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Learning to See
Your baby has so much to see and learn. But did you know your
baby also has to learn to see? It’s true. And, while professional help is sometimes
needed, most of your baby’s early vision development is in your hands.
Where to Begin
Your role begins even before birth, with proper prenatal care and nutrition.
At birth, be sure your baby’s eyes are examined for signs of
eye disease or congenital eye problems. Though these are rare, early diagnosis and
treatment are important to your child’s development.
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Your Baby’s Vision Development
Your baby will spend much of his or her first three years learning
how to see. The many different vision skills developed now will serve your child
throughout life. There are many ways you can help.
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When to Seek Professional Care
Unless you notice a need, your child’s first visit to a
doctor of optometry for a thorough vision examination should be by age three.
Be alert, however, for symptoms that
may indicate a need for earlier professional care. These include an eye turning inward,
outward, upward or downward frequently or for long periods; favoring one eye; a tendency
to bump into objects on one side; reddened eyes or lids; excessive tearing; encrusted
eyelids; or frequent styles.
If you notice these, seek help from a doctor of
optometry skilled infant’s vision care. Your state
optometric association or local optometric society can help you find one.
Modern technology makes it possible to examine and treat infants
even under six months of age.
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The First Four Months
Your newborn sees a blurred world of light and dark patterns. Within
the first four months, however, he or she should begin to follow moving objects with the
eyes and to reach for things, first by chance and later more accurately, as hand-eye
coordination and depth perception begin to develop.
Things you can do:
- Change the crib’s position frequently and your
baby’s position in it.
- Hang a mobile outside and above the crib.
- Keep reach-and-touch objects within your baby’s
focus, about eight to twelve inches. Toys should be large enough not to
be swallowed.
- Talk to your baby as you walk around the room,
giving him or her a target to follow.
- Alternate right and left sides with each feeding.
Four to Six Months
Your baby should now begin to turn from side to side and use his or
her arms and legs. Eye movement control and eye/body coordination skills should develop
further.
Things you can do:
- Allow your baby to explore different textures and shapes with his or
her fingers.
- Hang objects across the crib to foster eye-hand-foot coordination.
- Play "patty cake" with your baby.
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Six to Eight Months
Both eyes should focus equally now.
Things you can do:
- Allow your child freedom to crawl and explore.
- Play "peek-a-boo" with toys or faces.
- Provide stuffed animals and other objects with details.
- Have older children play in the same room. Your baby will imitate
them within the limits of his or her own development.
Eight to Twelve Months
Your baby should be mobile now, crawling and pulling himself or
herself up. He or she now will begin to use both eyes together to judge distances and can
grasp and throw objects with greater precision.
Things you can do:
- Don’t encourage early walking. Crawling is important in
developing eye-hand-foot-body coordination.
- Give your baby stacking and take-apart toys.
- Provide objects your baby can touch, hold and see at the same time.
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One to Two Years
Your child’s eye-hand coordination and depth perception should
become well developed and he or she will begin to understand abstract terms.
Things
you can do:
- Encourage walking.
- Help your baby play with building blocks, simple puzzles and balls.
- Provide opportunities to climb and explore indoors and out.
- Provide a rocking horse or riding toys pushed with the feet to help
develop eye-hand-foot coordination.
Two to Three Years
Your two-year-old will become more interested in exploring his or
her environment and in looking and listening.
Things you can do:
- Read or tell your toddler stories to prepare for learning to read.
- Provide tools for drawing, painting and coloring.
- Allow time for outdoor activities.
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