The Secret to Getting Kids to Take Eye Health Seriously

As you age, you’re more than aware that you need to take care of your eye health, because this is only going to slowly dwindle over time, right? Well, kids don’t wake up thinking about their eyesight. If they can still play video games, watch their favorite shows, and spot a snack from across the room, they assume everything is fine. But the problem? Well, vision changes can be fairly sneaky. So, by the time they start struggling to see the board at school or squinting at the TV, the issue has already set up camp. Sure, some parents catch this earlier (baby or toddler), but for the most part, it’s not usually like that.

Getting kids to care about eye health before something goes wrong can feel impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. It just takes the right approach. But like any other aspect of health to push on kids, it’ll take some time. But where do you start?

Make Eye Health a Normal Topic, Not a Boring Lecture

Most kids don’t think about their vision because it has always been there, working in the background. Technically, the same can be said for some adults too. So, bringing up eye health in a way that makes sense to them helps shift that mindset.

For example, a kid who loves soccer might not care about vision checkups, but they will care about being able to see the ball clearly during a game. The same could be said for a bookworm, they might not think twice about eye strain until it starts making reading harder. But connecting eye health to things they already enjoy makes it feel relevant instead of like another rule being thrown at them.

Actually, parents out there who wear glasses or contacts have an easy way to start the conversation. But overall, just talking about how different the world looked before getting them can make kids curious about their own eyesight. If they start paying attention, they’ll notice small changes before they become big problems.

Set a Routine that Includes Eye Exams

Simple enough, right? After all, parents are supposed to take their kids annually to an eye exam in the first place. So, good habits stick best when they feel like part of normal life. The same can be said for eating vegetables, brushing teeth, and getting enough sleep are all expected. So, eye care should be the same.

So, with that said, an annual eye exam isn’t just for kids who already struggle to see clearly. Actually, it helps catch changes early, even if everything seems fine. For the most part, having a doctor explaining why eye health matters can sometimes make a bigger impression than hearing it from a parent (yes, it sounds pretty ridiculous but it’s true). For some reason, kids tend to listen more when fancy equipment is involved.

Give them Some Control Over their Eye Health

Telling a kid to take care of their eyes is one thing (which doesn’t really work). But helping them feel in charge of it is another. Kids love a little independence, and eye care is something they can take ownership of in simple ways.

For example, taking breaks from screens, wearing sunglasses outside, and making sure they blink enough while staring at a tablet may not seem like exciting habits, but they add up. But the hard part is getting them to comply of course.