Containers for Change is a new state-wide container deposit scheme that lets you cash in eligible containers for 10 cents each when they are returned to an approved Containers for Change refund point, encouraging recycling and creating a cleaner WA for everyone.
The scheme provides an exciting fundraising opportunity for schools, local sports clubs, community groups and charities; you even have the option to donate your 10 cent refund to a community group, charity or school of your choice.
In WA, we use more than 1.3 billion eligible drink containers each year and it accounts for 44% of litter.
Why do we need the scheme?
Less Litter:
South Australia has been doing this for years with containers accounting for only 3% of litter, much less than the 44% currently found in Western Australia.
Less Waste to Landfill:
Around 1.3 billion eligible beverages are consumed in Western Australia every year. Over 10 years that’s 13 billion containers – enough to fill Optus Stadium three times or enough drink containers to line a path from Perth to Broome.
Creates Employment & Opportunities:
Recycling has positive economic benefits—creating more jobs than sending waste to landfill. Every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled creates 9.2 full-time jobs compared with 2.8 jobs when the same amount of waste is sent to landfill.
Containers for Change will create opportunities for some of our most vulnerable people with a key objective of the scheme to support employment of people with a disability and the long-term unemployed.
IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3…
1. Collect eligible containers
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible.
2. Take them to a refund point
There are different types of refund points across Western Australia, so find the right one for you.
3. Earn a refund or donate
You’ll receive 10 cents for every eligible container you return which you can keep or donate.
Source: Containers for Change
Containers for Change – Where to Return
You can find your nearest Containers for Change on their website, or we have listed the centres below that are local to City of Melville.
Bibra Lake – Ability Centre – 30 Miguel Rd, Bibra Lake
Booragoon – Good Sammy Recycling – Units 3 & 4, 491 Marmion Street, Booragoon
Cockburn – Return it – 12 Blackly Row, Cockburn Central
Cockburn Central – Scouts WA Recycling – 54 – 56 Cooper Road, Cockburn
Coogee – WA Container Exchange – Coogee Community Hall, 19 Arlington Loop, Coogee
Fremantle – Containers for Change – 83 Knutsford St, Fremantle
Fremantle – Drop Off – City of Fremantle Reception, 70 Parry Street, Fremantle
Hamilton Hill – WA Container Exchange – Davilak Park, Lucius Road, Hamilton Hill
Myaree – Tomra Recycling Centre – 46 McCoy Street, Myaree
O’Connor – WA Container Exchange – 29 Bowen Street, O’Connor
Willetton – Good Sammy Recycling – Unit 4, 147 High Road, Willetton
Your local school might also be collecting! Participating schools are eligible to receive the full 10 cents refund on all Container for Change approved containers as credit or cash and it is a great new way to fundraise for your school.
Making change is easy. Collect your eligible containers instead of tossing them in the waste, then drop them off at a refund point where you can either keep or donate your 10 cent refund. Not only is it great for the environment, but it’s also a great way for the kids to make some pocket money or support local charities, schools and community groups.
For more information on the Containers for Change Story or to find out how you can get involved, you’ll find some great resources on their website.
The playground at Marmion Reserve, Melville is situated next to the lake behind the Melville Junior Football Club, and is a lovely little play space.
There is a great range of play equipment suitable for all ages and abilities including small steps and slide for the little ones, log balance beam, a spiral slide, wooden bridge, climbing ropes and swings.
Dogs are allowed but on the lead only. There are picnic tables and benches, but not a huge amount of shade, so make sure you have hats and sunscreen. Whilst your kids enjoy the fresh air, you can settle back and watch. Enjoy a walk around the lake, look at the flowers and wildlife, however don’t let the kids run free as there’s no fence around the water.
Remember to BYO a coffee or grab a drink from Lawley’s Bakery Café in the North Lake group of shops before heading over.
Essential Info
Fenced? No Toilets? Yes Picnic tables? Yes BBQs? No Nearest coffee Lawley’s Bakery Café – Myaree
The Department of Health WA offers health and development checks, immunisation advice and support to families with young children.Community Health provides a range of free services to support families to raise happy, healthy children. We’ve got the lowdown on purple book appointments and where to find your nearest child health centre.
What is a purple book?
The Purple Book is a free, parent-held child health record, provided by WA Health to every child at birth, usually at the maternity hospital.
The book helps parents keep a record of their child’s health and development from birth to school entry, in partnership with child health nurses and other health professionals.
If you’ve lost your book or are new to the state, you can get a copy from your local child health nurse.
The purple book will help you keep a record of your baby’s health, growth and when they learn new skills.
Purple Book Appointments
All families have five purple book appointments with their community child health nurse at:
0-14 days
8 weeks
4 months
12 months
2 years.
It’s important that you see the community child health nurse at these key ages to check your child’s health and development.
How can I make a purple book appointment?
If you’ve just had your baby, a community child health nurse will contact you to arrange your first appointment.
This appointment will probably be at your home before your baby is 14 days old.
The nurse will also book in your 8-week appointment during this visit.
Perth metropolitan area
If you live in the Perth metropolitan area and your child is due for a Purple Book health check, you can make an appointment up to eight weeks in advance. Simply call 1300 749 869 or register for an appointment.
Child Health Centres
Child health centres are staffed by experienced registered nurses with qualifications in child and family health.
They provide a range of services in partnership with parents and carers of babies and young children up to the age of four years.
Child health nurses can assess a child’s health and development, as well as provide information about many aspects of parenting, maternal, family health and healthy lifestyles.
Toy libraries are not-for-profit organisations, run by volunteers, that help you keep up with the ever changing set of interests and skillsof your children,without having to spend at the shops every 6 months for new toys!They’re a great resource for ideas to keep the little ones entertained for at-home birthday partiesas well. Here’s a list of local toy libraries you can join!
The Attadale Toy Library provides local families with access to high quality and engaging toys specifically catering for children 0 – 6. With over 600 toys available for borrowing, you are sure to have something that your child will find challenging, engaging and most importantly – fun!
Cockburn Toy Library has a huge selection of toys, dress-ups, games and puzzles available for members and their families to enjoy. They cater for children aged 0-6 and have everything from small puzzles and activities through to costumes and outdoor play equipment.
Hours: Monday 9.00am – 2.00pm, Tuesday 9.00am – 4.30pm, Thursday 9.00am – 4.30pm, 9.00am – 2.00pm (closed each day for lunch 12.00-12.30pm)
Choose from over 1900 toys, games, costumes, puzzles and ride-ons to borrow at Freo Toy Library. Membership is available to all WA residents, including families, playgroups, parent groups and centres.
Hours: Saturday 9.30 – 11.00am and first Tuesday of the month 3.30 – 4.30pm
A world of playful learning right on your door step! Melville City Toy Library offers a wide variety of toys for loan, offering an alternative to purchasing toys.
Toy libraries are a fantastic initiative, but they do rely on support from the community, so please support your local toy library where you can.Membership details can be found on their websites.
We’ve had some crazy hot days this summer and there are still weeks ahead of us before the cooler weather gives us some relief. It can be hard to know what to do with little ones when it’s so hot, especially ones who are always on the go.
Other than the beach or shopping centres, here are some suggestions of what to do with your toddler on a hot day, both at home and at local attractions. It’s best to get out in the morning before it gets too hot, try to stay at home in the air conditioning for the middle of the day and don’t forget lots of watermelon & pineapple for on-the-go refreshing healthy snacks.
Our suggested activities are suitable for toddlers and young kids, however everyone loves a water fight on a hot day!
1. Sprinkler Fun
Let them run around in the sprinkler or position it under the trampoline for more fun!
2. Water Fight
Fill those water balloons, water pistols, buckets and grab the hose for a wet adventure.
3. Water Table
Toddlers love playing with a water table, it keeps them engaged and playing happily.
4. Wash their toys
Even better, put some washing liquid in with the water and let them clean their toys!
5. Paddling Pool
Clam shells are suitable for sitting babies and blow up paddling pools work well for toddlers and young kids. Please remember not to leave your children unattended whilst in the paddling pool.
6. Bicton Baths
Bicton Baths is a lovely sheltered part of the river. It’s a beautiful spot and perfect for little ones in the shallow water.
7. John Tonkin Reserve, East Fremantle
You can find the perfect combination of river and playground next to Zephyr’s café at John Tonkin Reserve. There’s always so much activity happening on this part of the river to keep you and your little ones entertained all morning, watching boats, kayaks and if you’re lucky, dolphins! Plus the café is right there for refreshments.
8. Norm McKenzie Park, East Fremantle
Next to the Fremantle Rowing Club is a hidden part of the river where the children can have a splash at Norm McKenzie Park. This is another one with a playground, and Cool Beans cafe is open every day (except public holidays) for refreshments. This section of the river is protected from all the passing boats so you don’t get as many waves that can come at John Tonkin Reserve.
9. Hyde Park Water Playground
If you don’t mind travelling a little further afield, then the water playground at Hyde Park is fabulous fun for toddlers and little ones. There’s usually a coffee van there to keep you fuelled whilst they get wet and wild.
10. Indoor Playcentres
There’s a good selection of play centres around if you want to stay indoors, including Gymbakids at Melville LeisureFit, Tropical Twist in O’Connor, Chipmunks in Bibra Lake and Lollipops in Jandakot.
11. Swimming Centres
There are plenty of options for an indoor swimming centre with a toddler section including Fremantle Leisure Centre, LeisureFit Booragoon, Cockburn ARC. Take a look at our post about local swimming centres.
12. Make Homemade Icy Poles
Check out these delicious recipes for homemade icy poles to help keep you cool.
13. Water Bucket Relay
The aim is to transfer water from one bucket to the next. You can make it a race if you have two or more children old enough to play. Otherwise for the toddlers, just let them have fun pouring water from one to another at a pouring station.
14. Water Pistol Painting
This one is recommended for toddlers old enough to operate a water pistol safely. Simply fill up a water pistol with coloured water that you have dyed with food colouring. Then set up art paper on an easel or on the floor and let them go for it. Plenty of entertainment and lots of funky artwork to display.
15. Fishing Pond
Fill a paddling pool or water table with water and some small objects for your toddler to ‘catch’. They can use a kitchen ladle or a fishing net. They’ll have lots of fun with this one.
If you still run out of ideas, then bubbles always go down well with this age group.
Have fun! Remember to stay sun safe and drink plenty of water.
Frank Gibson park in Fremantle is a little gem located on Forrest Street and Wilkinson Street, hidden behind the netball courts. There’s a great range of play equipment for children to play on, providing them with adventure and a chance to explore. It’s perfect for play dates and a great spot to keep the children busy if you need to exercise your dog on the adjoining park (please be aware that if you are taking your dog, the playground is a dog-free zone). There’s an undercover seating area with BBQ facilities, making it a great spot to bunker down for lunch or even host a party.
There’s a great tunnel slide that gets the kids climbing up the rock face before sliding down to do it again. The climbing frame is great for them to practice their ninja skills, and the spider web is irresistible for any little monkey. Don’t forget a bucket and spade for them to keep busy in the sand.
The nature play area has some shade and offers the kids an opportunity to use their balance, problem solving skills and creative thinking. Finished off with three swings, there’s enough to keep them entertained whilst you enjoy your coffee.
The playground was renewed in 2020, keeping some of its original features. The students at East Fremantle Primary School had a big say in what was included in the design of the new play space and we think it looks fantastic – we hope you do too!
Essential Info
Fenced? No Toilets? No Picnic tables? Yes BBQs? Yes Nearest coffee 9 Seeds, 121 Marmion Street, Fremantle
Location: Corner of Forrest Street & Wilkinson Street, Fremantle
Spending the last two decades working with young children in a teaching and family daycare capacity, Stephanie Bull aka The Baby Sleep Teacher has learned how to effectively manage a baby or toddler’s day. Her secrets lie in managing a child’s level of stimulation and having adequate rest. Apply the below practical and easy to tips to survive Christmas Day!
Tip 1 – Less is more
This tip is all about managing the amount of stimulation your little one is exposed to. From a baby or toddler’s preceptive there is a lot to mentally process on Christmas Day. Opening gifts, realising Santa has come, learning about their new toys, family gathers, holiday feasts and maybe even a Christmas Day swim! When faced with too much activity, children become overstimulated and quickly become grumpy and overtired. When a child becomes overtired, they have a very difficult time settling to sleep.
When planning for Christmas Day, less is more! Minimising your little one’s level of stimulation will help you get through a very long Christmas Day! Prioritise your day into “must do” versus “potentially not practical” activities. The less you do, the more you are going to get out of your children.
Tip 2 – Late nights equal early mornings
With the excitement of Santa’s arrival and opening presents who could blame a child for waking early on Christmas morning. To cope with an early morning, have an early bedtime on Christmas Eve! When a child stays up too late, they become overtired and a hormone called cortisol is released into their brain. With cortisol swirling around a child’s body, falling asleep and staying asleep become very difficult and ultimately cause a child to wake early and feeling overtired in the morning. Not a great combination for a little one when faced with a long Christmas Day ahead.
Tip 3 – Spot tired signs
Knowing your child’s early tired signs make nap and sleep time much more manageable. Both babies and toddlers have an easier time falling asleep when they are not overtired so act quickly when you spot an early tired sign. Glazed eyes and staring intently at an object are the most common early tired signs for a baby between the ages of 4-12 months. For a toddler between the ages of 1-3 years of age, common tired signs are a long stare and a quiet moment.
Tip 4 – ChristMUST naps
Napping on Christmas Day is a MUST! If your Christmas Day plans find you travelling to another home, then plan for your little one to nap in a pram, car seat, swing or even on Mum. The most important thing is that your child naps! Planning ahead and building in nap time will ensure you have a happy content child on Christmas versus an overtired, grumpy and screaming one.
Tip 5 – Build in down time
It is very normal for a child to become overwhelmed with feelings of excitement, joy, frustration and even sadness on Christmas Day! An effective way for a child to cope with feeling overwhelmed is to have some down time. Down time in a quiet place, away from all the noise and stimulation that is Christmas Day, allows a child to deal with their big emotions and the sensory overload they are experiencing. After recharging, a child can re-join the festivities. Some children may need to escape to a quiet place several times to cope with the stimulation and excitement of the day.
Tip 6 – The Grinch…Be prepared
The Scout’s motto “Be Prepared” is one slogan to consider when organising for Christmas. With most shops closed on Christmas, it is important to have anything you’ll need for your kids. No one wants to leave the festivities to fetch nappies and wipes so in the days leading up to Christmas ensure you are well stocked. I know in most families Mum or Dad would resemble The Grinch if they were faced with having to go find an open shop.
Tip 7 – Murphy’s Law and presents
When it comes to Christmas morning, overindulging young children with too many gifts can quickly lead to disaster. From a baby or toddler’s preceptive, every gift they receive is another new toy they must mentally process. Young children easily become overwhelmed and overstimulated and when in this state, become tired and grumpy very easily. The difference between a happy child versus an overstimulated one may only be a few gifts.
After buying the best possible gifts for your child, they will prefer to play with the wrapping and the box, it is just Murphy’s law! The wrapping and the box are always less stimulating than the gift itself and it is no wonder children gravitate to them after a long Christmas Day.
Tip 8 – The Christmas feast
Introducing a plate full of new foods on Christmas Day would be a lot for a baby or toddler to mentally process and even digest. New foods also pose the risk of a child being allergic to something on their plate. To cope, keep your child’s Christmas Day meals simple and familiar for them. When planning include dishes, your child has ate before and will happily eat again. Christmas Day is stimulating enough without having to sit down to a whole new plate of food.
Tip 9 – Relax and have FUN!
Staying calm and being relaxed about how Christmas Day unfolds will help you and your child cope with the day. This is important because young children pick up on your emotions. When you are relaxed your baby or toddler will be too. The same goes if you are feeling anxious.
A child’s ability to pick up on their parents emotions often cause problems at bedtime. When babies and toddlers sense their parents are feeling anxious about them falling asleep, they began to feel anxious too. If this resonates with you, take deep breaths, and put your little one down when you are feeling calm and confident about the situation. It is always better to place your child in their bed in a calm and confident manner then to hesitate halfway through.
Tip 10 – Cuddle Magic
Who does not love a cuddle from a sleeping baby? One of the last memories I have of my late mother is of her rocking my girlfriends baby girl to sleep. My Mum was fighting cancer and cuddling a baby made that evening easier to deal with the pain. After a year where we have all suffered from a global pandemic, a cuddle from a sleeping baby maybe the best gift you could give a family member this Christmas.
The last nap of the day is generally a catnap for a baby. This is the perfect nap for a cuddle! The following day return to your baby’s normal method of falling asleep to ensure they do not become dependent on being cuddled or rocked to sleep.
Tip 11 – Sleep training on Christmas Day…No!
Guaranteed when you have a baby, and meeting family and friends someone is going to give you baby sleep advice. Starting sleep training on Christmas Day just adds unnecessary stress to a parent and their baby after a long day. When Christmas is over, and everyone is rested then is the time to teach new sleep habits. When working with clients I always say, “a sleep problem is not a problem, unless it is a problem for you!”
Tip 12 – When ALL goes pear shaped
After two decades of working with children and caring for multiple babies and toddlers in my home, I have realised that after a long stimulating day sometimes things will just goes pear shaped! Children do get tired and who can blame them after an eventful day. When things start to go pear shaped, the key to managing the situation is to move quickly either to sleep time or down time. Staying calm and managing the calm before the storm will help you and your little ones out.
All wrapped up in a blog
The ideal Christmas Day routine should mirror any other day for a baby or toddler. The practicality of this is not always possible. Going with the flow with a young child’s Christmas Day routine and adapting to the hustle and bustle of the holiday will build resilience for your child and allow you and your family to enjoy the day!
Stephanie is originally from Canada and has been living in Perth for 8 years. Prior to living in Australia, she taught at a private international school in Dubai. Stephanie and her family are often found in the East Fremantle area where her husband operates his coaching business Tennis Factory. For more baby sleep information, you can follow The Baby Sleep Teacher on Instagram and Facebook.
Early rising has got to be one of the most common sleep issues that parents face, particularly in the summer months. Our little people can all of a sudden decide it’s time to wake earlier than before, unfortunately for us!
Why does it happen? It’s all to do with the circadian rhythm of our 24-hour clock, which makes us alert in the day and sleepy at night. It’s our sleep-wake system. The main external factor for this is light. As the days get longer, it’s lighter earlier and stays lighter later. Babies and toddlers can’t tell the time, hence relying only on their body clock which is affected by the light.
There are also some other factors that can come into play. Ania Rae-Frac, certified baby sleep specialist and owner of We Love Sleeping Babies, tells us about some of the causes and what can be done about it, but first she helps us better understand sleep.
Understanding sleep
There are two types of sleep.
Non rapid eye movement (NREM) which is often called ‘deep sleep’.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep ‘light sleep’.
We cycle between these two stages all night and babies can spend up to 50% of their sleep in REM stage, compared to only about 20% for adults.
NREM ‘deep sleep’ is essential for growth and repair. Children have the longest amount of deep sleep in the first half of the night.
In the second half of the night, they are in a lighter sleep phase. This is why they can wake more often in the early hours. Especially if they are reliant on a sleep prop or hear a loud noise!
At 5am they have a quick burst of ‘deep sleep’ again. This is why it’s important to get on top of early rising.
Other factors and some solutions!
1. Light
Get block out blinds/shades. A Gro-blind or aluminium foil onto glass is cheap and easy to do. Even that ray of sunlight creeping in around the edge of a curtain can be disruptive. Block it out!
2. Noise
Birds in spring/summer can be super loud – we have all heard them! Cars and dogs are another bother. A sound machine with white noise (not music, birds etc.) can be your best friend. It must be played all night. You can easily stop using when you don’t need it and can used at any age!
3. Temperature
Cold?? Another big factor is when the weather changes. Children’s temperatures peak at 10pm but drop to their lowest at 5am. Making sure they are warm enough without overheating them. An extra blanket before bed or sleeping bag that’s fitted correctly is a safe option.
4. Appropriate awake times
Over or undertired? Overtired children wake more often. If you think putting them to bed later gets you a sleep in, that will back fire! Try an earlier bed time, not later. Also, be realistic about your expectations. If a 12 month old child has fallen asleep at 5.30pm, expect that they may wake at 5.30am which is 12 hrs sleep. That’s because their total amount of sleep in 24 hours is roughly 14hrs and they should still be on two naps a day at this age.
5.Habitual waking
It can take 3 days to form a new habit and even more to break one! Be patient. If they wake early, PAUSE. Give them time to realise their body needs more rest. Using a timer can help, as even 5 or 10 minutes can feel like a long time! Ask yourself How am I reacting when they wake early? Running straight to them or bringing them into bed, feeding straight away etc. Give them a chance, and if they are still determined that it’s morning, that’s ok too. Keep everything quiet and boring until it’s time to get up.
There are many factors involving sleep issues. Finding the part of the puzzle that’s missing can be overwhelming, but that’s where a sleep consultant can help. Taking that first step is usually the hardest decision, but you have nothing to lose and so much to gain, aka SLEEP! Once you find the piece of the puzzle and have a solid plan, the changes to family life can be magical!
The pirate ship playground in the Goolugatup Heathcote Reserve in Applecross is consistently rated as one of the best play spaces in the local area, and it’s easy to see why.
Set in the grounds of the Heathcote Cultural Precinct, the massive pirate ship is the major drawcard, and there’s plenty to explore with walkways, climbing walls, slides, monkey bars and fireman’s pole. There are also three sets of swings plus a section with musical instruments, steering wheel and periscope in keeping with the playground’s nautical theme.
It can be tricky to keep an eye on younger children, especially as there are several ways to get on (and off) the pirate ship structure plus some sections are quite high with no barrier. Thankfully, there’s an area dedicated to babies and toddlers with small slides, digger, low-lying structures and lots of sand!
For families wanting to set up for a picnic or party, there are plenty of BBQs and picnic tables, the toilets and change facilities are nearby, plus there’s a kiosk if you want to grab a coffee or bite to eat. If the kiosk’s closed, you can also get takeaway food and drinks from the BWG restaurant around the corner.
With stunning views out to the Swan River and the city, the pirate ship playground at Goolugatup Heathcote is a must-visit and you could easily spend a few hours there.
Essential Info
Fenced? No Toilets? Yes Picnic tables? Yes BBQs? Yes Nearest coffee Kiosk or BWG Restaurant
Incredibly, one in five Australian children suffer from an undetected vision problem. However, it can be difficult for parents to tell if their child is having problems with their vision, especially if they are young. Making it even more challenging is that children who experience vision problems often assume that how they see is normal!
While school screenings can be helpful in picking up issues with distance eyesight, they often do not detect other vision problems that can affect your child’s ability to learn both in and out of the classroom.
Regular comprehensive eye examinations help ensure your child’s vision is developing as normal and any underlying vision or eye health conditions can be picked up early.
COMMON VISION PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN
REFRACTIVE ERROR
Refractive errors are the result of the shape of the eye causing the light to inaccurately focus in the eye, causing blurred vision. The three most common causes of blurred vision for children are Myopia or short-sightedness (blurred distance vision), Hyperopia or long-sightedness (blurred near vision), and astigmatism (can cause blurred vision at distance and near). Myopia is the most common refractive error in children and is on the rise due to our changing lifestyle – less outside play and more time indoors on digital devices.
EYE MOVEMENT PROBLEMS
Eye movements help us keep place and scan effectively when reading. If eye movements are slow or clumsy, or the eyes jump or “stutter”, it can make it more difficult to accurately read and process visual information. Eye movements are also important for sport as they help us find objects in space and judge their position.
EYE TEAMING PROBLEMS
Our eyes should work as a team in order to perform as one, however, some children do not adequately develop this skill in their early years. Children with poor eye teaming skills are only able to aim their eyes together correctly for short periods of time. Over time, words may become blurred or there may be double vision.
FOCUSING PROBLEMS
Eye focusing (also known as accommodation) skills allows us to see clearly at different distances. It also gives us the ability to quickly shift focus when looking from near to far, for example, when a child is looking from their desk to the board at school. Our eyes should automatically focus and be able to maintain this focus while doing close vision tasks. When children have focusing issues, their eyes fatigue very quickly and they are unable to sustain the effort required to keep focus and control over their eyes. This usually results in blurred vision when doing prolonged close work, headaches, and eye strain.
VISUAL PERCEPTION PROBLEMS
Visual perception skills refer to the skills developed from experience – relating size, shape, texture, location and distances. Visual perception is the ability of the brain to interpret and understand what is being seen by the eyes. A child is likely to have visual perception problems if they reverse letters and numbers, have difficulty recognising familiar words, having problems recognising their own errors and have poor planning and spacing on paper.
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR…
If your child routinely exhibits any of these signs, a comprehensive behavioural vision examination is recommended.
APPEARANCE OF EYES
One eye turns in or out
Red, burning, itchy or watery eyes
Frequent blinking or rubbing of the eyes
Squinting
WHEN WRITING
Writes uphill or downhill, poorly spaced writing, or unable to stay on ruled lines
Repeats letters within words, reverses letters or omits letters, numbers or phrases
Squints, closes, or covers one eye
Slow, untidy, or frequent mistakes when writing or copying
WHEN READING
Holds book very close when reading
Loses place often or uses a finger to keep place
Leaving out words frequently, confuses similar words or fails to recognise the same word in a text
Re-reads or skips lines
Complains of blurred vision or double vision
Complains words move or “swim” on the page
Whispers to self while reading
Short attention span or quickly loses interest while reading
OTHER PROBLEMS
Squinting or sitting very close when watching television
Tilting head to one side
Must feel things to understand
Often confuses left and right
Avoids reading and other close work
Fatigues easily
Frequent headaches
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN EYE EXAMINATION?
During a behavioural vision examination, the optometrist will measure your child’s sharpness of sight and the prescription if required, to provide clear and comfortable vision (acuity and refraction).
They will also assess the ability of the eyes to work together as a team (eye teaming), the accuracy and ease of eye movements and the effort required to maintain focus and control over the eyes (eye movement and accommodation), and your child’s ability to distinguish between colours.
A full assessment of the health of their eyes will also be conducted, including checking for any abnormalities, signs of eye diseases and other health conditions.
WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD HAVE AN EYE EXAMINATION?
At age 3, an examination is recommended to ensure there are no signs of a lazy or turned eye or high degrees of long or shortsightedness. Before your child commences primary school, a comprehensive behavioural assessment is recommended to check for any vision problems that may interfere in learning.
Nicole is a paediatric optometrist at Bullcreek Optometrist in Leeming. She loves being able to help people resolve their vision and learning concerns; taking the time to listen to her patient’s concerns and working towards the best solution for each individual. Children’s vision, vision therapy, and myopia management are the areas Nicole is particularly passionate about.
Nicole studied Optometry in Glasgow and has since completed an Advanced Certificate in Children’s Vision and additional studies in Vision Therapy. Nicole spent time consulting in Scotland and England before making the move to Australia in 2006. When she’s not busy looking at eyes, Nicole enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her kids.
Containers for Change is a new state-wide container deposit scheme that lets you cash in eligible containers for 10 cents each when they are returned...
The Department of Health WA offers health and development checks, immunisation advice and support to families with young children. Community Health provides a range...
Incredibly, one in five Australian children suffer from an undetected vision problem. However, it can be difficult for parents to tell if their child...
