How Vision Impacts Early Childhood Development (And What You Can Do)
Vision is More Than Just Seeing — It’s How Children Learn to Understand Their World.
From the moment a baby opens their eyes, vision plays a critical role in how they explore, learn, and interact with their environment.
But what many parents don’t realize is that vision isn’t fully developed at birth — it grows and changes dramatically during early childhood. And when there are undetected vision problems, it can have a direct impact on motor development, language, coordination, and learning.
At Bayview Vision in Toronto, we’re passionate about helping parents understand the powerful connection between vision and childhood development — and what steps you can take early on to set your child up for success.
How Vision Develops in Early Childhood
The first few years of life are a critical window for visual development. This is when children build foundational skills like:
Depth perception (understanding space and distance)
Eye teaming (both eyes working together)
Eye tracking (following moving objects)
Visual-motor integration (coordinating eyes and body movement)
Visual attention (staying focused on a visual task)
Without these skills developing properly, children may struggle to meet key milestones — even if their eyes appear "fine" from the outside.
Signs of Vision Problems in Babies and Toddlers
Early detection is so important because children often don’t know how to tell us when something isn’t right.
Look out for signs like:
Lack of eye contact
One eye turning inward or outward (strabismus)
Excessive eye rubbing
Tilting or turning the head to see
Delayed crawling or walking
Difficulty reaching for toys accurately
Light sensitivity
Frequent squinting or blinking
If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to book an eye exam — even for very young children.
When Should My Child Have Their First Eye Exam?
The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends:
First Eye Exam: At 6 months old
Second Eye Exam: At 3 years old
Annually thereafter, or as recommended by your optometrist
The best part? In Ontario, children’s eye exams are covered by OHIP until age 19 — making it easy and accessible for all families.
How Vision Problems Can Affect Development
Children learn through movement and exploration. If their eyes aren’t working properly, it can impact:
Gross motor skills (crawling, walking, climbing)
Fine motor skills (grasping, drawing, writing)
Speech and language development (especially if visual cues are missed)
Social engagement (lack of eye contact can lead to social delays)
Academic readiness (difficulty focusing on tasks or identifying shapes and letters)
That’s why early vision care is one of the most valuable things you can do for your child’s overall development.
What Happens During a Pediatric Eye Exam at Bayview Vision?
Our optometrists make the process fun and stress-free for babies and toddlers. We use special tests, lights, and toys to assess your child’s vision without needing them to read or answer questions.
We check:
Eye health (inside and outside the eye)
Visual clarity (farsightedness, nearsightedness, astigmatism)
Eye alignment and teaming
Tracking and focusing abilities
Overall visual development milestones
Book Your Infant or Toddler Eye Exam in Toronto Today
Every child deserves the best start in life — and healthy vision is a huge part of that.
At Bayview Vision, we’re here to support Toronto families with expert pediatric eye care in a warm, welcoming environment.
📞 Call us at 416-487-5401 or book your child’s eye exam online.
We’d love to meet your little one!