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Pediatric vision tips to follow if your child is heading back to school this fall.
Now that the month of August is just right around the corner, it is nearly time for parents and children everywhere to start getting ready for school to resume this fall. That means heading to the store to shop for new notebooks and binders, looking for a new, fresh set of clothes to start the school year off right and, of course, an update on your child’s physical.
However, while all of these things have become essential to-do items on our back to school checklists, one important essential that many parents forget about when gearing up for a new school year is an annual pediatric eye examination.
Doctors and teachers across the country will tell you that healthy vision is an integral part of the learning process and is important if your child wants to do well in school. After all, writing, reading and learning on the computer are all daily tasks in the classroom that require visual skills. This is why many experts believe that as much as 80% of your child’s learning comes through their eyes. Therefore, you want to be sure that this sense is in tip-top shape for a new school year.
To help you prepare for yet another school year, here are some pediatric vision tips that you should follow if your child is heading back to school this fall:
All Children Need A Comprehensive Eye Exam
Because your child’s vision is constantly changing and evolving as they age, it is important that you schedule regular eye exams and maintain proper vision care in order to ensure classroom success. Your child should have had their first eye assessment around six months of age, with comprehensive eye exams beginning at age three. The reason why these exams start at such an early age is because serious eye diseases, such as lazy eye or crossed eyes, are easily correctable if caught early. Unfortunately, the longer you wait to correct these problems, the higher chance there is of these vision problems becoming permanent.
Look Out For Signs That Suggest A Vision Problem
While you are in between visits to the eye doctors, you should also be keeping a watchful eye out for some common signs that your child’s vision may be impaired. For instance, most children are eager to read books and try to decipher new words. However, if your child tends to avoid books, constantly loses their place while reading, or has to use a finger to maintain their place when reader, they may have a vision problem getting in their way. Be sure to approach your eye doctor if you see any of these symptoms.
Help Your Child Feel Comfortable With Their Glasses
One reason why many child will pretend that they do not have a vision problem is so that they can avoid having to wear glasses at school. Unfortunately, this is due to the age-old stereotype that glasses are “dorky” or “uncool.” (And we all remember how important peer impressions were in grade school.) Instead, encourage your child by showing them photos of someone they admire wearing glasses. Also, it boosts their confidence if you let them pick out their own color and style of frames.
