74 t e a c h i n g e v e r y d a y a c t i v i t i e s
ACTIVITIES
If your child can see a little, be sure to adapt these activities to best use
her remaining sight (see Chapter 4).
Eating
Blind children can learn eating skills at the same time as children
who can see. Expect your child to do what other children her age
in your community can do. These ages differ from community to
community. But many children learn eating skills at about these times:
Birth to 4 months: A baby
sucks and swallows. She
also learns to open her
mouth when she is about
to be fed.
6 months or older:
Along with breast milk,
she begins to eat soft,
mashed foods, like
cereal or rice. She may
begin drinking from a cup.
6 to 12 months: She
begins feeding herself
small bits of food
with her hands. She
should still breastfeed
whenever she wants it.
9 months to 1 year: She
begins to eat mashed
foods and to use some
eating tools, like a spoon.
1 to 3 years: She
learns to better
use eating tools
and a cup.
3 years: She can eat most
adult foods.
A child who cannot see well will learn to feed herself more quickly if she
eats about the same time every day, in the same place, and with other
people. This helps her learn that eating is done in a certain way. She will
also learn the names of foods more quickly if everyone in the family uses
the same name for the same food.
helping children who are blind