When it comes to kids; cute, funny, adorable, and charming faces come to our minds. It is hard to imagine them sitting in the clinic of an optometrist. And it is more difficult for those children who are suffering from eye problems at a young age. Eye problems among children at an early age are now not so surprising due to excessive use of gadgets and screen time at an early age. Also, the lack of a proper vitamin A diet can be a root cause.
Well, now that you find there is something wrong with your kid’s eye, it is very imperative to prepare them before taking them to an eye specialist. Children are very sensitive and their reaction is unpredictable. And the most important of all is making them sit still during the diagnosis. We are here providing some tips for all the concerned parents out there, to prepare their kids for their first eye exam.
Why children’s eye tests are important? And at what age eye tests should be conducted?
According to experts, around 25% of school-going kids have eyesight disorders that can affect their academic performance. Furthermore, the risk of myopia and its growth continues throughout the educational career.
Regular eye exams are indeed necessary since kids require the following visual skills for optimum learning.
- Good eyesight at all distances.
- Accurate and comfortable eye coordination skills
- Precise eye movement
- Accurate and comfortable focusing abilities
At the age of six months, children should get their first eye checkup. They should have additional eye exams at the age of three and again just before entering first grade, around the age of five or six.
Tips to Prepare Kids for First Eye Test:
Get your child ready to see the doctor
Tell your child beforehand that they are going to the doctor for an eye check-up. Make up their mind and build a friendly image of an eye doctor. It has been seen that parents often fear kids from taking them to the doctor but that may have a psychological impact on your kid. Making a positive image of doctors and how they can help will motivate kids to sit still during the eye exam.
Sound it like a game
Kids are always in gaming mode. Turn the visit to an optometrist into a game and challenge your kid to stay still for the longest time. And motivate them to win, while the eye examination will be done in a fun way without any stress to you, your doctor, and the little munchkin.
Do some role-play at home
Again try it like a role-playing game. Parents may play the role of a doctor and make their kids read small letters or numbers from a distance. Ask kids to cover one eye with one hand and read from the other eye. Repeat it with the second eye. This way, your kid will learn to sit still by the time of the appointment with the doctor.
Give them rewards
Kids love to get rewards more than gifts. Moreover, psychologists say that giving rewards to kids helps them to stay motivated to do great things. You may promise them a treat of ice cream, their favorite chocolate, or some toys. This way they will easily sit still. Rewarding them with their favorite thing makes them obey what you say. This will also be helpful for the overall development of the child.
Introduce the doctor as a friend
Hearing the name of a doctor, kids often jump up out of fear of painful injections. Take this fear out of their mind and explain to them that the doctor is their friend and will help them medically. He will check his eyes and give medicine to cure them. Kids who take doctors as their friends will obey them easily.
Conclusion
Kids are stubborn and moody. They do what they want to do. The way to make them do what you want is to set them free. Explain everything in a fun and playing way. Don’t be compelling and harsh with them. Your efforts will result even better when you choose a kid-friendly eye doctor.
For the first examination of your kid, you will find the above-suggested methods quite useful and effective. Share this with all the parents of young kids who face such problems.
