Sport activities improve mobility and reaction times, and helps build social confidence. We especially recommend this for shy children or families who have made their world more “inner” and have become scared of navigating the outside world. It’s particularly important for children to get to know other kids with visual impairments and not feel alone or feel less different.
We often find that after they join a sports club they come into clinic with
improved communication skills, and I have personally seen better eye contact and posture from these children. They also often attend these clubs on a regular basis, bringing in consistency and helping with their overall concentration.
As well as general mobility, children start to build awareness of their
surroundings. This can be useful if you find your child is often bumping into things or becoming more “clumsy”.
Physical resilience helps build mental resilience, which is particularly important for visually impaired young people who will face obstacles throughout their life concerning their vision. It encourages them to be active and, therefore, be part of the world. It’s also worth remembering that this is just as valuable for parents.
Getting involved in a sports club is a great way to connect with other families and create a support system. It’s important for families to feel less isolated as a whole.