Closing the School Year

Tis the season for school parties, signing yearbooks and graduation celebrations. Sounds to me like the end of the school year - and final report cards. This can be a relief, or it can bring on frustrations.

How did your child do this year? If your child did poorly, what is the next step? Push them along, summer school, tutoring? There are a lot of options.

Has your child ever had an Comprehensive Eye Exam? If not, a trip to your local optometrist could help come next fall. Why? Check out how vision and learning are linked here.


Does your child have any of these symptoms?

If your child is experiencing some of these symptoms it can cause challenges in the school setting and in everyday life. Don't worry, there is a solution - Vision Therapy! Vision Therapy helps you develop the visual skills necessary for good vision. We use optical devices and exercises to change the way that the brain uses the eyes in order to improve visual skills. For our success stories, check them out here.

Don't wait any longer, and get your child scheduled for an Comprehensive Eye exam. During the dog days of summer, it is a great time to prepare for the new school year. If you have any questions, call: (615) 386-3036 or email: VT@rdeyes.com.

Wii Fit

It’s new equipment time at the office again!

Our most recent VT addition might surprise you—it’s a Wii Fit!
I’m still learning all the in and outs of the new programs that the Wii provides us with here, but what from what I’ve seen so far, this is a fantastic addition to our therapy program!

Many of the Wii Fit programs emphasize the importance of balance to good vision. I’ll explain the link between the vestibular (relating to balance) and visual system in more detail in a future blog, but the key point is that there IS a relationship between the two systems. Several of the Wii activities require the player to stand on the Wii Balance Board. By shifting your weight on the board, you can move a cross on the screen. The goal is to keep that cross in the middle of a target on the screen, while performing other visual tasks at the same time. It takes practice!

Some ways that you can incorporate this same type of thing at home? Well, if you have a Wii Fit, you can do a ton of balancing games in your very own home! No Wii Fit? No problem! Things as simple as doing home exercises while standing on one foot work on the connection between the vestibular and visual systems. Balance beams at playgrounds are another way to beef up that connection—but be careful! Be sure to mix it up—you don’t want to be staring at a TV screen all day!

I’ll keep you updated as we get more into depth with all of the new features, but until then, play on!

It is Library Time

This week, I have had a lot my parents talk about how they took their children to the library. That inspired me to write about how the library is a great resource!

This quote sums it up great:

By providing a wide range of material and activities, public libraries provide an opportunity for children to experience the enjoyment of reading and the excitement of discovering knowledge and works of imagination. The Public Library Service – IFLA/UNES CO Guidelines for development, 2001

My favorite thing about this quote is how one of the guidelines for the Public Library, is to expand a child's imagination! I believe that imagination goes hand-in-hand with visualization. What's not to like about that! I wrote about how Visualization is so important in learning.

This week, go the library and check out some Magic Eye Books! The book are know as "aerobics for the eyes." And it is said that they improve vision, relax the body and calm the mind! These books will help you focus your eyes together to see a 3D image pop. It is fun!

Support your local library and let your children's imagination run wild!

Click the link to see what's going on at the Nashville Public Library.