Settling in with a good book can happen at any time of day, the most memorable times are when we are sharing a great book with our kids or grandchildren!  My mother and I swap books all the time as we are both avid readers. When I want to buy my grandchildren a special gift, it will always be a book!

For the young readers in our families, it's important to watch for any changes in our children's reading habits, such as squinting or holding something very close in order to see it clearly.

Drs. Candace DeCock and Dustin McGill serve a large area, and every generation of clients, through their Killarney Optometric Centre.  With Kindergarten registration just around the corner, the next number of months is a good time to have your child's eyes assessed for any type of vision problem.

"It is estimated that 80% of learning is through vision, so as children enter Kindergarten it's a wonderful time to know how well they can see and how their eyes are working for them," shares Dr. DeCock.

"We recommend that children get an eye exam any time in their first year of life, usually between 6 months and 1 years, because they have good eye-movement control at that time," she explains, "and then we recommend another eye exam at 3 years old, and then again at 5 years old for Kindergarten, and then every one or two years after that, while they are in school and depending on what we find. This will help us to know that their eyes are working for them as well as they can, and we can intervene if they need help."

Squinting and holding an item close to the face are just 2 signs that a child might have a vision problem, and these are the most obvious signs. However, there may be other things that you notice your child doing in order to see better, says Dr. DeCock.

"Other things to watch out for is if they are consistently closing one eye or covering it up, or if they are complaining about headaches, or if they're rubbing at their temples," she adds.

"Another way to tell is if their eyes are starting to get red or irritated, especially after doing a lot of near work. but many times, vision problems don't come with visible symptoms," notes Dr. DeCock.  "Kids are really good at adapting and figuring out how to make their eyes work for them, even if they aren't working the best they can."

"So, the best way to know for sure is to come in for a comprehensive eye exam."