84 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
Keeping clean
A blind child needs to learn to wash her hands, take a bath, brush her
teeth, and comb her hair, just as all children do.
To teach your child how to keep clean
Help her learn about keeping clean
and why it is important. For example,
as you wash and dry your hands,
describe what you are doing and the
parts of the body you use. Let her feel
your movements, the water, and the
towel.
I’m
washing
my hands
to clean
off the
dirt.
I don’t
want to get
dirt on my
food.
Help your child do the activity
herself. Work from behind and
help her by putting your hands
over hers. Use the same words
and the same motions each
time you help her. Give less and
less help as she learns to do it
by herself.
Rub your hands together,
Ramona, to get the dirt off.
After you use the soap, rinse
your hands with water.
Sika, if you brush
your teeth after
you eat and
before you go to
bed each day,
your teeth will
stay healthy.
Do these activities at about
the same time each day.
This will help your child
remember to do it.
If I put the
towel back
here, I can
find it again
next time.
Keep the things your child needs
in the same place, and teach her
to return them to this place when
she is done. Make a special mark
on things that only she uses, like a
toothbrush.
helping children who are blind