How to Explain Being Blind or Low Vision to a Child

How to Explain Being Blind or Low Vision to a Child
Corey talks about how she explained why Matt is blind to her 5 and a half year old niece. Her niece asked why Matt is blind and had a few darling thoughts on the subject of blindness. Corey would love to hear how you handled this situation so she can do a better job in the future. Thank you! #blind #rpstrong #blindtobillionaire

[GrindtoWinRicoRichy]

I've been blind for 37 years that's all my life and what I told my 3-year-old niece when she asked was God has given you the eyes that he didn't give me for you to be there for you to help me saying that to little kids at that age makes them feel powerful

[bamablind]

Oh Em Gee Cory, this is the most classic question ever. I have been asked, all of my life, why I can’t see very well. You are correct in that, the answer depends on the child and especially their age. I have answered many ways. If it is a small child I have said “my eyes don’t work“ or “my eyes don’t work like your eyes do in “I was wants, well maybe more than one Time presenting to a Sunday school class and I explained that “God made me this way“. Because I have a guide dog now, I get many, many questions from children while out and about. They never seem to appear afraid or frightened but the reaction I usually get is fascination that my eyes don’t work and my dog leads me where I need to go. My grandson however, who is very scientific, asked when he was eight, about genetics and if my condition could be passed on to other generations. So my answer to him was very scientific because I have had a genetic study completed and I had the answers he was looking for. I guess the most important thing is to reassure the child that being blind is just a different way to live, nothing to be afraid of and not having vision does not keep you from being very happy and fun to be with! Sorry this was so lengthy but egg you asked for our opinions or thoughts and I just can’t help but share them. LOL!

[AlejandraHernandez-jjze]

You'd be amazed how kids are a lot smarter than we think. It IS very difficult to explain to kids but u did pretty good. As she gets older she will TOTALLY get it.... I'm pretty straight forward with my kiddos but idk You got me thinking now.... 😒 hmm will do some Google looking up this subject. Again thank u Corey for sharing. Hi Matt! 🐸😬😕😁👍🚀🎈🐸 HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND

[smmsjw]

I am a music teacher and deal with this all the time. I play a peek-a-boo singing games with preschoolers (3 and 4 year-olds). We sing "peek-a-boo I see you" with our eyes uncovered. Then we sing "peek-a-boo can't see you" with our eyes covered by our hands. I play this singing game for a few times and ask the children: "What happened when we had our eyes uncovered?" and "What happened when we had our eyes covered?" For the second question the children will say: "We can't see." or "It means that you are blind.' They actually know the meaning of blind. I say that my eyes do not work like your eyes. They get it! This is the way God made me and it is perfect for me! They get it!

[kimlackey]

To the really young ones, I always say that my eyes just don’t work as well as they should. It always satisfies their curiosity, it doesn’t scare them, and they don’t ask any further questions.

[hollymcknight]

Blindness is absolutely not scary, so I am glad you are explaining to your niece that that is the case. You could also try saying things just change as you get older, you can explain that everyone Hass to do things such as wear reading glasses, possibly wear hearing aids as an older adult, like maybe their grandfather does, or maybe even have to have things such as Amy or shoulder replaced, because they just wear out.

[BlindGirlVlogs]

This is a really interesting one. I have no site at all, and growing up I had very restricted vision. My brothers and sisters were around me a lot of the time, so just knew how to interact with me and show me things. How I explain it to my nieces and nephews now is that I use the computer screen, lead from the computer Monitor leading to the plug and then the wall socket which the plug goes into, I say that I don’t have the lead from the computer to the plug so that the computer screen is just black. They can kind of appreciate that. They are aged from three years old right up until 16 years old, and the three-year-old knows if she wants my attention, she will come over and take my hand and show me what she is wanting me to look at. I’ve explained to all of them over the years that in order for me to see are use my hands to touch and appreciate the item by feeling it, or i use sound, or smell, taste and all those other senses. Hope this helps. I love the video. X

[blindlyexploring]

Hello I shared this video on social media

[anodysseyofsteven]

HI CORRY,

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU DID A GREAT JOB. I THINK YOU EXPLAINED IT PRETTY GOOD.

USUALLY, WHEN I TALK TO A CHILD ABOUT MY VISION, I TRY NOT TO USE BIG WORDS OR EVEN THE NAME OF MY CONDITION IF I CAN AVOID IT. I TRY TO STEP DOWN MY TALKING TO THE AGE THAT THE CHILD IS AT AND HOW MUCH WILL THEY UNDERSTAND AT THE AGE THEY ARE AT. I TRY TO USE VISUALES WHEN I CAN TO EXPLAIN MY CONDITION ALSO IF POSSIBLE.

AGAIN, I THINK YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB. I EVEN LIKE HOW YOU DREW UP YOUR HAND TO YOUR FACE TO ILLUSTRATE HOW MUCH MATT USE TO SEE. FANTASTIC JOB CORRY.. LOVE U BOTH!!!

[glenrivara]

You don't want to alienate them from asking questions. I always try to explain it my best when they are young. Actually it's kids who mostly ask. Adults don't mostly because they just don't seem to care very much. I'm legally blind. What I like to do is show children how I am able to do all the things that I do with tech but also with my being able to come up with other ways to deal with everyday problems. This makes them feel better, "Yeah Uncle Glen is blind but he overcomes it because he's smart enough to use what he has to the best of his abilities". One thing people don't understand is when I do something that makes them feel more comfortable. If you are at the other end of the room and you are talking at me I may look in your direction so you don't feel awkward. I can't see what you are doing but you think I can see. I do this to make you feel comfortable which mostly backfires on me because now you think I can see. Getting back to kids, honesty is the best policy but I don't scare them and I don't give them more detail than I think they can handle.

[hollymcknight]

I am a strong Christian, and whenever anyone asks me why I am blind, especially if they are a child, I will say because that is how God wanted it to be. If they are an adult asking me, I can explain that I was born with the back third of my brain which is what controls your vision not in my head, so my brain had to rewire itself to allow me to see the little bit that I do. I also believe that I was able to develop other talents that I would not ordinarily have. There’s always a reason, and it can always be used. I know what your niece meant about things being peaceful, I do not have to see terrible car accident, trash, or other things out on the street that you can see, etc. I do know that they are there, but I do not actually have to see them.

[Quo_primum]

I think for my wife and I the challenge was explaining to our son that he was blind. It is hard to explain when a child has no idea what sight is actually like. How would we explain that he is different?

Our son also has an identical twin who is fully sighted.

Now for quite some time he had been playing with a football ⚽ especially designed with chimes as it moved. As it turns out we were able to use that to help him understand. He was able, once we explained it, that other children can find the ball without hearing it.

Now my older son got major points when he said to his younger brother: You're lucky, you see the world with your mind any way you want and we have to use our eyes.

[jacquelinesmith-jackson]

The summer before the year 2017 started I was at my mom's and my step dad's house. It was around night time and my step dad asked me to read a book to both of my brothers.

I have 3 younger brothers but I was only reading a book to the 2 youngest boys. Bradley at the time was 7 years old and Brandon was 5 years old at the time.

Me and my 5 year old brother Brandon went into his room and we picked out a book, he picked out a magic school bus book on how the senses worked. The first thing I came across was the brain and I read about how the brain worked. Then I came across the eye and it talked about how the retina worked. After I was done reading about how the retina worked I turned to my 5 year old Brother Brandon and I said, when your sister was born her retina had some problems so she can see, but she is limited and one day she could lose all her vision.



I turned my head around so I wasn't facing him, 5 seconds later I heard crying. I asked him why he was crying and he said he didn't want me to go blind.

[theamazingblindmagician]

However, my niece does know about my guide dog, and she knows that when he wears the special leash, she can’t pet him. But when he is off the special leash, it’s all free reign.

[lw]

Hi Corey it’s so wonderful to see you. I think you did a wonderful job explaining the situation to your knees. Obviously it’s a pretty tough one and you know my kids are a little bit older so they understand the concept of blindness or people that are visually impaired. So I think that you know as she gets older and starts to understand the meaning and true definition of blindness that she’ll have more of a concept as to what is going on. I know that you already know this and I know it may have caught you off guard like you said, butI think you did a wonderful job explaining to her what the situation is all about and just keep up the great work and continuing to update your knees and toes she has the full concept of the meaning of blindness and how it comes about for some people and not others. Thank you so much for the wonderful video and it’s always a pleasure to see you and Matt, even though I didn’t see him at this time but it was a pleasure to see you

[PatriotInTheDark]

I love this topic. Depending on the child of course:
The reason I lost my vision is…
I drink directly out of the orange juice container in the refrigerator.
I didn’t do my homework
I didn’t listen to my parents.
I was running with scissors
I didn’t eat all my vegetables
I didn’t pick up my toys in my room
🤣🤣
But seriously, I just answer their questions with my eyes are broken, which is normally followed by asking me what my cane is. I tell them my cane or my eyeballs. Which brings up a whole other conversation. I just choose to be honest and simplify it.
My daughter has never known me with sight, she says I see with my heart anyways. I find children understand a lot more than most adults.

[blindwithbarbells]

I just say I was born with different eyes from most people. I keep it very casual and for the most part kids just go "oh" and then go onto something else. When they get a bit older I explain it more but when my niece and nephew were around that age they were happy with a short answer.

[WrestlingInTheDark]

To be honest I find it difficult to explain to fully grown adults sometimes. You want to be as accurate as you can but whilst trying not to influence what hey will think in the future. For example even though I am 100% blind with no vision whatsoever what I see isn't completely black and I find it difficult sometimes to describe that experience without it sounding like I have light perception. Haven't had a child ask me yet but thanks for making me think about how I would go about it as now I'll be prepared. Hope your days are going well

Cheers
Mason

[blindkenyangamer]

I usually explain to kids that everyone is different. Some people have eyes that don't work as well. Some people need glasses, others don't, and for some glasses don't help. I often mention other disabilities like not being able to walk or hear as well.

[scottcbarlow]

The best thing to tell kids, in my opion, is that everyone is different. God makes everyone perfect the way they are is exactly the way he wants them to be. There's nothing wrong with Matt. Some people can't hear. some people can't walk or talk. Hay and between us, who's to say that people that can see aren't the one's that are different. Us blind folks just might be the normal one's. With all that aside, I've found with kids just telling them that Matt is just different and the way he is is the way God make him is the right way to tell them at that young of an age. As they get older, you can tell them a little more and more when they are at an age to understand a little at a time about the technical side why Matt is blind. To me, "It ain't nothing but a thang." LOL.For real, for real. I love what yall are doing on this channel and by the way my wife just loves yall because yall are so personable and down to earth. Please keep doing what yall are doing.