Vision for Preschoolers
From the ages 2 to 5 children will be fine tuning the visual abilities gained during infancy. They will also be developing new ones. Preschoolers use their vision to guide learning experiences. Basically, every experience provides an opportunity for growth and development. Play activities of stacking blocks, ball play, coloring, drawing, and assembling lock together toys are helping to develop visual skills. They address eye-hand body coordination, fine motor skills, and visual perceptual abilities which are foundation skills of reading and writing.
Ensuring preschoolers’ vision is developing normally will help provide a good “head start” as they enter school. Parents and caregivers need to be alert for the presence of vision problems during these preschool years. Well child checks typically include a vision screening by the child’s doctor/pediatrician. However, these screenings are limited and can miss vision problems. As a result, “passing” a vision screening can provide a false sense of security. They may not assess how well a child can focus or how well their eyes work together.
It is recommended that between the ages of 3 and 5 children have a thorough optometric eye examination to be sure vision if developing properly. With today’s equipment, a child does not need to know letters or how to read to have their eyes examined.
As parents and caregivers, the playtime that is spent with your preschooler can help to develop vision. Below is a very basic, simple list of activities that can be done to help develop visual skills.
Simple Activities that Develop Visual Skills
- Throwing and catching bean bags or balls
- Reading aloud and letting the child see what you are reading
- Drawing and coloring using chalk, finger paints, and crayons
- Block play and puzzles
- Simple memory and matching games
- Outdoor activities including swinging, spinning, and rolling
Preschool aged children generally will not verbalize complaints about their eyes. Therefore, the list below includes some things to watch for that may indicate a vision problem.
vision problems in Preschoolers: Warning signs
- Sitting close to the TV or getting close to books/drawing activities
- Squinting
- Tilting their head
- Covering an eye
- Frequently rubbing their eyes
- Short attention span for the child’s age
- Turning of an eye in or out
- Sensitivity to light
- Difficulty with age level eye hand coordination tasks
- Avoiding age level activities of puzzles, coloring, or other detailed activities
Despite being aware of what to look for and providing vision rich activities, children may still miss a step in vision development. A comprehensive visual examination between the ages of 3 and 5 is important to detect and address any concerns before the child begins school. You can also learn more about vision for younger kids and babies here. For more information regarding vision, check out these eye health tips.