{"id":7043,"date":"2020-07-15T13:18:45","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T13:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=7043"},"modified":"2021-08-10T11:50:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T11:50:17","slug":"how-to-stimulate-your-childs-vision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/childrens-vision\/a-guide-to-eye-turns\/how-to-stimulate-your-childs-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stimulate Your Child’s Vision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Healthy vision development is a crucial part of childhood development, as it enables timely achievements of all developmental milestones.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first three years of life will concentrate on many milestone achievements. Among the most important, is your child\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n

The following is a guide to some easy ways that you can stimulate your child’s vision development, and encourage healthy and strong visual skills.<\/i><\/p>\n

Vision development during the first 4 months of life<\/b><\/h2>\n

During infancy, your baby\u2019s eye-hand coordination and depth perception skills will begin to develop. Your baby will start to reach for toys handing on her mobile or play mat, and begin to follow moving objects with their eyes. She may also begin to examine her hands during this stage as well.<\/p>\n

How can I help my child during this stage?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Encourage vision during quiet hours. <\/b>Leave a nightlight or simply dim the lights in your baby\u2019s nursery, to encourage your baby to look around while laying in her crib at night or during nap time.<\/p>\n

Facilitate view of varying images and objects.<\/b> Enable your baby to see different parts of her room by frequently changing her position in her crib, and even the position of the crib in the room.<\/p>\n

Encourage reaching.<\/b> Place your baby\u2019s toys within view and reach, about eight to twelve inches away from her face, in order to encourage her to look at and reach for her toys.<\/p>\n

Utilize mobiles and play mats.<\/b> Hang a mobile above and\/or outside your baby\u2019s crib, or place your baby on her playmat for a few minutes each day. This will provide both visual stimulation and encourage reaching.<\/p>\n

Teach your baby to follow your voice. <\/b>As you walk around the room, speak to your baby and trigger her desire to look for you and she scans the room and follows your every move.<\/p>\n

Vision development between 4 and 8 months<\/b><\/h2>\n

During these next few months, your baby will begin to turn from side to side, and use her arms and legs with more control. You may also notice increased fascination with her bottle, food, and hands. The development of her eye-body coordination skills, as well as her coordinated eye movements and focusing abilities will continue to develop at this stage.<\/p>\n

How can I help my child during this stage?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Choose toys with different textures. <\/b>Give your baby toys with varying shapes and textures to hold and look at.<\/p>\n

Provide \u201cfree crawling space\u201d.<\/b> Encourage your baby to crawl around and explore her environment\u2014 as long as it is safe and baby-proof. This will strengthen her eye-hand coordination skills.<\/p>\n

Play games. <\/b>Your baby loves interacting with you\u2014 especially when a silly game of \u201cpatty cake\u201d and \u201cpeek-a-boo\u201d are on the agenda.<\/p>\n

If you suspect your child has an eye turn, contact an eye doctor<\/a>\u00a0near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED:<\/strong> What Is Strabismus (Crossed-Eyes)?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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Find an eye doctor for children near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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