Development

Gift Ideas that Support Vision and Educational Development

MICHAEL COLE, OD

WITH THE ARRIVAL of the holiday season, our thoughts turn to our families and loved ones. We hope everyone stays safe this year as we plan our get-togethers, prepare family meals, and shop for gifts. Speaking of gifts, we hope that you will join us in supporting our local retail stores. Some of our family’s favorites for gift shopping are The Book Table, Red Balloon Toy Store, Stork Landing, and Little Sprouts. Let us also be mindful of the types of gifts we purchase for the youngest children among our families and friends. While our youth would certainly love a new video game, app, or tablet, let’s instead consider gifts that would aid in their vision (and overall) development. Technology is ever present in our children’s lives, not only for play, but screen Child and Family Eye Care Center use is increasingly being utilized for school instruction as well. However, passive activities like TV and screen time do little to stimulate and improve the visual system and the other senses. How and what children play greatly influences their ability to learn and meet visual developmental milestones. Here are some things to consider when choosing the perfect

gift for a child: For little ones under one year old who are learning to see more clearly, starting to change focal distances, and experimenting using two eyes together, proper visual stimuli are essential. Most parents are aware of the need to provide toys with vibrant colors, patterns, and high contrast. Just as important as these attributes, toys for little ones need to incorporate motion. Think bath toys you can float toward or away from your child, wind-up toys to chase, or mobiles close enough to hit, kick, or otherwise interact with.

Between ages 12 and 18 months, we expect that children will be using their vision to explore and interact with (destroy) their environment. Perfect gifts for this age could include objects that have identifiable characteristics such as shape or color, objects they can learn to manipulate, or obstacles to climb on. Some ideas are stackable or nesting toys, xylophones, and pillows of different shapes and sizes to climb on. Have you seen the nugget play couch? What a perfect gift for this age. Our family can’t wait to get our hands on one! continued on next page…

OUTNUMBER CANCER

Sarunas Sliesoraitis, DO

Hematology/Oncology

Richard Johnson, DO

Hematology/Oncology

Gary Whipple, MD

Radiation Oncology

At Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital’s Gossner Cancer Center, our expert team provides radiation therapy, infusion therapy, medical oncology, and a pharmacy. We also offer a wide variety of services with experts throughout the Intermountain Healthcare system through TeleHealth.

Jaden Evans, MD Radiation Oncology

Todd Hamblin, NP Hematology/Oncology

Find a team of experts close to home at:

Ryan Garfield, PA Hematology/Oncology

Derrick Haslem, MD Associate Medical Director Hematology/Oncology Supporting Provider

continued from previous page… It is important to note that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no screen time other than live video chat with family or friends for children 18 months of age and younger.

From 18 months to 3 years old, children begin to inspect their surroundings without needing to touch, watch, and imitate play with other children. They also develop manual dexterity. Simple puzzles with geometric shapes, tricycles, and books with large pictures to identify are great gift ideas for this age group. Also recommended are sensory activities to manipulate with their hands such as play dough, finger paints, and large wooden beads for stringing. draw and color, cut out simple shapes, and learn letters. Ideally, we can fill these curious hands with coloring books, pencils, paints, and bubbles to blow. Children of this age are also becoming more observant of their surroundings, relating stories about things that they have seen and showing an increased amount of visual interest in new objects and places. We can maximize their curiosity with visually-based games such as Spot It, I Spy books, and memory. After age 5, we encourage activities and toys that promote imaginative play, facilitate complex visually guided motor movements, and aid in creative visual thinking. Legos, bicycles, roller blades, model cars, and sketch books are all examples of gifts that can achieve these goals.

Visual experiences obtained while young have an impact throughout adulthood. While the

From ages 3 to 5, children use vision to

best activity to promote visual development continues to be outdoor play, if we otherwise keep our children’s hands filled with quality toys and games, we can give them the foundation needed to excel in learning and maximize potential in schooling.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding vision development, please contact our office.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28

1115 N 200 E #230, Logan, UT 84341, 435-213-3229 AND 9269 S. Village Shop Drive, Sandy, UT 84094, 801-647-7739

BUY 1, GET 1 60% OFF! EVERYTHING IN THE STORE

The most FUN Sm�ll Business S�turd�y S�le �round! We are opening early at 8:00 am on Saturday & have free gifts for the first 50 customers. Some exclusions may apply. Valid thru January 31, 2020. We have amazing doorbusters and deals on machines and machine furniture as well! Come for live demonstrations, games and fun prizes. BOGO 60% off in-store and in-stock only and does not apply to machines, machine accessories & machine furniture. Cannot be combined with other coupons or sales. Only one free gift per family (16 yrs+) while supplies last.

my girlfriend s { quilt shoppe }