As parents, we spend weeks preparing our children for a new school year. We buy backpacks, sharpen pencils, and check off school supply lists.

But there’s one important item many families forget:

Can your child actually see the board?

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, making it the perfect time to think about your child’s vision before school begins. Good eyesight plays a major role in learning, reading, sports, and everyday confidence. Many vision problems develop gradually, and children often don’t realize they’re seeing differently because it’s all they’ve ever known.

A simple vision screening during your child’s annual well visit can help identify concerns early.

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Why Eye Health Matters

Nearly 80% of classroom learning is visual. Children rely on their eyesight to:

✔ Read books and worksheets

✔ See the classroom board

✔ Complete homework

✔ Participate in sports

✔ Develop hand-eye coordination

When vision problems go unnoticed, they can sometimes be mistaken for learning difficulties or attention problems.

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Signs Your Child May Be Having Trouble Seeing

Children don’t always tell parents when something looks blurry.

Instead, you may notice they:

• Squint often

• Sit very close to the TV or tablet

• Hold books close to their face

• Rub their eyes frequently

• Complain of headaches after reading

• Lose their place while reading

• Avoid reading or homework

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s worth mentioning them during your child’s next well visit.

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Screen Time and Eye Strain

Today’s kids use screens for school, homework, entertainment, and staying connected with friends.

While screen time doesn’t usually cause permanent eye damage, it can lead to digital eye strain, leaving children with tired, dry, or uncomfortable eyes.

Simple habits can help:

✔ Encourage breaks every 20 minutes

✔ Remind your child to blink regularly

✔ Keep screens about 18–24 inches away

✔ Reduce glare when possible

✔ Adjust screen brightness to a comfortable level

Small changes can make a big difference, especially during the school year.

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Vision Milestones by Age

Every child develops differently, but routine vision screenings help ensure healthy eye development.

Babies (Birth–12 Months)

Your pediatrician checks that your baby’s eyes are developing normally and that they can focus, track movement, and respond to light.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

As children grow, they’re developing depth perception, hand-eye coordination, color vision, and visual memory.

School-Age Children

Routine vision screenings become increasingly important as reading, writing, sports, and classroom learning place greater demands on their eyesight.

If a screening identifies concerns, your pediatrician may recommend a comprehensive eye exam with an eye specialist.

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Why Well Visits Matter

Your child’s annual well visit is about much more than vaccines.

It’s also an opportunity to monitor growth, development, hearing, vision, and overall health before the school year begins.

If we notice anything unusual during your child’s vision screening, we’ll discuss the next steps and refer you to an eye specialist if needed.

Early detection gives children the best opportunity for healthy vision and successful learning.

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Schedule Your Child’s Back-to-School Well Visit

Before the first school bell rings, make sure your child is ready to learn with confidence.

At KidsWatch Pediatrics, our well visits include:

✔ Vision screening

✔ Hearing screening

✔ Growth and development checks

✔ School forms

✔ Immunizations

One visit helps prepare your child for a healthy, successful school year.

Summer is meant for splash pads, pool days, sports camps, cookouts, and family vacations. But it’s also the season when pediatricians and urgent care providers see an increase in preventable illnesses and injuries.

From dehydration and sunburns to tick bites and bike accidents, a few simple precautions can help keep your child healthy all summer long.

Here’s what our pediatric team recommends.

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Stay Ahead of Heat Illness

Children heat up faster than adults, making them more susceptible to dehydration and heat exhaustion during outdoor play.

Help prevent heat-related illness by:

✔ Offering water every 20–30 minutes during outdoor activities, even if your child isn’t thirsty.

✔ Scheduling outdoor play in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

✔ Taking frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning.

Watch for early signs of heat exhaustion, including:

• Excessive sweating

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Pale or clammy skin

If your child becomes confused, stops sweating despite the heat, loses consciousness, or has a temperature above 104°F, seek emergency medical care immediately. (Hopkins Medicine)

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Protect Their Skin from the Sun

A painful sunburn can happen faster than many parents realize, even on cloudy days.

To reduce your child’s risk:

✔ Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher about 15–30 minutes before going outside.

✔ Reapply every two hours, or sooner after swimming or heavy sweating.

✔ Encourage hats, sunglasses, and lightweight protective clothing.

✔ Whenever possible, seek shade during the strongest sun hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Premier Medical Group)

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Water Safety Is More Than Knowing How to Swim

Whether you’re visiting a neighborhood pool, lake, or beach, active supervision is the most important safety measure.

Remember to:

✔ Keep young children within arm’s reach in or near water.

✔ Never rely solely on flotation devices.

✔ Choose U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for boating.

✔ Designate one adult as the “water watcher” without distractions from phones or conversations.

Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, making constant supervision essential. (Hopkins Medicine)

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Don’t Forget Helmets

Bikes, scooters, skateboards, and rollerblades are part of summer fun, but they’re also common reasons children visit urgent care.

Help prevent serious injuries by:

✔ Wearing a properly fitted helmet every ride.

✔ Using knee and elbow pads when appropriate.

✔ Riding in safe areas away from traffic.

✔ Checking equipment regularly for loose parts or damage.

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Keep an Eye Out for Ticks and Mosquitoes

Northern Virginia’s wooded parks and hiking trails are beautiful during the summer, but they’re also home to ticks and mosquitoes.

To lower your child’s risk:

✔ Use an EPA-registered insect repellent appropriate for your child’s age.

✔ Wear long sleeves and pants when hiking in wooded or grassy areas.

✔ Perform a full tick check after outdoor activities.

✔ Remove ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers if found.

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Practice Safe Summer Eating

Picnics, barbecues, and fresh produce are summer favorites, but foodborne illnesses also become more common this time of year.

Help keep your family safe by:

✔ Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

✔ Keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

✔ Avoiding foods that have been left out for extended periods.

✔ Washing hands before eating and preparing meals.

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Be Prepared for Allergies and Insect Stings

If your child has food allergies or a history of severe allergic reactions:

✔ Always carry their prescribed emergency medication.

✔ Make sure caregivers, camp counselors, and relatives know how to recognize an allergic reaction.

✔ Have an action plan before heading to camps, parties, or outdoor events.

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Know When to Visit Urgent Care

Many summer illnesses and injuries can be evaluated without a trip to the emergency room.

Visit Night Watch Urgent Care or KidsWatch Pediatrics for:

→ Minor cuts that may need stitches

→ Sprains and suspected minor fractures

→ Tick bites

→ Mild dehydration

→ Sunburn

→ Ear infections after swimming

→ Rashes and insect bites

→ Vomiting or diarrhea without severe dehydration

Always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for difficulty breathing, seizures, loss of consciousness, severe allergic reactions, or major injuries.

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Enjoy a Safe and Healthy Summer

A little preparation goes a long way toward preventing common summer illnesses and injuries.

If your child needs care this summer, our team is here seven days a week with walk-in appointments, pediatric expertise, and convenient care when you need it most.

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and enjoy everything summer in Northern Virginia has to offer!