| Every experience of a preschooler is an opportunity for growth and learning. Preschool children are learning how to use vision to guide other learning experiences. At this age, usually three to five years old, a child needs to develop visually guided eye-hand-body coordination, fine motor skills, and the visual motor ability neccessary to learn to read and perform tasks that he or she will soon need in school.
Parents of preschool children should be alert for signs of abnormal visual development or coordination problems. It is important to recognize signs and symptoms such as:
- Frequent inward, outward, upward, or downward eye turning.
- Excessive tearing of the eyes.
- Excessive blinking.
- Obvious favoring of one eye.
- Squinting or frequent closing of one eye.
- Covering of one eye with hands when looking at objects.
- Drifting of one eye when looking at objects.
- Swollen or crusted eyelids.
- Unusual redness of the eyes or eyelids.
- Bumps, sores, or styes on or around the eyelids.
- Unusual position of the eyelids or drooping eyelids.
- Excessive rubbing or touching of the eyes.
- Avoidance of bright lights.
- Frequent complaints of eye strain.
- Turning or tilting of the head when looking at objects.
- Tendency to bump into objects on one side.
- Frequent headaches, fatigue, nausea, or dizziness.
- Poor eye-hand coordination.
- Avoidance of detailed activities such as coloring or puzzles.
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If any of the symptoms above are recognized, it is important to seek care from a doctor of optometry. Modern diagnostic equipment makes it possible to successfully examine and treat young children even if the child does not know the alphabet or how to read.
Symptoms of visual problems are not always apparent and a child should have a comprehensive eye examination at age three. A thorough examination by a doctor of optometry is the only way to be certain that the child's vision is developing normally.
Several things that can be done at home to help your preschooler continue to successfully develop their visual motor skills and eye-hand-body coordination include:
- Provide safe visually guided motor activities such as sports,
climbing, walking on a balance beam, & playground activities.
- Read aloud while the child is viewing the text and pictures.
- Provide chalkboards, markers, crayons, and imaginative items.
- Provide building and snap together toys of all shapes and sizes.
- Provide detailed eye-hand coordination activities such as
connect-the-dot games, puzzles, and mazes.
- Encourage interaction with other children.
- Make sure television is viewed from an appropriate distance
(6-8 feet or approximately 5 times the width of the screen)
in a position free of glare and reflections.
- Teach proper use or avoidance of dangerous or sharp objects.
- Provide safe and comfortable bathroom products for the child.
- Use comfortable lighting levels throughout the home.
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