They say that the first ten years of a child’s life are essential to vision development. From the moment they enter the world and open their eyes for the first time, they are retaining information. Colors, shapes, and faces become a very crucial part of their learning process for the rest of their lives. Moreover, without the proper protection, sun damage can really get in the way of a child’s growth and development. Here’s a breakdown of the first 10 years of a child’s vision development.
The First Month- Although their vision is blurry during their first month of life, babies can see shades of color, the general shape of objects, and most importantly, human faces. Babies are very drawn to the faces of others, especially those of their mother and father. They also see bright colors and light/dark contrasts.
2 – 12 months- Over the course of 11 short months, babies go from being able to see only 10 inches in front of them to acquiring almost adult level eyesight. They form depth perception and can differentiate between a live object and a photo of the object. They begin to notice movement, patterns, and facial expressions. These particular months are extremely significant in their eyesight developing successfully.
2 – 4 Years- Visuomotor skills come into play during the next couple years of a child’s life. They’re learning to hold objects such as paint brushes, scissors and pencils, but there is still a large overflow of movement that they’ve not yet perfected. They begin to move their eyes to follow their point of focus, and they’re following directions to practice their motor skills.
- 5 – 10 years- Now, when kids are beginning to communicate and interact with others, the eyesight development switches gears. Not only can they hold objects, but they hold them with confidence and their own distinct style. They’re printing their names with a pencil, using scissors to cut out complex shapes, and fastening zippers and buttons. Bouncing and catching a ball becomes a new habit which forms the capability to use hand-eye coordination in sports and games. This gap of their life allows them to grow and interact with independence and success.