Can outdoor play prevent children from becoming short sighted?
Due to research being carried out by Ulster University there has been an increase in the amount of children becoming short sighted. It suggests that spending longer outside can help prevent this or slow it down.
Professor Kathryn Saunders said “younger children are more likely than 50 years ago to be short-sighted”
The impact on the changes in lifestyles and environment is a huge contributing factor as to why children are spending less time outdoors. Children are spending more time playing on electronic devices and being exposed to poor a diet.
The research has suggested that by children spending as little as an extra hour outside can make all the difference. Being exposed to the sunlight is a huge benefit in protecting children from becoming short sighted.
The research into this theory will explore other avenues such as the effects of daylight exposure on eyesight and whether the levels of vitamin D in teenagers helps protect them from becoming short sighted or slowing it down.
How long do children in your care spend outside?