Vision Therapy Exercises for Kids
A Full Occupational Therapy Guide
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Vision skills are the most underrated area that healthcare professionals and teachers overlook in children. We're not just talking about having 20/20 vision, but how the eye muscles function and how the brain processes this visual information.
When a child's vision is affected, they will struggle with reading, handwriting, and sports.
This vision therapy exercises guide will show you the signs to look for and the vision therapy exercises for kids that you can do at home if you don't have access to an occupational therapist or vision therapist. The activities we'll cover today are engaging for all types of children, including those diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD. These vision therapy exercises aim to enhance your child's visual skills, strengthen their eye muscles, and improve their focus, coordination, and cognitive abilities.
What to Expect in This Guide
1) Eyes Working Together
Eye teaming is when both of your eyes work together like a team to look at the same thing at the same time.
Top 3 Signs of Eye Teaming Difficulty in kids:
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Closing one eye or squinting when trying to see things, especially up close or while reading.
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Tilting the head to one side frequently when reading or watching TV, to help focus better.
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Complaining of seeing double when looking at objects or text.
Home Vision Exercises for Eye Teaming:
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Using Binoculars in a Scavenger Hunt: Encourages kids to coordinate their eyes to focus on objects at varying distances around the house or at a park. (Kids Binoculars - Affiliate Link)
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Reading 3D Books: Engages both eyes to work together to perceive depth.
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Playing Flashlight Tag: a game where kids use a flashlight to "tag" others or toys by shining the light on them in a dark space.
What is Eye Control?
Eye control skills, also known as oculomotor skills, involve the physical movements of the eye, such as tracking, focusing, and aligning the eyes properly to see clearly and interact with the environment effectively. These skills are crucial for tasks that require precise eye movements, like reading, playing sports, and navigating spaces.
5 Types of Eye Control
Description
This is when both of your eyes look at the same thing together to make one clear picture.
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This is when your eyes move smoothly to follow things that are moving, like a flying ball.
Description
very fast jumps that your eyes make when looking from one thing to another.
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Focusing on objects at different distances
Description
Vergence is the ability of your child's eyes to move together, either inward or outward, to focus on objects at different distances. It helps them see clearly and judge how far or near things are.
Top 5 Risk Factors for Vision Problems
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Developmental Diagnoses: Medical Diagnoses like Autism and ADHD can be associated with visual processing issues.
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Genetic Factors: Family history of vision problems or eye complexities.
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Premature Birth: Prematurely born infants often have developmental issues, including those affecting the eyes.
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Excessive Screen Time: Prolonged exposure to screens can strain the eyes and affect visual development.
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Poor of Eye Care: Not receiving regular eye exams can delay the detection and treatment of vision problems.
Vision Definition:
Eye Control and Brain Interpretation
The visual system includes both motor and perceptual components. The motor part involves the physical actions of the eyes, such as focusing and moving. The perceptual part is how the brain processes and interprets what we see from these movements. Together, they allow us to understand and interact with our surroundings.
2) Eye Following
Eye following, also known as eye tracking, is following movement smoothly with your eyes, like a flying bird, while eye teaming, as mentioned earlier, is coordinating both eyes to work together.
Top 3 Signs of Eye Tracking Concerns:
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Frequent Loss of Place: The child loses their place often while reading or skips lines.
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Difficulty Following Moving Objects: Struggling to track objects in motion, such as balls in sports.
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Finger Pointing: Using a finger to guide their eyes when reading to keep place.
IMPORTANT: Above 7 years old, kids move only their eyes not their head when tracking moving objects.
Best activities for eye tracking:
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Balloon Chase: Blow up a colorful balloon and have your child follow it with their eyes as you move it around the room. Encourage them to track and tap the balloon's movements smoothly and without losing focus.
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Bubble catch: Blow bubbles and have your child catch them with the same bubble wand as they fall.
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Magnetic Marble Run: Have your child create a magnetic track and follow a marble with their eyes as it completes the track, keeping their head still.