Encouraging child development

You’re likely to come across two key terms when talking about child development and vision impairment:

1. Mobility – safe and independent movement, navigation and use of low vision aids
2. Habilitation – daily living skills that a child is learning for the first time

Communication is a vital skill that you and your child will work on while developing their mobility and habilitation skills.

Pointers to help you support your child to develop these key skills are listed below, and you can find more information in the Early Years section of our “Information about vision impairment: Guide for parents” resource:

See our information for Parents guides

Rehabilitation is learning or relearning everyday living skills for over 18s and people who have acquired vision impairment. You may hear this term more frequently as your child matures.

Find out more about skills for young people and adults:

Independent living

Professionals who support the development of children with vision impairment as soon as a vision-related need is identified include:

1. A Qualified Teacher of children and young people with Vision Impairment (QTVI)
2. A Registered Qualified Habilitation Specialist (RQHS)

Habilitation provision varies depending on your local authority or education authority and some early years support may be provided by a portage service.

A programme of mobility and habilitation support should be developed by your QTVI and RQHS depending on your child's needs. Your child may need more support from the RQHS while they learn any skills they find difficult or as they start nursery or primary school. At other points, it’s normal for this support to decrease but it should not stop entirely.

If you don’t have habilitation provision in place, ask for referral from your eye clinic or QTVI:

Who does what in eye care?

For an overview of all support available to those aged 0-5 with vision impairment, see our early years information:

Early years support for children with vision impairment

Doing things for a child with vision impairment may be easier or faster but balancing your support by helping them learn to do things for themselves will build their confidence and skills. Children of all ages will feel happy and their self-esteem will grow if they can explore an activity and try out their own ideas.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or mess. Focus primarily on completing an activity and celebrating this to build your child’s confidence, then start to encourage neatness or approach common difficulties.

You may need to let your child feel what you are doing or describe what you are doing while you are doing it. Allow them to guide you when it’s their turn in the same way that you guided them.

As a general approach, it’s helpful to:

• Be consistent - follow the same pattern and use the same language each time.
• Support and guide your child from behind unless walking - it’s easier and feels more natural for children to feel movements and be moved from behind.
• Use the right equipment - talk with professionals about what’s best for your child and how you can get it.
• Practice - encourage your child to do something by themselves, only asking them if they want help if they’re stuck after a few tries.
• Allow your child to make accidents, messes and mistakes – reflecting on how they could improve, clearing up and cleaning are important skills for your child too.
• Talk to other parents and professionals - hearing from those who have been through it before or who deal with it every day could give you a new perspective.
• Make a communication passport – this document can be kept with your child and tells a professional about their vision impairment and how they like to be supported.

There can be a lot to learn so you may need to break things down into different skills. For more detailed information:

See our information for Parents guides

To understand more about teaching children through play:

See our Sensory Play Guides

The skills your child uses and develops will be individual to them.

Some of the key developmental milestones your child will be working towards are:

• Communication
• Eating and drinking
• Washing and bathtime
• Brushing teeth
• Getting dressed
• Toilet training

While you’re helping your child to learn, you’ll be thinking about:

• How and when to introduce new sensations
• How to put these sensations in context
• How to build your child’s confidence
• What toys or aids you can use
• Who you can ask for ideas and guidance

We give more detailed advice on all of this in the Early Years section of our “Information about vision impairment: Guide for parents” resource:

See our Information for Parents guides

Accidents are always going to happen – it’s one of the ways that we learn and it’s a natural part of growing up. As a parent, you’ll minimise risks for your child and teach them how to minimise those risks for themselves. This lets them explore the world and do the things that they want and need, knowing that they can support themselves and that you’re there for them too:

• Minimise risks at home
• Make sure you and your child know what to do if one or both of you are hurt or unsafe.
• If an accident has happened, talk with your child afterwards and think of ways to stop it from happening again together.
• Make sure they have enough supervision and support, particularly if the same type of accident keeps happening.
• Bumps and scrapes on furniture or other obstacles can be common and training and specialist equipment can help address these.

Talk to your QTVI, RQHS or a health professional at any point if you need support.

RNIB provides free, specialist advice and support for children and young people with vision impairment – from birth to age 25 – and their families.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or you’d like more information about anything mentioned on this page, we can help.

We offer:

• family, early years and transitions support
• support for education professionals
• advice about accessible books, toys and learning materials
• opportunities to meet and talk with other families.

Please contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.