Eye Health & Good Vision Messages 14-16

This message and lesson plan is from our Children’s Participation in Eye Health and the Promotion of Good Vision resource book for teachers and educators. Read more about the book and download it now!

Messages 14-16

Healthy children can have vision problems. As they get older,
most healthy adults need spectacles or contact lenses to improve their vision.

Wearing spectacles to improve vision is vital for children and adults with vision problems
to lead a normal happy life. Friends and family must encourage them.

When children first get spectacles there may be many reasons why they do not like wearing them.
Friends, family and teachers must help to support them and listen to their worries.

Learning Objectives

• Children will know and feel able to share the three messages on Supporting Children with Vision Problems.
• Children can describe how they can Support Children with Vision Problems and why this is important.
• Children have reflected on the session.
  
• Children have planned a question to ask at home about children wearing spectacles.

Preparation

• You might like to run a workshop using Eye Health and Vision Children’s Ideas Chart (available in the book) model to explore the reasons why some children find it hard to wear their spectacles. The reasons could be linked to their actions or the actions of others.
• Children in the school who wear spectacles can help you with this session. Speak to them before the class and find out if they would be happy to tell stories of how they have been supported and if they have had to overcome teasing or unkindness because of their spectacles and what helped them.
• Write out all three messages onto the blackboard or print them out on paper and have one set of three messages per child.
• Print out or show the children the images in this section. Ask: What do these pictures teach us?

Steps

1. Introductory activities, e.g. an icebreaker, game or The Memory Line.
2. Repeat in chorus the three messages. Add actions to the messages to make them easier to remember.
3. In pairs or threes ask the children to practice the messages.
4. Explain that some family members may not like their children to wear spectacles. Sometimes children get called names when they wear spectacles. But being able to see clearly is vital. Children who are not able to see well do not do so well at school and may not be able to take part in sports. Their friends can help a lot by accepting and supporting children who need to wear spectacles.
5. Read this story. Ask children to listen carefully so they can retell it. You can change the names of the main characters.

My name is Jamillah. My best friend since I was a child is Simrah. I remember when we were about ten years old, Simrah always failed the tests. She seemed unhappy at school. When she read a book, she held it very close to her face, the book almost touched her nose. When there was something to copy from the blackboard, she copied it from my book.

One day, the school held eye tests. Some of the teachers were trained to do this. They tested all of our eyes. They tested Simrah and told her that she had a problem with her vision and that she would be able to see normally again with a pair of spectacles. She said, “but my father will not allow me to wear spectacles, it will bring shame on the family, no one will agree to marry a girl with spectacles!”

The teacher was very kind. She spoke to Simrah’s parents and helped change their minds and soon Simrah was able to go to the clinic and have her eyes tested again there. Simrah did need spectacles!

When Simrah wore her spectacles, everything improved. She could read clearly and she started to do well at school. The teacher praised her, “smart Simrah in her spectacles!” At home she could help her mother with preparing the food because now she could see. She could play outside with her friends.

6. Ask the children to retell the story in a small group. They can help each other to remember it. You may need to repeat the story another time.
7. Ask the children: Why was Simrah afraid?
8. At this point, if there are children in your class who wear spectacles – ask them how they feel about this story.
9. Ask the group:
   • In this class/school do you think that children who wear spectacles feel afraid of what others think? Why? Why not?
   • What are the best ways we can support children who find it hard to see or who wear spectacles?

Reflection Circle

In a circle, the children say in turn what they learned and enjoyed about this session.

Closing Activity

Repeat the message together and ask those that know the message to share it with classmates, friends and family. Ask the Good Questions in their families:

What do you think about children wearing spectacles?

Extension Activity

1. Ask the children to divide up into pairs or threes.
2. Ask them to role-play a discussion between friends. One or more of the friends wear spectacles. Use these questions or add your own:
   • What has been good about wearing spectacles?
   • What has been difficult?
   • Who has supported them the most and how does this happened? What is the best way other children can help?
3. The pairs or small groups can practice their role-play 2-3 times.
4. Then select one or two of the role-plays to watch and discuss.

Follow-on

Children can perform the role-plays in the playground or at home.

Download Children’s Participation in Eye Health
and the Promotion of Good Vision now!