There are different ways to think about the time children spend playing with their toys. It could be thought of as a way to keep the kids busy so parents can work or get things done around the house (which is extremely valuable). It can also be viewed as time when children are learning and developing a variety of different skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
We see a lot of children in my office who have not developed the necessary visual skills for effective reading and learning. Many of these children struggle with reading, learning and even sports. Fortunately, we can help them, but we know there are millions of children out there who are still struggling. Part of my goal for this article is to help you understand that the choices we make in the toys we give our children can make a significant difference in their lives.
While most children love playing video games, too much screen time can contribute to a variety of different eye coordination and eye tracking/movement disorders. Fortunately, there are many fun toys and games that play a vital role in overall development, as well as visual development.
Please keep in mind that seeing “20/20,” or passing a vision screening, only means that your child can see the letters on the eye chart from 20 feet away. Vision screenings do not test all the visual skills vital for learning. There are more than 17 visual skills in addition to being able to see “20/20” which are vital to reading and learning. In other words, even if you have been told your child “can see fine,” it does not mean all these visual skills have been tested.
Most toys are designed to be played within 18 to 24 inches from their eyes which is within reading distance, so this is good. But visual development also requires long distance visual activities, such as playing catch, T-ball, badminton, tennis, etc.
This holiday season, you can help your child by looking for toys to help with:
- Building eye-hand coordination
- Shape and size discrimination (important for reading)
- General movement skills (for everything from writing to sports)
- Space and distance judgments (crucial for driving and sports)
- Left/right awareness (vital in avoiding reversals)
- Visual thinking
- Visualization
- Visual memory skills (enable us to develop concepts)
Please note, babies start seeing color around 3 to 6 months of age, prior to that black and white activities help them develop visually.
Here are some toys that help to develop many of the visual skills required for reading and learning, in addition to helping with overall development:
Birth – 24 Months
- Fischer Price Hide & Peek Pop Up
- Tiny Love Magical Tales Gymini
- Visual Stimulation Cards
- Mega Bloks®
- Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle
3 – 5 Years
- Lego® Duplo®
- Stacking Peg Board Set
- Bean Bag Toss Game
- Kid K’Nex
- Picture Dominoes
6 – 8 Years
- Ring Toss
- Marble Runs
- K’NEX Imagine
- Hasbro Jenga Classic Game
- Connect 4 (Hasbro)
If you would like us to email you a PDF with additional suggestions for toys, you can either contact my office or you can use the link to email us on our home page of our website: www.grandvisioninstitute.com
Wishing you a fun, safe, and healthy holiday season by encouraging your children to round out their activities with some of these tried-and-true games. If you find your child doesn’t like these games, or struggles with reading and learning, it could be a sign of a vision problem. in which case you should schedule a vision evaluation with a developmental optometrist who provides in-office vision therapy programs that are designed to help children develop the visual skills necessary for learning. To find one near you, visit: www.visiontherapycanada.com
Dr. Matthew Anderson provides vision care for the entire family and also provides specialized services in the diagnosis and treatment of vision problems that interfere with reading and learning. Dr. Anderson is a popular speaker with parents and professional groups and may be reached at (204) 633-5566. For more information visit his website: www.grandvisioninstitute.com
