Helping your vision impaired child to learn to read



As your child’s first and most important teacher, there are lots of things you can do to help your child become ready to read.

You can:

  • talk to them and encourage them to listen
  • sing them nursery rhymes and songs
  • describe the world around them and explain words they don’t understand
  • point out words and letters they may not have noticed
  • read with them each day

When you read together:

  • Ensure the lighting is right for your child’s eye condition, for example, where there is no glare on the page
  • Let your child get as close to the book as they need
  • Try to limit distractions, for example, have time without the television on in the background

Your vision impaired child may find it harder to spot words around them. Because of this, it may take them a little longer to learn to read.

You can work with your child’s Qualified Teacher of the Vision Impaired (QTVI) to help your child learn to read.