As a parent, you hope that your child reaches all of their milestones. Good vision is a vital part of a child's development. Vision combines the eyes and the brain, with all the nerves connecting the two.

 

The visual system is immature at birth and continues to develop as the child grows. Issues in early childhood can result in brain development problems and developmental delays.

 

Clear Vision and Healthy Development

Good vision and healthy eyes play a vital role in setting kids up for success. Learning to use sight and interpreting and understanding visual information helps them piece together parts of the world in and out of the classroom.

 

The developmental milestones begin in infancy and depend mainly on strong visual skills. Visual skills include:

 

• Accurate eye movements

• Binocular vision

• Correct focusing
  
   

These are vital for learning, playing, observing, imitating, and more.

 

Good Vision and Learning

In the early years of a child's life, they obtain 80 percent of their knowledge through what they see. It includes reading, writing, viewing images, and interacting with the surroundings.

 

According to experts, vision conditions connect to children's inability to master essential classroom skills. These skills include spelling, reading comprehension, and mathematical concepts. Good vision means that the child can learn and comprehend faster.

 

Vision and Physical Development

In addition to classroom learning skills, athletic skills are also vital in a child's development. Proper hand-eye coordination is necessary for long-term development. Learning goes beyond the classroom to the field.

A child needs well-developed visual skills to learn and participate in any sport. Children lacking coordination can end up feeling insecure, which in turn affects their mental well-being.

Vision Skills Required for Effective Learning

Researchers suggest that 25 percent of school-going children suffer from vision issues. These problems are the most common disabling condition among kids in the country. The vision skills that help children learn effectively include:

 

•  Visual acuity

• Eye focusing

• Eye teaming

• Eye-tracking

• Visual perception

• Hand-eye coordination

Untreated Vision Problems

If not treated, vision problems can lead to cognitive and social issues in children. Mental concepts, such as object permanence, are developed through manipulating the objects. These issues can affect the ability to engage in the process, hindering cognitive growth.

Observing facial expressions and identifying human emotions allows children to develop social skills. Problems in the way they see can hinder the child's ability to participate in activities vital for social development.

As a parent, there are things that you can do to support your child's visual development. Vision health begins during pregnancy. Making healthy choices and getting prenatal care can help ensure healthy fetal vision development.

It is crucial to schedule a vision exam for your baby at around six months. Getting regular exams will help ensure healthy vision development. Playing with your child while making eye contact will help you notice vision issues.

For more information on vision's role in a child's development or to schedule an appointment, call Vision Rehabilitation Associates in Northfield, Illinois at (847) 716-2340 today.