Alexa ideas for 8-10 yr old girl with recent sight loss

[oxcat1]

My niece has just had a complicated op for a brain tumour which has left her totally without sight. They’re struggling to find ways to entertain her as most of old pastimes are now inaccessible (board games, colouring, jigsaws).

I’ve bought her an Alexa. Please tell me the kind of things your children of a simIlar age do with Alexa? She can do so much so it’s hard to know where to start!

You can access the RNIB talking books via Alexa
www.rnib.org.uk/reading-services/books/talking-books/rnib-talking-books-alexa-skill

Some more info here
amazon.co.uk/innovation/how-can-alexa-make-life-easier-for-those-living-with-sight-loss]]

www.rnib.org.uk/advice/children-young-people-education

And some other general info here
Sorry to bombard

If she gets a Spotify subscription, she can access podcasts, and music. Audible subscription will give her access to talking books.

Poor mite. It's a thoughtful gift.

If it's a new and likely to be long term sight loss see if her hospital has an ECLO.

There’s a daily Harry Potter quiz. You choose which house to play for and are entered into a league.

Other quizzes too.

I remember you posting about your niece a few weeks ago OP. I think at the time there was some Hope her sight might return? I’m sorry to hear her sight loss is permanent.

Advice from RNIB on Alexa

Depending on her sense of humour, try saying Alexa fart. It won't take up oodles of time, but might help if she needs a giggle.

On a more serious note, it can also be used to link into school work, so might be useful for her when she returns to education too.

Alexa Kid Skills and these

Ask Alexa to go through the magic door.

It’s an interactive story.

She (Alexa) can tell jokes too. You can enable kids jokes and games on the app

I’m so sorry about your niece.

Is the sight loss temporary or permanent?

Please ask about mobility or habilitation for her, your local authority can help. They are specialists working with blind and visually impaired children. I am one, you can PM me if you like

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, it seems likely to be permanent, sadly.

I think she should receive a good amount of support eventually but she is at a mainstream school with no experience of this sort of thing so it will take a while to find the right people and places to approach.

At this stage, what I'm really looking for is just general ideas of how children use Alexa. I do Radio 4 and podcasts so totally uncool (!) but I'm rather hoping she might able to access much of Alexa just like a sighted child could?

Some great links. Thanks so much.

Not answering your question but there was a really good section on gardeners world this week on a blind gardener (a young women). Might be worth a watch for you and your niece.

My DC like - making Alexa fart, playing ‘Would You Rather?’, making her tell stories (bit limited!), asking random facts (some are very funny when you check the log), playing songs, listening to audiobooks, checking the weather - for clothing related purposes! - making her do the Alarm! Danger! sounds…

Oh, and making her miaow to annoy the dog.

I don’t have any great ideas but I just wanted to say I’m so sorry to hear this. What an awful thing to happen

Not sure if it’s of any good whatsoever but most local libraries have an app now where you can download audio books for free. I use them a lot myself.

Agree with audio books - where I live you have the ‘Libby’ app which allows you to borrow audio books, there are so many kids audio books.

Alexa does a game too, I forget the name but it’s a guess the song game, she plays the opener and you try to guess the song.

@lucyedwardsblind is on TikTok and is a young lady who is visually impaired. Not exactly what you’re asking for but might be interesting for her to listen to how other people cope.

Some really great ideas, thanks.

She is now signed up with the RNIB library but I don't think she has tried that Audio books yet. The integration of the RNIB library with Alexa is why I got it - I assume it can all be navigated by voice? My local library has audio books to borrow but you do have to scroll to choose.

Some great Alexa and other ideas. Keep them coming!

My 8&10yos love Fun Kids radio.

If there's another Alexa in the house, they can send messages to each other.

Oh bless her, it must be really hard for her. DS likes playing ‘would you rather?’ Which actually requires a bit of thinking 😂.

When her Mum and / or Dad are ready, (I'm
not sure if the exact family dynamic, sorry) it would be useful for them to approach the local Visual Impairment / Sensory Support Team in their area. (The name varies from place to place.)
There should be lots of help available, even including team sports for the severely visually impaired and blind, for example Goalball, as well as social groups for young people dealing with this.
This will all be in time, of course, when the family is ready.
In the meantime, the suggestions of using Alexa or Google home are really good.
It will be a tough time for her and her family while they get used to it, though.

There's is lots of virtual games and quizzes she can do.
She can also do things such as Alexa what noise does a sea lion (or any other animal make).
She can play music with Spotify or Amazon music.
Audio books.
Nearer Christmas call Santa

Again, great ideas. Keep trying to give them a whirl on mine but I haven't activated kids skills!

She does have a VI teacher and a mobility officer already as she had some level of sight impairment from the tumour even pre-surgery. Sadly now the sight loss is total, plus it's been the summer holiday so little additional support available.

I think Alexa should provide lots of easy distraction, and there are a huge range of resources and support in time. I think that joining some of the RNIB family events will be hugely beneficial for all of them. The whole family has to undergo a huge change and getting to know those who have been through it will be hugely useful.

Keep the Alexa ideas coming!

You can use it to make phone calls if linked to a mobile, ds uses it to mostly play music or audiobooks either ask it to play an album or singer she likes or can say play playing for chilling / homework/ exercise. For amusement say ' hey siri'!