Visual system

Movement and Developing Vision

Humans are complex critters, and we take time to fully develop. Each of our complex systems develops through innate processes and activity. Early development has critical ages and stages in year 1, in years 2-3 and in years 4-5, that prepare us for school, sports, relationships and emotional balance -- all engaged activity.

The brain and sensory systems depend on developmental movements, touch and relationship through these early years to fully organize and mature. Although it is best for our systems to develop during the early years, we can always help them function, as systems are malleable throughout life.

Our most complex sense is vision.  Vision has many components, so this system has more steps in development, and takes the longest. For the same reason, more can go awry; but all can be helped back on track.

Vision involves many minute muscles, so it is a sensori-motor system. The visual system requires many fine motor skills. When we think about skills of our hands, we understand that it takes years to develop fine motor skills.

During the first year movements of nursing, rolling, rocking, creeping and crawling each develop specific aspects of vision. Here are some selected examples.

In nursing mutual gazing begins between baby and mom. As well, a reflex attraction to target shapes (nipples, eyes and faces) establishes the first ability of the eyes to settle into stillness – a muscle skill. Compare the stillness and smooth tracking of the eyes to the often jerky movements of the newborn. The relational warmth of holding and nursing foster receptive vision. When the child’s eyes are relaxed and trust in support, they hold much less stress. In comparison, eyes may overwork when they have to reach excessively.

Baby develops his near to far vision as he lifts and lowers his head, first on his tummy, then on hands and knees. Rocking back and forth, up and down, baby look at his hands, then out to you and the room. This skill is essential for school work, looking from desk to the board.

Tracking right to left (pre-reading) and eye-hand coordination (pre-writing) begin with reflexes of gazing at the hands, both when arms are bent and when long. These visual skills come into full development as the baby crawls on its belly.  Belly crawling is critical for tracking across midline. Many children who have reading problems are not able to track smoothly across midline, where their eyes jump imperceptibly. Crawling further develops abilities to track three dimensionally.

At ages 2-3 and 4-5, more complex movements develop sophisticated eye-hand function through handling many kinds of objects and materials, and through catching, tossing and kicking balls.