Discovering and understanding what motivates your child will help set up your home and play areas. The following suggestions might help:

Lighting

Children with vision loss are often sensitive to glare. Avoid direct light from uncovered windows—good overhead lighting will help. Make sure your child has their back to any direct light source.

Minimising distractions

To help your child concentrate on using their vision, have low levels of background noise and simple backgrounds, and in the beginning, always show them one object at a time.

Positioning your child

Always make sure your child is comfortable and well supported before starting EyePlay—if they are concentrating on controlling their posture it will be difficult for them to use their vision.

Your child’s well being

Using vision is always harder when your child is tired, upset, or unwell, especially for children who have nystagmus or additional disabilities. You know your child the best—try to choose a time of the day when they are alert.

Relax and enjoy the time with your child

If you are relaxed, your child will think of this as playing with you. This will make it easier for them to use their vision.

EyePlay has two activities which help you understand how your child sees and uses their vision:

• Activity 1 helps you record what you already know about your child’s vision.
• Activity 2 helps you observe your child’s visual responses in everyday activities.

You are now ready to start with Activity 1 and record your responses. Download the PDF using the link below, in which you can write your answers and comments.

Try to answer as many questions as you can about how your child uses their eyes and vision. If your child can’t do some of the things in the table, please don’t worry. All children have underdeveloped vision and need to learn to use their vision. The good news is that families can use daily activities and routines to encourage children.

Please answer as many of the questions as you can about your child and their vision.

Activity 2 helps you learn how to observe your child’s visual responses in everyday activities. To help you make these observations, in this bag you will find:

• Black and white smiling face/patterned paddle
• Black and white books
• Maracas
• Light-up toy
• Reflective streamers
• A hand puppet.

Please only use these objects for Activity 2—for safety, they should not be left with children if you’re not with them.

You can also use your child’s favourite toys or objects like their bottle or dummy. Choose larger toys and objects that are simple, and red and yellow in colour.

If you are relaxed, your child will think of this as playing with you—this will make it easier for them to use their vision.

When you are doing Activity 2 remember:

• Children who have vision impairment need extra time to use their vision—keep the object in front of them for about 5 seconds before shaking it to help your child notice the object.
• If your child gets tired or upset in Activity 2, give them a rest, and let them do something that doesn’t involve ‘looking’.
• If your child wears glasses or contact lenses they should wear them for this activity.

Before you start Activity 2 make sure the lighting is good, the room is quiet without distractions, and that your child comfortable and well.

You may be able to complete Activity 2 in one session or over a week—choose what is best for you and your child.

Please note: If your child isn’t visually interested, try moving into a darkened room and use the light-up toy.

Instructions for Activity 2

Use the objects in the kit and, if you like, objects familiar to your child, to observe and then write down your child’s knowing, finding, and watching. You might like to practise each activity a few times before you write down what you have noticed.

It is also helpful to write down anything you notice in the comments section—for example, if it’s easier for your child to see one side than the other; or if your child finds an object when there is sound.

Knowing

Your child shows you they ‘know’ something is near them by changes in their breathing, the look on their face or the sounds they make.

1. Hold an object about 20-30cm from your child’s face. You may need to move it a little for your child to notice.
2. If your child doesn’t react, try tapping on the object as sound can sometimes encourage your child to use their vision.
3. Watch for changes in your child that show they ‘know’ an object is close.
4. Write down this in the table under ‘knowing’.
   

Finding

Your child shows you they can find an object by moving their eyes to look at it, even if it’s only for a few seconds.

1. Present an object at about 20-30cm from your child’s face.
2. If your child doesn’t react, try tapping on the object as sound can sometimes encourage your child to use their vision.
3. If your child looks directly at the object, observe whether they continue to look at the object.
4. Write down this in the table under ‘finding’.

Watching

Your child shows they can ‘watch’ when they move their eyes and head towards something that is interesting.

1. Present an object at about 20-30cm from your child’s face.
2. If your child doesn’t react, try tapping on the object as sound can sometimes encourage your child to use their vision.
3. When your child looks directly at the object, slowly move the object, and watch them move their eyes and head in the same direction as
   the object. Move the object from one side to the other first. You can then try moving the object up and down.
4. If your child can’t keep up with the moving object, go back and help your child find the object again.
5. Once your child’s ‘watching’ is consistent at 30cm, try moving the object further away.
6. Write down this in the table under ‘watching’.

Think about what you have written down in Activity 1 and 2. Can you use this information in your everyday activities with your child? Think about what EyePlay tells you—does your child ‘know’, can they ‘find’, can they ‘watch’? All of these are strengths that you should use and build on—your therapist can help you do this.

Your child is probably already under the care of an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). This doctor may have suggested that your child has a functional vision assessment. This type of assessment is offered by vision service providers and completed by an orthoptist. If your child has delays in their visual development, you may want to consider applying for NDIS funding. For more information, please visit the NDIS website or contact one of your local vision service providers like NextSense.

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