No presents for the kids? Instead of wearing glasses that block blue light, buy your child something that will keep them away from the screen. Here are the things eye doctors should keep in mind when putting together their own holiday shopping list.
How do you know which toys are safe for your child?
Eyes are especially vulnerable. Severe damage to the eye can have lifelong effects. Common toy injuries include corneal abrasions and blood buildup in the anterior chamber. More severe trauma can lead to retinal detachment, eyeball rupture, and even blindness.
The good news is that most eye injuries can be easily prevented with a few essential safety tips:
Avoid buying toys with sharp, protruding, or catapulting parts.
When children play with potentially dangerous toys or games that can cause eye injury, make sure they are playing with proper supervision.
If you provide sports equipment, provide appropriate protective glasses with polycarbonate lenses.
Check the label for age recommendations, and choose a gift appropriate for your child’s age and maturity.
Keep toys for older children away from young ones.
What are some safe, screen-free gifts?
Frequent breaks from your phone and computer are an excellent way to reduce eye strain. Outside in the sun, away from the screen, can also help minimize myopia in children.
Some eye-safe holiday gifts include:
Arts and crafts supplies that get creative juices flowing are a fun gift for all ages. Paint sets, coloring books, easels, jewelry beads for younger children, or knitting/sewing kits for older children are just a few ideas. Be sure to check the recommended age range for each product before buying.
The gift of outdoor inspiration. Exercise gear like snow gear, roller skates, trampolines, hiking boots, or classic bike gifts are all great ways to encourage healthy outdoor exercise. Do you have a little athlete in your life? Please choose the right sports protective glasses for them. This means wearing UV protection goggles for skiers or snowboarders – cold weather doesn’t protect your eyes from the sun!
Educational games for all ages. As a child’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills develop naturally, toys like blocks or puzzles become more straightforward. Age-appropriate board games, learning how to count, tell time, memory games, and other educational topics are great choices. For older kids, find classic foreign language board games like Guess Who or Scrabble to practice fundamental language problems and grammar in a new language.
The Ugly Produce Bundle subscription will surely make you smile and secretly encourage the eyes to eat healthy. These services deliver products not sold on the farm directly to your door. Cook a meal with the family or make your chef kid successful with these nutritious ingredients. Be sure to forward these kitchen eye safety tips to them.
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