Christmas 2021: Gift Ideas for Visually Impaired Kids

Christmas is a special time for kids… family coming together at last, the smell of gorgeous food wafting through the house, carols humming in the background, love, cheer, good will and all the rest of it… but all that comes up short if you get sub-standard gifts! That’s why we’ve focused our latest blog on what Christmas is really all about—the presents!

Many visually impaired people have been there… opening a present on Christmas morning in great anticipation only to find that it’s something you really can’t make use of or enjoy fully. That’s why we’d always recommend asking a visually impaired child what they might like for Christmas first, but here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling…

Balls

Speaking of balls rolling, there’s a wide range of Sound Balls designed for visually impaired people out there. Some with bells, or electronic ‘beep balls’ in all shapes, sizes and styles. The child you have in mind might already play a sport like Goalball, Beep Ball, or any number of visually impaired-adapted ball sports like Cricket, Rugby or Tennis, so you might want to choose one with that in mind.

Sensory Balls with different textures, shapes and sizes are great for toddlers and babies who are starting to explore the world using their senses—there are also a large number of other tactile toys available.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can be great for visually impaired kids. Whether they’re a bit older and you want to get them something that could really ignite or stimulate a passion, or they’re still small and suit something a bit simpler to get them exploring the world using their hands and ears, developing dexterity and having fun at the same time.

Play Dough

Of course, all gifts are age dependant, but they’re also dependant on the level of light perception the child has. If you’re giving to a younger child but you’re not quite sure about their level of light perception Play Dough is a great option, providing hours of creative fun, making and remaking and exploring different shapes.

Light Toys

If you know the child has the necessary light perception, light toys like LED blocks can be really special, especially during the most magical time of the year when everything is illuminated and comes to life. Light toys can make play more inclusive for children who miss out on enjoying the colours of normal toys.

Of course, our low vision aids can also make fantastic Christmas gifts—opening up a whole world of possibilities to young minds! But it’s very important you understand the needs of the child before purchasing. We’d definitely recommend exploring our full range with the end user (or a parent) first! We hope you enjoyed our list. Merry Christmas and happy gift hunting!