During the summer, everything slows down. School routines pause, academic demands lessen, and children enjoy more free time. This break is both positive and necessary, but it also brings a significant change in how their eyes are used.
In this article, we explain why this happens, what signs to watch for during the holidays, and why a visual evaluation before the school year starts can make all the difference.
When eyes go on vacation too
During the school year, a child’s visual system is constantly being trained: reading, writing, sustained focusing, visual tracking, hand-eye coordination… Academic tasks require the eyes to work with precision and sustained effort.
But in summer, that level of visual demand drops:
- Reading is often replaced by electronic devices
Children spend more time indoors under artificial light or, on the flip side, exposed to intense sunlight - The variety of visually demanding stimuli decreases
- Tasks requiring fine focus, precise movements, or sustained visual attention are reduced
What signs might appear during the summer?
Away from homework and academic pressure, many children start showing behaviors that may go unnoticed during the school year. Some signs that may indicate a functional visual difficulty include:
- Avoiding activities like reading, coloring, or doing crafts
- Clumsiness in games that require visual-motor coordination
Disorientation when moving through large spaces - Sitting too close to screens or objects
Additionally, more intensive screen use (tablets, phones, video games) can worsen symptoms such as eye fatigue, intermittent blurry vision, or headaches. These may be related to reduced visual efficiency or problems with visual processing skills.
Why it’s important to check vision before school starts
Academic performance doesn’t depend only on effort or motivation. It also depends on whether the child can see, focus, coordinate, and process visual information effectively.
A visual exam can:
- Detect issues that may not show up in a standard optical check-up
- Evaluate how the visual system responds to real-life tasks: reading, writing, hand-eye coordination
- Prevent undetected difficulties from interfering with learning
Detecting and treating a visual dysfunction in time can mean the difference between a school year full of effort and frustration… or a year where the child feels capable, confident, and motivated.
Enfoca’t: We evaluate how they use their eyes, not just how well they see
At Enfoca’t, we perform thorough visual evaluations tailored to each age. We assess not only visual acuity, but also eye coordination, focusing flexibility, visual perception, and information processing.
Make the most of summer to care for their vision
Summer is an ideal time to observe—without rushing—how your child responds to different visual situations. It’s also a great opportunity to check their vision before school begins, when daily life will once again fill with stimuli, tasks, and academic demands.
Getting ready for back-to-school also means making sure their vision is ready for learning.
If you suspect something might be off, at Enfoca’t we can help you see things clearly.
We’re located at Carrer de Vilamarí, 26, Barcelona.
