Charity opens new world of play for kids in Lanarkshire with sight loss

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An exciting new world of play has opened up for Cambuslang toddler Jack Pringle and other young children like him who have a visual impairment.Born with a brain malformation, 18-month-old Jack has taken part in one of the first ‘My Time to Play’ block of sessions arranged in Lanarkshire by the charity, Guide Dogs.‘My Time to Play’ helps children with a vision impairment from birth to the age of four learn important developmental skills in a fun and supportive group setting.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The programme is designed to help children develop a broad range of skills and encourage them to use their non-visual senses.Each session is based around a sensory story and includes songs, movement and related activities.Roughly 80 per cent of learning is visual, which means children with sight loss need to learn about and explore the world in a slightly different way.The ‘My Time to Play’ service is designed to help children like Jack do exactly this, while achieving key development goals, including: concept development; sensory skills; fine and gross motor skills; and self-help for young children as they take their first steps towards independence.The sessions are led by Guide Dogs habilitation specialists, who are experts on children with sight loss.