Reading Together: Tips for Parents of Children with Low Vision or Blindness

Helping your child love books

You’ll find sharing books together is a great way to bond with your son or daughter. Reading also helps your child’s language development and listening skills when you talk about the story and ask questions. Don’t forget that sitting side-by-side listening to audio books together is another way to introduce stories to your child with vision challenges.

Large print books can help a child with mild to moderate vision loss discover the world of books. These books have big print and offer high contrast between the words and the page to make tracking the words easier. Visit your library and ask for the large print book section.

Children who have little or no sight may learn to read Braille. Braille books have raised “letters.” Children in elementary school can get free Braille books up to 12 times a year. Call the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults at (410) 659-9315 ext. 2287 to learn more. Give your child a great gift that will last for life — the love of books.

Tips for reading with your infant or toddler

Each time you read to your baby, you are helping your child’s brain to develop. Reading aloud to your child allows him to hear your voice and listen to spoken words. Your child is also more likely to ask questions and learn about the world around him. So — you’ve planted the seed to reading that will stay with your child throughout his life.

Since younger children have short attention spans, try reading for a few minutes at a time at first. Then build up the time you read together. Your child will soon see reading time as both fun time and learning time!

Here are some things you can try:

• Sit your child next to you. If your child has low vision, make sure there is plenty of light to help him see the page.
• Buy books or borrow books from the library that have textures your child can touch.
• Help your toddler feel pop-up or raised objects you name in the book.
• Read aloud. Talk about the pictures and read the text.
• Find books that have rhymes. Clap your hands and help your baby clap along to the rhythm.
• Find books that have buttons your child can press that have sounds.

Suggested books for your infant

Look for books that have soft or textured shapes. Find books that have pop-out pieces and textures your child can feel and name. Some titles include:

• Pat the Bunny (opens in a new window), and other Touch and Feel books by Dorothy Kunhardt (opens in a new window)
• Three Little Duckies (opens in a new window), and other Float Along Books with toys to handle
• Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? (opens in a new window), by Karen Katz

Suggested books for your toddler

• Are You Ticklish? (opens in a new window), by Melanie Mitchell
• Whose Back is Bumpy? (opens in a new window) or High Tide (opens in a new window), by Kate Davis