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Children learn primarily through what they see. As a result, healthy vision is directly linked to academic performance, making eye health an essential area of focus for educators.
However, 20/20 vision also requires good eye health habits at home, which means parents need to support healthy vision and student performance.
From limiting screen time to facilitating access to children’s eye care services, effective parent-teacher collaboration is key.
Communicating About Children’s Eye Care
Ongoing parent-teacher communication can help with early detection of vision issues and improve eye health outcomes for children.
Screen Time
Did you know that children between the ages of six and fourteen spend close to 3 hours per day in front of screens? In fact, researchers have identified several issues linked to increased exposure to screens among school-age children, including digital eye strain, damage from blue light, and high levels of childhood myopia.
Monitor screen use in the classroom and share daily or weekly updates with parents so they can adjust screen time at home to compensate.
Check-Ups and Exams
Refractive errors and other vision problems can often look like fatigue or behavioral issues in children. As a result, spotting pediatric eye health symptoms can be challenging.
Consequently, regular exams are crucial for detecting and addressing vision problems in students. Eye exams can also help diagnose a wide range of conditions, ranging from vitamin deficiency to vascular problems.
The start of a new school year is the perfect time to encourage parents to schedule a pediatric eye exam so students can thrive in the classroom.
Vision Education Matters
Get local optometrists involved! You can schedule meetups and educational events where parents can ask questions and get eye health tips from experts.
Keep the Dialogue Open
Because vision problems can evolve throughout the school year, keeping parent-teacher communication open should be a priority.
Share Concerns and Observations
Give parents space to share their concerns and observations, and let them know what you see in the classroom.
You can use a digital form to gather monthly insights from parents. Let parents know they can email you anytime if they notice new symptoms.
Checking up every month is an excellent way to spot any changes in academic performance or behavior that could warrant an eye exam.
Develop a Parent-Teacher Action Plan
Eye health should, of course, be personalized. Once you identify a student who needs vision care or monitoring, create a unique parent-teacher action plan.
Your plan can include:
- Daily limits on screen time at home and in the classroom.
- Visual breaks and vision exercises at school and home.
- Alternative learning methods that don’t involve screens.
- Regular check-ins throughout the school day to make sure the student is wearing their prescription glasses or prescribed contacts.
- Monthly communication to track symptoms and eye exam results.
- Sharing relevant resources for eye health awareness, such as the parent resources from the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health.
Make Children’s Eye Care More Accessible With VCD
Screen time rules, regular eye check-ups, and ongoing communication between parents and teachers are effective strategies for better student eye health at home and in the classroom.
We encourage teachers to reach out to parents and work together to help students succeed.
Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is here to make pediatric eye exams and other services more accessible to families. Thanks to our affordable and flexible plans with negotiated savings, families can save while accessing quality care from local optometrists.
Learn more about our plans and how VCD supports pediatric eye health and academic success.
Summary
Students mostly learn through vision, which is why access to eye health care is crucial for academic success. Our latest blog post explores the importance of teacher-parent collaboration in supporting children’s eye care.
