How to Help a Blind or Visually Impaired Child Socialize
Introduction • Children learn social skills most often by watching and mimicking others. • For this reason, blind children often struggle to socialize and make friends with their peers. • Because blind children cannot learn from observation, be direct in telling them about social norms and cues. • Explain the necessary skills for carrying on a conversation, expressing themselves, and entering a group. Teachers at school can help blind children by practicing social interactions and using a buddy system.
Establish the importance of social skills • Building social skills in encourages positive healthy development. Bonding with siblings, parents, and family members provides a social safety net for the child. • Connecting with peers increases self-esteem, self-worth, confidence and independence. • Our social skills are also known as soft skills. Soft skills are needed while children interact with peer groups, teachers, and counselors at school, and with future employers as an adult. • By teaching children these skills, you encourage positive growth and future success.
Set appropriate goals • A child who exhibits an extroverted personality may thrive more on social stimulation, and actively seek out a connection with others. • A child who is more introverted and may need more encouragement to connect with others, and more alone time to recharge. • Get to know the child's personality and what they feel comfortable with, and provide unconditional support. Never force a child to do something they don’t feel comfortable with. • Those who are blind or visually impaired may sometimes feel that they are not as competent as their sighted peers. Be an advocate for them, and let them know that being visually impaired does not have to stop them from forming meaningful connections with others.
Encourage conversation skills • Children who are blind often struggle to maintain conversations. • A visually impaired child may have difficulty interpreting non-verbalized cues, and may feel reluctant to express their feelings or needs. • They may need help learning how to engage in skills like carrying on a sustained conversation and staying engaged with another person.
Encourage them to make friends • Push your child to make friends on their own without your help. • Allow them to go to the park and play with other kids. • Tell them to introduce themselves and then invite the children to play. Have your child invite another child over to play. • Allow your child to initiate social interactions so that they can practice and make friends.
Build a support system • Talk to other parents of visually impaired children. • They can be a great source of information and support on what it’s like to have a blind child. • Your children can also become playmates. • Ask questions about what it was like while their child made friends and how they overcame challenges.
Conclusion • An NGO for Blind in Bangalore treats numerous blind children. • For more details visit http://rakumblindschool.org/