August is National Eye Exam Month, it is also the month most kids get ready to go back to school. With both things in mind, getting a comprehensive eye exam should be on your back-to-school checklist.

As a child’s body grows, their eyes go through changes. Sometimes, these changes are gradual. So gradual, that the child gets used to the change without noticing it. Your child may not have any problems with blurry vision or headaches. An annual back to school eye exam will ensure your child’s health, development and school performance. In the spirit of National Eye Exam Month. Here is how eye health affects your child.

School Performance

The most obvious reason to have an annual exam is to ensure your child can do well in school. If your child cannot see at a distance, they will miss out on critical information presented on a board or screen. For kids who cannot see things close up, reading and written assignments become a challenge.

You may only detect a problem when your child’s grades start to slip. Having an annual exam will detect eye issues before school even starts. It should become a normal part of your back-to-school routine.

Eye Problems Cause Other Problems

Children who have eye problems often have other physical symptoms. Eye strain can trigger headaches. They may start out as mild but if the vision problems get worse, the headaches will get worse as well. This can interfere with the child’s school performance, sleep patterns and other daily tasks. Tired eyes are another physical symptom. As the child squints to clarify their vision, the muscles around the eyes will grow tired. This only adds to the problem by causing blurry vision and eye irritation.

Intellectual and Social Development Suffers

If left untreated, eye problems can start to affect more than the physical part of your child’s life. Their intellectual development will start to slow down as school work becomes more of a problem. Your child will start performing below their potential. This can snowball if not treated.
Social development can also suffer with eye problems. Kids use their eyes to pick up on non-verbal social cues. If the kids cannot pick up those social cues, they may experience embarrassing social situations. For some kids, it may cause social withdrawal.

Frustration with Learning

Children can experience intense frustration if they cannot keep up with their peers. It can severely hinder the child’s desire to learn new things. This can cause major problems in both the short and long-term. Short-term the child may start refusing to complete homework, assignments or tests. They may leave reading and writing assignments undone. Long-term, the child may develop the mindset that, if learning is so hard, why do it? It only causes frustration. That kind of mindset is very difficult to change once it’s learned.

Some Eye Problems are More Serious than Others

Near and farsightedness are serious issues for anyone. However, they are not the only eye problems that your child may experience:

• Amblyopia is often referred to as “lazy eye” It occurs when poor vision develops in only one eye. The stronger eye overcompensates and the other eye gets weaker.
• Strabismus refers to misaligned eyes. Some misalignments are quite noticeable, with one eye being strongly turned away from the other. Some misalignments are more subtle and may be harder to detect.
• Ptosis happens when the eyelid droops over the eye, blocking part or all the vision in the effected eye.
• Cataracts can occur in children as well as older adults.
• Blocked Tear Ducts can cause eyes to be constantly teary or have a chronic infection.
• Chalazion appears as a lump on the eyelid. It’s caused by a blocked oil gland.

Schedule Your Child’s Eye Exam Today

To avoid all these issues, you need to get your child in for a pediatric vision test. All it takes is a quick call to set the appointment. The back to school vision exam will only take a few minutes and is time well spent. If the children’s eye doctor says everything is fine, you can let them go to school without worry. If there is a problem, you can get it treated immediately. That way, your child won’t have to deal with the side effects and can concentrate on doing well in school. And that’s a great way to celebrate National Eye Exam Month.

July is National Ice Cream Month. This probably makes your kids very happy and your waistline a little concerned. It’s hot, and eating the cool treat sounds like a fun way to turn the temperature down. However, one cup of the dessert has about 260 calories and 14 grams of fat. How do you celebrate National Ice Cream Month and stay healthy at the same time? Chill out. It’s possible.

1. Try Low Calorie Ice Cream

You don’t have to pack on the calories to enjoy your favorite icy delight. Many brands offer low-calorie versions of your favorite flavors. These alternatives aren’t always so healthy, though. They’re often loaded with artificial sweeteners and preservatives. After all, you have to replace the fat and calories with something else, right?

Eat This, Not That ranked Halo Top Vanilla as the best diet option out there. One pint contains 240 calories. You don’t have to challenge yourself to stop when you’re halfway through. Plus, it contains healthy fats, has no fake sweeteners and is low in sugar. Your kids won’t know the difference. Neither will you.

2. Go For Low Sugar Ice Cream

When you cut back on sugar, you may end up consuming fewer calories. Plus, keeping sugar away from your kiddos can prevent them from turning into hyper little monsters.

So Delicious No Sugar Added Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is sweetened with natural stevia. It contains healthy fats from coconuts. You can feel good about feeding this to your family.

3. Make Your Own

When you make your own frozen treats, you can control the ingredients that go into it. A quick internet search will deliver lots of options for homemade recipes.

Here’s one to try:

Ingredients 3 ripe peaches, diced ¼ cup cream or coconut cream ¼ tsp vanilla extract Stevia to taste

Directions

• Freeze the peaches for four hours.
• Blend the peaches with the cream in a high-powered blender.
• Add the stevia if you want more sweetness. You might not need it.

This produces a soft dessert that you can eat right away. Stick it in the freezer for another hour if you want a harder treat.

4. Turn Bananas Into Frozen Deliciousness

Did you know that frozen bananas can be whipped up into a creamy snack or dessert? Slice bananas and freeze them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Transfer them to plastic bags or an airtight container, and store them in the freezer. Whenever you want some frozen goodness, place some bananas in a high-powered blender. Add cocoa or peanut butter for an added punch. Blend them until they become smooth.

5. Try Strawberry Banana Frozen Lemonade

Ditch the dairy altogether. Make a refreshing indulgence without using milk or yogurt. In a blender, combine strawberries and bananas. Mix them until they’re smooth. Add them to your ice cream maker along with some lemonade. After about 30 minutes, you’ll have a combination that tastes like a snow cone. You can also make these into frozen treats using molds.

6. Make Themed Play Clay

Purchase or make dough for your kids to play with. Provide utensils and options for them to pretend that they have their own sweet shop. Make your own ice cream play clay by mixing one can of pre-made frosting with one cup of cornstarch. This recipe is great for toddlers. It’s edible, and it won’t harm your child if he or she makes the mistake of eating it. However, it won’t taste as good as the real thing.

Materials you need to make your own faux sundaes:

• Play clay or dough
• Small bowls
• Cones made of paper or cardstock
• Large scoops and spoons
• Small spoons
• Glitter or confetti for sprinkles
• Beads, pebbles and buttons for chips and cherries
• Straws
• Wooden sticks for making “frozen” dessert bars

7. Print Out Some Coolness

Use paper and scissors to celebrate the month without making your kids crazy or worrying about your weight. Print out images of cones and scoops, and have kids glue them onto paper to make their own creations. You can also make 3-D popsicles and other colorful delicacies. The best part is that these won’t melt in the summer heat.

You don’t have to fill up on fat and calories to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Get creative. Buy something new from the store. Purchase fresh ingredients to whip up healthier options at home. Use your art supplies to make a cool dessert that won’t melt.