{"id":20422,"date":"2022-01-12T13:37:22","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T13:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=20422"},"modified":"2022-01-12T13:37:22","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T13:37:22","slug":"can-i-improve-my-childs-reading","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/healthy-eyes-for-life-8-ideas-to-teach-children\/can-i-improve-my-childs-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I Improve My Child\u2019s Reading?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>If your child is struggling to read at grade level, a vision problem may be the underlying cause.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Many children struggle with reading, especially in the beginning, as they become familiar with all the various shapes and sounds of the letters.<\/p>\n<p>However, if your child\u2019s reading skills don&#8217;t seem to be improving with time, they may have a vision problem that is preventing their ability to progress.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Signs of a vision problem<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>If your child exhibits any of the following behaviors while reading, they may have a vision problem:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Squinting<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Closing one eye<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Using a finger to keep their place<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Tilting their head<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Rubbing their eyes<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Holding the book either too close or too far away<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These behaviors are often signs of a functional vision problem, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-to-vision-therapy\/binocular-vision-disorders-6-frequent-qas\/\">binocular vision dysfunction (BVD),<\/a> that can make reading difficult.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Early detection of a vision problem is key<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, reading difficulties often result in reading avoidance, mostly because it takes too much effort and often leads to eyestrain and headaches.<\/p>\n<p>However, reading is a skill that is important for life. It is not only essential for learning, but for sparking creativity and imagination, as well as relaxing and connecting with other people.<\/p>\n<p><b>It is therefore crucial to detect vision problems from an early age, as this can influence a child\u2019s attitude toward reading in the future<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>For this reason, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends having your child\u2019s eyes examined even before they begin their school years \u2014 to facilitate early detection of a vision problem that can hinder their academic performance<b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/guide-to-childrens-eye-exams\/\">comprehensive eye exam<\/a> will assess your child\u2019s functional vision to ensure they have all the necessary skills to help them become a successful reader.<\/p>\n<p>If your child has a vision problem, a customized program of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-to-vision-therapy\/\">vision therapy<\/a> can help strengthen the visual skills, to make learning to read an easier process.<\/p>\n<p><b>SEE RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/healthy-eyes-for-life-8-ideas-to-teach-children\/gifts-that-build-your-childs-visual-skills\/\">Gifts That Build Your Child\u2019s Visual Skills<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you<\/a> to find out if a vision problem is preventing your child from mastering their reading skills.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>How to improve your child\u2019s reading skills?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The most practical way to improve your child\u2019s reading is to encourage reading for enjoyment. This will not only make reading more fun, but will allow your child to gain confidence with practice, as the famous saying goes, \u201cPractice makes perfect\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Developing your child\u2019s confidence and love of reading can be accomplished through the following tips:<\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Find books your child connects with<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Find books at the level where your child is comfortable and allow them to enjoy their first reading experiences. Even if these first books are below their school grade level, they will help your child to develop confidence in their reading skills.<\/p>\n<p>Once they feel more comfortable, you can introduce the next level of reading.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping a variety of age-appropriate books around the house, with varying genres, authors and characters will help to further encourage your child\u2019s progress in reading.<\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Make reading a bonding experience<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Show your child how much you look forward to reading with them by limiting all distractions when you read together.<\/p>\n<p>Whether your child is reading to you, or you are both relaxing with a good book, the key is to do it together. This will not only create beautiful memories, but will also foster positive associations when it comes to reading.<\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Be available to answer any questions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Encourage your child to ask questions while they read to help them gain a better understanding of the material.<\/p>\n<p>This will help improve their reading comprehension and alert you to any reading difficulties early on.<\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Encourage reading aloud<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Reading aloud can help your child to decode words more easily, while enabling you to facilitate. It also allows you to ask your child questions about the text, helping them to gain a better understanding of the material.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Can an eye doctor help to improve your child\u2019s reading skills?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Yes!<\/p>\n<p><b>If your child has a functional vision problem, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/vision-therapy-for-children\/convergence-insufficiency-2\/convergence-insufficiency-faqs\/convergence-insufficiency-and-reading\/\">convergence insufficiency<\/a> or binocular vision dysfunction, vision therapy can help<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Vision therapy is a personalized program that aims to strengthen the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/guide-vision-and-learning-difficulties\/the-17-key-visual-skills\/\">visual skills<\/a> necessary for reading, writing and learning.<\/p>\n<p>Through specialized lenses, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/vision-therapy\/neuro-optometry\/what-are-prism-lenses\/\">prisms<\/a>, occluders and a variety of eye exercises, your eye doctor can help to retrain your child\u2019s eyes and brain to work together more efficiently. This in turn, will yield improvement in your child\u2019s reading skills.<\/p>\n<p><b>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/\">Children\u2019s Vision<\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>If your child is showing signs of a reading problem,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"> schedule a functional vision evaluation with an eye doctor near you<\/a> to assess your child\u2019s visual skills.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Reading is a skill that is important for life. It is not only essential for learning, but for sparking creativity and imagination, as well as relaxing and connecting with other people.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>If your child\u2019s reading skills don&#8217;t seem to be improving with time, they may have a vision problem that is preventing their ability to progress.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your child is struggling to read at grade level, a vision problem may be the underlying cause. Many children struggle with reading, especially in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":20423,"parent":17829,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20422","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can I Improve My Child\u2019s Reading?\u00a0 - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/healthy-eyes-for-life-8-ideas-to-teach-children\/can-i-improve-my-childs-reading\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can I Improve My Child\u2019s Reading?\u00a0 - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If your child is struggling to read at grade level, a vision problem may be the underlying cause. 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