Children who cannot see clearly may need an eye test. They may hold a reading book too
close to their faces, squeeze their eyelids together, seem shy, don’t want to play or copy class notes from another book close by.
If you have a child in your class who wears spectacles or has vision problems, speak to this child (or children) before the class. Children can help with the session by explaining how they found out that they needed an eye test. If they feel confident, they can speak themselves, or they can tell the teachers to tell their story for them. Other children may be able to tell stories about their friends or siblings. If you have time to do the ‘counting fingers test’ in the extension activity, then draw two lines in the classroom along a wall. Draw one line one meter from the wall and the other three meters from this line. This activity can also be done outside.
Children who are short-sighted can seem shy and quiet. They might have to sit close to the board or squint their eyes to try to see the board. They may not seem to enjoy playing games outside. They might squeeze their eyes together when they are trying to see something or ask to copy notes from their friend. They might say they get headaches a lot.
Sometimes, the vision problem is in only one eye, and the vision problem is only discovered when one eye is covered.
As they get older, most people will begin to have vision problems. Some children have vision problems when they are young. For everyone, their vision problems are different, but this picture can give you an idea of what it can be like when it’s a little blurred and then when it’s very blurred.
In a circle, the children say in turn what they learned and enjoyed about this session.
Repeat the message together and ask those that know it to share with classmates, friends and family. Ask these Good Questions in their families:
Has anyone in our family had an eye test?
(If yes) What were the signs they needed an eye test?