The visual cortex is, “the thin outer layer of grey matter in the occipital region of the CEREBRUM that is concerned with the interpretation of information from the eyes.” (Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed, s.v. Retrieved December 3, 2021)

More Information

Here’s a video with more visual cortex information than you probably want:

Early Learning

Like all brain parts, the visual cortex needs stimulation to develop. You don’t need to buy special gear or sign up for classes to assure your child gets this stimulation. Children get the stimulation their brains require through regular daily activity as they play, explore, and learn how to live in the world. A few examples–a child’s visual system gets stimulated when they:

• Manipulate objects like blocks, dolls, and loose parts
• Throw things and watch them move through space
• Crawl, walk, run, jump, spin, skip, or roll across a room
• Put together puzzles, lace beads, draw, and paint pictures
• Observe the movement of pets, people, and vehicles

Everyday childhood activities and sensory play help with general sensory integration and developing vision-related skills.

Vision Problems

According to the American Academy Of Ophthalmology’s website, “A child is not likely to tell you their vision is blurry. And often, a parent does not see signs of strabismus, amblyopia or refractive errors. This is why it’s so important to screen for eye disease during these critical years.”

Common vision problems include:

• Farsightedness
• Nearsightedness
• Astigmatism
• Strabismus
• Amblyopia

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