Vision, posture, and school learning
We have resumed an educational project designed for primary schools in Cervia: the brochure “Vision, Posture and Learning,” edited by Dr. Vittorio Roncagli, President of the European Academy of Sports Vision. Here are the main points, useful for parents and teachers.
What the brochure says
Today, many vision screenings are already performed in the preschool years, and problems such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus are recognized earlier than in the past. However, according to Dr. Roncagli, the link between vision and other aspects of development, such as posture, is often overlooked.
Children spend more and more time on sedentary, visually demanding activities: TV, video games, computers, tablets. In these situations, they often assume incorrect positions, with a hunched back, tilted head, and eyes too close to the screen or paper, and these same habits are repeated at school and at home.
As children grow, these habits tend to become consolidated. For this reason, according to the author, rather than scolding the child (“Sit up straight!”), what is needed is true postural and visual education, consisting of small daily adjustments.
Some practical advice
- Correct distance: the book or notebook should be no closer than the distance between the elbow and the knuckles.
- Head straight: observe whether your child reads or writes with their head tilted significantly or resting on their arm.
- Good lighting: the desk must be well-lit, with no shadows on the page.
- Properly sized chair and table: feet flat on the floor and back supported.
- Breaks and time outdoors: alternate study and screen time with outdoor play.
If your child tends to always keep their face very close to the page or tilt their head, it may be a sign of a visual problem: the first step is an eye exam with an ophthalmologist. To also evaluate how the eyes work together and the link to posture, you can schedule a postural optometric screening.