How does blindness typically affect cognitive development?

Blindness can indeed slow the understanding of object characteristics in young children. This is primarily because children often rely on visual information to learn about their environment and the properties of objects around them. When a child cannot see, their exploration and interaction with objects may be limited compared to sighted peers.

For instance, children who are blind may not have the same immediate access to visual stimuli that help them categorize objects based on color, shape, and size. As a result, this can postpone their ability to fully understand and describe the qualities of objects. While children can and do develop strong cognitive skills through other senses, the absence of visual input can affect the richness and diversity of learning experiences, leading to challenges in developing a comprehensive understanding of object characteristics.

In contrast, options that suggest enhancement of problem-solving abilities, no impact on cognitive abilities, or increased ability to confirm object constancy do not align with the typical experience of children who are blind. While it is true that children can develop strong problem-solving skills using non-visual strategies, this development often comes with nuances and challenges related to their limited sensory experiences.