|
|
Toys, Games, and Your Child's Vision
From the moment of birth, your child is learning to see. He or she progresses
from the newborn's blurry world of light and dark to the school-age child's
sophisticated ability to handle complex vision tasks. Toys, games and playtime
activities help by stimulating this process of vision development.
Here is a list of toys and activities that can help your child develop or
improve various vision skills.
Birth through 5 months:
- Toys: Sturdy crib mobiles and gyms; bright large rattles
and rubber squeak toys.
- Activities: Peek-a-boo; patty cake.
6
months through 8 months:
- Toys: Stuffed animals; floating bath toys.
- Activities: Hide and seek with toys.
9
months through 12 months:
- Toys: Sturdy cardboard books; take-apart toys; snap-lock
beads; blocks; stacking/nesting toys.
- Activities: Roll a ball back and forth.
One-year olds:
- Toys: Bright balls; blocks; zippers; rocking horse; riding
toys pushed with the feet.
- Activities: Throwing a ball.
Two-year
olds:
- Toys: Pencils, markers, crayons; bean bag/ring toss games;
peg hammering toys, sorting games; puzzles; blocks.
- Activities: Read to child; outdoor play; catch.
3 to 6 years:
- Toys: Building toys with large snap-together pieces;
stringing beads; puzzles; pegboard crayons; finger paints; chalk; large balls;
modeling clay; simple sewing cards; tricycle; follow-the-dot games; sticker
books and games.
- Activities: Climbing, running; using a balance beam.
7 years and older:
- Toys: Bicycle; jump ropes, pogo sticks; roller skates;
different size and shape balls; target games; remote controlled toys; complex
puzzles;
- Activities: Active sports; cycling.
When buying toys, remember to select those that are
well-made and age appropriate. Provide proper eye safety equipment for older
children and be certain that they wear protective eyeware when participating in
eye hazardous sports and when using chemistry sets, shop tools, BB guns or other
items. Inexpensive homemade toys can be just as effective in helping children
develop and improve their vision skills as expensive store bought ones.
|  |
|
