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Guidelines for Eye Protection in Swimming for Myopic Children

Post author By system
Post date 11/07/2023
No Comments on Guidelines for Eye Protection in Swimming for Myopic Children

Written by: Registered Optometrist Chen Minqi

In the scorching summer, many parents will take their children to swim, but it turns out that many children with myopia have sensitive eyes. Ophthalmologist and optometrist Manki brings you all-round swimming advice this time. Parents should also remember to protect their children’s eyes when taking their children to swim during the summer vacation.

1. Choose the right swimming goggles:

In order for children to properly protect their eyes when playing in the pool, it is necessary to choose a pair of swimming goggles with UV protection. This prevents harmful chemicals from entering the eyes and protects the eyes from sun damage. At the same time, parents should help children adjust the goggles to ensure they are sealed.

2. Wear sunglasses by the pool:

Eyes are prone to sunburn in highly reflective environments near swimming pools or lake water, so protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by having your little ones wear sunglasses while lounging by the pool.

3. Cleanse chemicals from sensitive eyes:

Some children are particularly sensitive to the chlorine and salt water solutions used to keep pools clean. If children often complain of eye irritation after swimming, parents can help children rinse their eyes with normal saline immediately after leaving the pool.

4. Avoid swimming with contact lenses:

Children should avoid swimming with contact lenses, as bacteria in the pool may attach to the lenses and cause irritation or infection. Also, contact lenses are often lost while diving or swimming underwater with your eyes open.

5. Have non-medicated artificial tears at the ready:

Parents can prepare non-medicated artificial tears to lubricate children’s eyes after a long day at the pool.

6. Consider using orthokeratology lenses (Ortho-K):

Children with myopia may consider using Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) as a way to improve vision. Orthokeratology lenses are specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, usually worn at night, to correct nearsightedness by changing the curvature of the cornea. When the orthokeratology lenses are removed in the morning, vision can temporarily improve and clear vision usually remains throughout the day. For children who swim, using orthokeratology lenses has the following advantages:

• Children do not need to wear glasses or contact lenses during daytime swimming, reducing the risk of eye irritation and infection

• Glasses or contact lenses may keep slipping while playing in the water, causing discomfort. Wearing Ortho-K instead reduces eye and eye contact lens friction.

• Some studies have shown that Ortho-K can slow down the progression of myopia. For myopic children, this will help protect their eyesight.

It is very important for little ones to maintain good vision and eye health while swimming. Following the recommendations above, choosing the right swimming goggles, and taking proper eye protection can ensure your little ones have the most fun while out in the water while protecting their eyes from injury. If parents have any concerns about their child’s vision or eye health, please consult an optometrist for professional advice and proper care.

Parenting Articles

Wear face mask for long time during Epidemic.
How to make children learn to “look at people’s eyebrows and eyes”?

Post author By system
Post date 01/11/2022
No Comments on Wear face mask for long time during Epidemic.
How to make children learn to “look at people’s eyebrows and eyes”?

system

Written by: Hong Kong Speech and Swallowing Therapy Centre
Senior Speech Therapist Eunice Siu

In our daily interactions with others, we not only observe others’ behaviors, but also “explain” and “predict” others’ behaviors. Theory of mind is the ability to infer or substitute other people’s mental states, such as their thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions, etc., and to use this ability to explain other people’s thoughts, perceptions, and predict their behaviors. Theory of mind can be subdivided into “emotion recognition”, “beliefs” and “pretend play”.

The developmental period for children’s theory of mind is from approximately 3 to 7 years of age. However, before the age of 3, children need to master the following skills to effectively develop theory of mind skills.

1. noticing and imitating the behavior of people around them
2. recognizing the emotions of others and using words to express them (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised)
3. participates in pretend play
4. understands that different people have different desires and preferences
5. understands that people will act to get what they want (e.g. reach for candy)
6. understands the causes and consequences of unsympathetic emotions (e.g. if I hit my brother, my mom will be mad and then she will scold me)

Ways to improve theory of mind are:

1. Use more psychologically relevant words when talking to your child

Using psychologically related words to communicate with children can help children understand their own and others’ psychological conditions more specifically. Examples of psychologically related words are “think,” “pretend,” “know,” “believe,” “feel,” and words related to emotions. Pay attention to what your child is trying to say and then respond. For example, “Ah! You want cake”, “Don’t be afraid! You think I’m gone, but I’m still here,” and “Mommy’s mad at you for hitting your brother. Parents can also explain to their children the psychological situation of others, e.g., “Mei-mei is smiling so much when she receives a birthday present, she should be very excited.

2. Participate in role-playing games with your child

Role-playing games encourage children to put themselves in different situations and characters’ perspectives to draw inferences about their behavior. To begin, children can pretend to be common everyday characters, such as mothers, doctors, teachers, and drivers. Parents should pay attention to the fact that both the words and behaviors in the game should be substituted for the role played. This activity helps children experience a variety of emotions, thoughts and interactions in different social situations, and learn to observe, imitate, anticipate, review and adjust their thoughts and behaviors.

I hope parents can make good use of the opportunity to share and communicate more with their children in daily life, so that they can learn to “look at people’s eyebrows and eyes” (meaning read people’s faces) and become a “mind-reading detective”!

Source：
Hollin, P., Baron-Cohen, S.,& Hadwin,J.(1999). Teaching children with autism tomind-read. West Sussex, England: Wiely Press

Lowry, L.(2015).” Tuning in” to others: How young children develop theory of mind. The Hanen Centre.

Spastics Association of Hong Kong (2005). Connecting: Developing social skills in children with autism. Spastics Association of Hong Kong.

Parenting Articles

To love children, first to love themselves,
3 moves to teach you to maintain the best mental state

Post author By system
Post date 01/11/2022

system

Written by :Family Dynamics Child Play Therapist
Marriage and Family Therapist, Ms. Lee Wai Zi

In today’s society, it is indeed not easy for parents to maintain a good state of mind and body. I have met with many parents and found that the difficulty most parents face is not that they do not understand their children’s feelings and needs, or that they do not know how their behavior affects their children, but that it is difficult to maintain a trusting and optimistic attitude towards their children when they are in a situation. Often, parents become increasingly anxious as they worry that their child’s problems will continue and worsen, and repeat ineffective ways of dealing with their child’s problems.

So, how can parents maintain the best mental state to face the stress and challenges of disciplining their children? Here are some tips for parents to consider:

1. Be more sensitive to your own stress levels
Parents are human beings, so there will be times when they are depressed or physically and emotionally exhausted. The purpose of parents being sensitive to their own mental state is to remind themselves that they need to take care of their own needs first. It is difficult for parents to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of their children when they are in a highly stressed state. Conversely, inappropriate responses may harm the child and damage the parent-child relationship.

2. Use resources effectively to relieve stress
When parents feel stressed, they should try to explore and make good use of their own internal and external resources to regulate their negative emotions. For example, find family members or friends to talk to, do things that can relax you, and find positive thoughts and beliefs to encourage you. The purpose is to give yourself a proper rest and temporary relief from stress.

3. Turn your mind around and reflect
If a parent’s stress continues and increases, professional help is needed. Sometimes, these pressures come from more than just external influences. Parents’ self-worth, worldview, and perceptions of things can affect how we parent. For example, some parents worry that they are not doing enough to fulfill their parental responsibilities and end up pushing their children to study or participate in activities, or even that they are not flexible enough to respond to their children’s needs when they are stressed and negative. If

parents are aware of and take care of their own feelings and needs, they can prevent their negative emotions from affecting the next generation.

Therefore, parents who love their children must first love themselves. Only when parents are healthy and happy can their children grow up healthy and happy.