Wellness Wake Up Call

 Good eye health begins early, and small habits can make a big difference. 

What is Wellness Wake Up Call?

Wake up to better health with Wellness Wake Up Call! In just two minutes, University of Illinois Extension and WVIK, Quad Cities NPR, bring you bite-sized, science-based guidance to support lasting health and well-being. Each episode offers simple, practical tips and motivation to help you take small steps toward a healthier, happier life.

Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with University of Illinois Extension. 
Did you know approximately 25% of children in the US need to wear glasses before kindergarten? Up to 80% of a child’s learning relies on their vision during the preschool years. Some states require a comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye doctor prior to going to kindergarten. However, here are five tips to start early:
1. Get regular eye exams: Ask your child’s doctor about a free screening for vision problems. This may help detect problems that would require an eye doctor to do a comprehensive exam to see if there are any vision issues, like astigmatism, farsightedness, lazy eye, or wandering eye. Other signs that your child has uncorrected vision problems includes frequent rubbing of the eyes, holding items too close to their face, tilting their head, squinting, and academic struggles.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet: This will ensure your child gets all the vitamins and minerals to support eye health including vitamin A and omega 3 fatty acids.
3. Limit screen time: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screen time be limited to no more than 1 hour per day.
4. Get enough sleep: Good quality sleep helps the eye muscles to fully relax after daily activities.
5. Use sunglasses: Avoid direct eye contact with the sun and encourage them to wear sunglasses and a hat.
This week, incorporate these tips to improve your child’s eye health!
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. The content for this episode was provided by Rachel Mannen, food and nutrition educator for University of Illinois Extension. 
Resources: 
• https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/prevention/youth-vision-problems.html