THE POWER OF PLAY FOR HEALTHY VISION

Playing games with your child, from peek-a-boo to hide-and-seek to tag, plays a crucial role in their development. In today’s busy technology driven world, parents often forget how powerful play really is, especially outdoor play. 

“Play is not frivolous: it enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function (ie, the process of learning, rather than the content), which allow us to pursue goals and ignore distractions.”

– The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children

Research shows that play teaches children skills such as planning, organizing, regulating stress, and getting along with other children. One study found that 3-4 year old children who were allowed 15 minutes of play time felt less stressed.

How the sun helps reduce myopia

Play outside can also reduce a child’s risk for myopia. Myopia, or nearsightedness, has physical challenges, along with future risks. It impacts the current and future quality of life for children. We can help children who do have myopia, but it is much better to never develop it at all, and one of the best protections from myopia is to play outside in the sunshine.

Studies have found that children who spend more time indoors are more likely to develop nearsightedness. Sunlight is brighter than indoor light creating a release of dopamine from the retina. This slows down eye growth, minimizing the risk of becoming myopic. Sunlight promotes the production of Vitamin D which influences refractive development, prevents eye elongation, and stimulates retinal neurons to secrete dopamine (as mentioned earlier) to regulate the sclera. One study discovered that 120min/day of outdoor sunlight exposure (at school) is optimal in reducing myopia prevalence.

Child spending too much time on a screen

How screen time can negatively impact your eyes

You’ve probably heard how bad screen time is for you. The hype is true, screen time is indeed deficient for your physical and mental health. More specifically, screen time has numerous negative effects on your eyes. 

Prolonged focus on screens, overuses your eyes and greatly contributes to eye fatigue. Glares on the screen further strain your eyes, all which cause headaches, discomfort, tiredness, and pain. Studies have even found that people blink considerably less when concentrating on a screen, adding dry eyes to the list of negative effects. Children struggle adjusting to distance vision after remaining focused up-close.

Using screens at night is even worse for your eyes. Blue light emitted by devices alters the brain’s sleep rhythms. It processes the screen light as daytime and completely shifts the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

In today’s world, it is inevitable to use a screen at some point throughout your day, but here are some playful alternatives to screens:

Age: birth to 6 months

  • Imitate your baby’s noises
  • Smile back when your baby smiles (mommy see – mommy do)
  • Tummy time – or other positions your baby can comfortably chill in
  • Show your baby interesting shaped/colored toys

Age: 7 months to 12 months

  • Crawling – allow your baby a safe space to crawl and explore
  • Use a mirror – show the baby themselves
  • Play peek-a-boo
  • Expose your baby to different sensory experiences – bubbles, grass, water

Age: 1 to 3 years

  • Sing songs
  • Read to and with your child
  • Make believe play
  • Play dates
  • Ensure your daycare/childcare has unstructured playtime

Age: 4 to 6 years

  • Tell stories
  • Sing, dance, and draw
  • Play dates – start allowing your child to build relationships
  • Balance screen time
  • Make believe play – let your child play dress up and act out roles
  • Try new movements – jump rope, swinging, swimming, etc.

Overall, play teaches your child things school may not. Whether it be pretend play, outdoor play, object/toy play, or physical play, it allows for creativity and curiosity. Play may even help your child discover a newfound love for a hobby as they get older!

Here are 10 more screen-free ways to play!

Playing is essential to children growing into happy, curious, healthy adults. Engage their fun side so that they can develop properly!

Baby - tummy time helps development - the power of play