It’s the last few days of the summer holidays (yippee!) so it’s the final chance to check I’ve got everything ready. For me, it’s a sense of relief that we’ll be back into a routine and the boys will have football and homework to keep them occupied, rather than staring at their digital devices!
MY CHECKLIST:
- Uniform
- Stationery
- Shoes
- Socks
- Labelling the uniform
- Dental check
- Eyes tested
I’ve got 2 boys (aged 13 and 9 this month), and having a teenage boy is a new challenge in my journey of bringing up children. In a nutshell, he’s started to have a bit of freedom and independence, to go off on his own and meet his friends. He’s learned some harsh lessons this summer, as he got his bike stolen outside the swimming baths (the lock was cut through), and his friend got his bike stolen, when an older boy asked to “can I have a go on your bike, mate?” only to watch in amazement as the boy rode off into the sunset, never to be seen again!
I’m often glad when he is home glued to his x-box, at least, I know with my parental restrictions and time limits on, where he is and he’s pretty safe.
However, with my dispensing hat on, I then worry about his eyes and being glued to the x-box or his phone. I’m a high myope: short-sighted (-8.00DS) so I am conscious, they could follow in my footsteps. I constantly used to say when they were little “Can you see that plane in the sky?” Of course, they can, silly mummy, I’ve just told them!
I’ll often play a number plate game when we go on a long journey, just to sneakily see if they can see from 20.5 metres (67 feet)!
My soon-to-be 9 year old at his last eye examination, was plano (no prescription), however, as a dispensing optician, I know that indicates a higher risk of myopia (short-sightedness). We know that a child age six with +0.75 or less of hyperopia (long-sightedness) is considered high risk for developing myopia by the time they are a teenager, regardless of family history.
I was 11 when I first noticed I couldn’t see the words on the over-head projector in assembly when we were singing. As a parent, his eyesight is so precious, I have to do everything I can to help him understand that his teeth and his eyes need the utmost care and attention.
So, as a parent and a dispensing optician, what advice and guidance do I give to my boys?
THE 20/20/20 RULE
Look away from your tablet, x-box or phone every 20 minutes and focus on a distant object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Source: crew.co/blog
ENJOY THE OUTDOORS
Over the summer, being boys, they want to be outside, which is good, as due to recent research, ‘The proportion of myopes in the UK has more than doubled over the last 50 years in children aged between 10–16 years and children are becoming myopic at a younger age’. (McCulloch SJ, et al, 2016).
THE FINAL CHECKLIST:
- Visit the opticians for regular eye examinations (and the dentist)
- Monitor their ‘digital device’ usage
- Teach them the 20-20-20 rule, ‘catch them doing it’ and praise them
- Make sure they spend 90 minutes per day outside (very achievable)
- Sun protection – sunglasses, suntan lotion and / or hats
- This list is not exhaustive.
If you haven’t had your child’s eyes examined over the summer holidays, phone your optician today and book an appointment for October half-term.
References:
McCullough SJ, O’Donoghue L, Saunders KJ. 2016 Six Year Refractive Change among White Children and Young Adults: Evidence for Significant Increase in Myopia among White UK Children. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146332. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146332
My optical dispensing digest 