As September marks Home & Sports Eye Safety Month, this post will focus on ways to keep your house safe for your eyes particularly in purchasing toys that are safe for your child's eyes. It's important to be proactive to ensure your home is an eye-safe zone.
Naturally, kids enter the world with an partially developed optical system that develops as they get older. As part of standard baby vision development, babies can view objects only up close. A child's optical structure is continuously stimulated as she progresses. Toys can be one of the fastest ways to stimulate children's sight. However, at the same time, you should remember that a lot of childhood mishaps take place at home, many with games and toys.
What's the best way to prevent accidents? Here are some simple tips for selecting toys for the home to guarantee your child's eyes are protected.
First off, make sure long-handled playthings - such as sticks- don't have sharp edges, and prohibit or monitor young children carefully if they are handling them. Though building blocks are generally safe for children of all ages, it's good to check that the edges are not sharp, in order to prevent eye injury. It's advised that you stay away from shooting toys, such as slingshots or dart guns. If you can't eliminate them altogether, then use of these toys should only be used when accompanied by a responsible grown-up. If your older child uses chemicals or tools, be sure he or she wears safety glasses.
In addition to toys, other domestic threats might be present that you should be aware of. Sharp corners on tables are right at eye level for small children and can too often be the source of a severe injury. Chemicals that are accessible are another source of danger for kids and should be stored out of reach or behind a locked cabinet to prevent curious children from obtaining them.
While it's true that toys won't always be 100% safe, there are many excellent playthings that can help a child's eyesight. There are many toys tailored to specific ages that provide amazing ways to grow optical development. When purchasing toys for youngsters, look for those that emphasize hand-eye coordination and will help kids to understand spatial relationships. It can also be a good idea to look on the Internet before making a purchase. This way you can do your best to make sure your purchase will protect your children and will enrich their visual development at the same time!