Vision Problems And Toddlers
When you have a toddler, spotting problems with his or her vision can be difficult. Your child might have problems communicating vision problems or not even recognize that there is one. It is important that you know how to recognize that a problem might exist and what you can do to help strengthen your child's visual development.
Symptoms of Vision Problems
There is good chance that your child will not voice any concerns about his or her vision. Preschoolers do not have the same verbal skills as an older child and not really understand the changes in vision that can occur.
However, you can look for signs that your child is experiencing problems. Signs, such as squinting and light sensitivity, are early warning signs of visual problems. Other signs can include:
- Holding books very close while reading
- Tilting his or her head
- Constantly rubbing his or her eyes
- Problems with coordination during play
- Avoiding activities that require attention to details, such as coloring
It is important that you schedule your toddler for at an eye care center if you notice any of these problems.
Vision Development Tips
It is important that you stimulate your child's vision so that it continues to progress. Visual stimulation is not overly complicated and mostly involves the use of everyday activities that your child already enjoys.
Toys and games can help stimulate visual development. Activities, playing catch with a ball, help to stimulate your child's eyes to work on focusing on items and coordinating his or her vision with the hands and other parts of the body.
Playing with other children can encourage the development of visual skills. Other activities you can use include:
- Writing and drawing on a chalkboard
- Playing memory games with cards
- Encouraging coloring, cutting, and pasting
- Reading with your child and encouraging him or her to pick out items on the pages
- Playing outdoor activities, such as bicycle riding and swinging
Even with visual stimulation, there is a chance that your child's vision will experience problems. It is important that your child starts to see an optometrist or other eye care professional starting at an early age. Talk to your pediatrician about the best time to start scheduling vision checkups.
Vision problems that are not addressed while your child is still a preschooler could progress and lead to long-term consequences. To give your child the best possible start when it is time to go to school, have your child's eyes examined regularly and keep up with checkups. Talk to your eye professional, such as Byrne William, for more information.