How can you describe the beauty of NATURE to a blind child?
By Megan Lane
@MeganLane (38)
Quezon City, Philippines
January 11, 2016 4:35am CST
I asked this question in one of my class and I solicited several responses.
I told my class that it is a rhetorical question that there is no right or wrong answer...
However, is there really an answer to this?
How can we describe the beauty of nature to a blind child?
3 people like this
6 responses
@seemads21 (87)
• Jabalpur, India
11 Jan 16
Yes u are absolutely that there is no right or wrong answer for it. It is best that we donate eyes..
1 person likes this
@MeganLane (38)
• Quezon City, Philippines
12 Jan 16
@seemads21 hey Seema thanks for your response ;)
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
11 Jan 16
There certainly is an answer. You would have to describe it in terms which the child can experience for him or herself, using the senses of touch, smell, taste and hearing. Phrases like "the pure blue of the sky" or "the light filtering through autumn leaves" would have no meaning to a child blind from birth.
The exercise should not be seen as limiting and nor should there be any pity that the child is 'missing' something through being unable to see. Rather it should be seen as an adventure for the sighted person because, in fact, it can be said that, although we have the four senses that a blind person has, we don't always use them to their full potential because vision, for us, may dominate our experience.
You would do well to read the writings of Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf from a very early age.
1 person likes this
@MeganLane (38)
• Quezon City, Philippines
12 Jan 16
@owlwings Hey, thanks for your response, I learned a lot from you.
Actually, that's how I simplified it when I was asked for a response. Rather than telling and describing,,, if I were to answer... I will let the blind child experience it by touching, smelling and tasting it ;)
1 person likes this
@shameigene (159)
• Philippines
23 Jan 16
I will have the child listen to birds humming and let him/her feel the fresh air.
@phillyguy (3005)
• Philippines
15 Jan 16
I think by letting her "experience" it, let her feel the morning breeze, the warmth of the sunshine, the wave of the sea, bring her to a forest to hear the sounds of it, let her lay down in a bed of flowers, bring her to a bird sanctuary, let her smell flowers, let her run in the sand of a seashore, let her shower in the rain, and other things like these, I know it's not really "describing" it but by letting her experience those things I think she/he is already making a "description" of nature on her/his mind in some ways we will not be able to imagine
1 person likes this
@sallypup (60790)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Jan 16
You do not describe beauty. You help them experience nature through their hands, their sense of smell and touch. You do not approach such a child with pity. You approach their child with a sense of listening and asking- what is the girl or boy capable of? Perhaps he or she can get out and do something- do not expect that child to just sit and be. I wish my sight impaired husband could show what he knows- he builds fences, chicken coops, donkey sheds, whatever he needs doing. Then he goes to work and folks act like he can't open the door for himself.