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Mar

It is amazing to watch the development as a child grows. The first few years of life are critical times when the child gains certain skills that will be needed for the rest of their life. As a parent, there are a few things that you can do to support this development and help your child gain opportunities to gain the skills that they will need.

When Does Hand-Eye Coordination Develop?

Watch a young child, and you will see that babies don’t have any hand-eye coordination. A baby first develops a sense of their hands and arms when they figure out that they can rattle a toy or move an object. As they grow, their awareness of hand and arm movement develops, although certain vision and motor disorders could potentially hinder the progress in some situations.

Hand-eye coordination is essential for everyday life tasks, so you need to take a proactive approach to ensure that your child is developing in the right way. This process happens naturally, but there are times when you might need to work with an eye doctor or team of medical professionals if the development is hindered for some reason.

How to Practice Hand-Eye Coordination

What types of activities should you plan for your child to encourage the healthy development of hand-eye coordination? Here are a few options to consider:

• Video Games: As surprising as it might sound, video games can be helpful for your child. The key is limiting the screen time and choosing age-appropriate games. Researchers found that twenty minutes per day can be helpful for the development of coordination. Pick controllers that mimic the game, such as tennis rackets, steering wheels, etc.
• Sports: Not only is it fun to toss a ball around in the backyard, but these activities are critical for the development of your child. Young children can often judge the speed of a moving ball, but they don’t develop the sense of direction until about the age of ten. So, you might consider tumbling, swimming or other sports for the younger children.
• Brain Exercises: The brain is the central hub for all development. Play memory games with your child. Or, you might consider talking to us about the benefits of vision therapy.

For more information about protecting your child’s visual health, contact us to schedule an appointment. You can call our Temecula office at (951) 302-1331 or our Murrieta office at (951) 600-9226.