Vision, Posture, and School Learning
We have revived an educational project from a few years ago, created for elementary schools in Cervia: a booklet titled "Vision, Posture, and Learning," curated by Dr. Vittorio Roncagli, President of the European Academy of Sports Vision. Here, we share an excerpt that offers valuable insights for parents, teachers, and professionals in the field on the relationship between vision, posture, and learning in children.
The Importance of Vision and Posture Education
Excerpt by Dr. Vittorio Roncagli
"It is clear that vision is fundamental for every child at school. Thanks to prevention, many pediatricians check visual acuity as early as age three, and parents often monitor their children's vision during school age. Today, defects such as amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus are diagnosed early, reducing risks. But what often goes unnoticed is the connection between vision and other aspects of development, such as posture."
"Children are spending more and more time in sedentary and visually intense activities: TV, video games, computers. In these situations, they adopt incorrect postures: curved back, tilted head, eyes too close to the screen. These habits are repeated at school and at home. Once upon a time, phrases like 'Sit up straight when you write!' were common, and inclined desks helped maintain a correct position. Today, however, 'postural vices' are so widespread that they are often only reprimanded, without true postural education."
"In elementary schools, many children read or write with their head bent, the paper too close, their back curved, or inadequate lighting. During developmental age, these incorrect postures can become ingrained habits, leading to problems such as scoliosis, myopia, convergence insufficiency, phoria, or reduced binocular visual skills. Preventing them is not easy, but small daily adjustments can make a difference."
How to Protect Children's Vision and Posture
Prevention begins with observation: noticing if your child adopts incorrect postures during study or play is the first step. Educating children to sit up straight, maintain an adequate distance from screens, and use good lighting can reduce risks. Regular optometric check-ups help identify any visual problems that affect posture.
And you, what do you think? What strategies do you use to correct your children's posture? Share your experience in the comments!
An Invitation from Ottica Paoletti
In Pieve di Soligo, Ottica Paoletti supports the visual and postural education of children. Book an appointment to find out how to protect your children's vision and well-being!