging play to support the development of social skills, mobility and more!
RNIB 'Supporting Early Years Education' Guides
Infant massage for a child with vision impairment
This guide explores the use of infant massage to support the development of blind and partially sighted children.
Planned play
This guide is about supporting play with young children with a vision impairment.
Play, movement and touch
This guide explores the importance of play, movement and touch as part of an early years curriculum
Sensory development resource boxes
This guide explores the use of Sensory development resource boxes. The following ideas for toys and resources are useful for early years practitioners, and parents or carers, who are working to support a young child who has a sight problem.
Treasure baskets
This guide covers the concept of 'Treasure Baskets' - an idea originally created by Elinor Goldschmied. Treasure Baskets are now a popular activity used in many early years settings to promote learning with babies.
Toys and play
This guide outlines the importance of play for children with a vision impairment. It describes different types of play and provides information on choosing toys and creating play environments to support children in their play.
British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA)
In addition, RNIB in collaboration with
The British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) have produced a leaflet on toys and play for children who are blind and partially sighted. This is part of a series of BTHA funded educational literature.
The leaflet provides information on choosing the right toys, creating a play environment, growing through different types of play and top tips for extending your child's play environment. This is a useful resource for parents and professionals and can be downloaded below: