I have a 2 1/2 year old son who is very bright and very athletic. He learns things very quickly and is talking better and better each day. He understands what you say very well and have had no concerns about anything untill now. This morning at daycare his daycare provider asked me if ive noticed a certain behavior with him at home. I have but havent thought much of it till now. Every once in a while he will ask for a toy or his nuk or something that is litterally right in front of him. I tell him its right there and its like he doesnt process its there and get frustrated till i pick it up and actually give it to him. His daycare provider has noticed this at daycare as well. She said the other day he was asking for his cup during lunch. It was right in front of him and he got very upset because he wanted his cup. She had to to pick it up off the table and give it to him and he was fine. I dont think this has to do with his vision at all as he can spot a plane a mile away and has no problem when reading books or anything. It seems to be more like hes not registering that what he's looking for is right in front of him. He does not do this on a daily basis and im not real concerned as of now, but i dont know if this is mabye just a stage, or he is just being silly, or if it is the begining of something more serious. I plan to bring this up at his 3 year check up in aug unless it gets more frequent before then but i thought id see if any of you other moms have dealt with anything like this before. Thanks for you help!
My son is just over 2 and has done this a few times. I think it's pretty normal. The only suggestion I have is if he is screaming for something, don't get it for him. Just calmly say "It's on the table" or "it's next to your____" or point to it. That way he can't manipulate you to come running over again and again, and it will help him look for things better, and also help his vocabulary :)
This could be his peripherial vision. Vision and eyesight are two seperate things. Eyesight has to do with blurriness - the 20/20 thing. Vision has to do with how well the eyes coordinate together and seperately. A regular optomist only checks for Eyesight. I suggest you take him to a pediatric opthomaligist. Usually medical insurance will pay for this too.
My oldest son has extrophia and dyslexia. He had surgery when he was 4 yrs old. I've learned a lot about the difference b/t eyesight and vision. He's always had 20/20 eyesight, but he has permanent double vision. He's 14 now and his vision is a lot better; however, I remember when he was little he had no peripheral vision. He eventually developed it though.
I'm not sure if this is what it is, but I would definitely have it checked out.
I don't think I would be too concerned at this point if it isn't happening constantly. I think telling your doctor or even calling the nurse is the right thing to do, just so they know and for your peace of mind. I have done that sort of thing before when I am looking for something (especially small items...like my keys or a pencil) and it is right in front of me. Maybe he feels a little embarrassment and that is what is causing the frustration??
Try not to worry! It's probably nothing,but get it checked out if it starts happening a lot.
A.
My 2.5 year does the same thing. Our situation might be different in the fact that my daughter is processing something is there, but she really knows she has mom trained enough to go and get it for her. My problem and one I know will cause problems when her new sibling is born in August. My daughter tends to ask for things across the room when she is playing or watching a video and doesn't want to have to get up and get it herself.
Having lived through two "spirited" toddlers, I think it kind of sounds like he's playing a game with you. My boys used to do things like that at ages 2-4. It never hurts to call the pediatrician or nurse's line (that's what they're there for), but to me it sounds like his way of having some control and getting you and his childcare provider to do something for him. Bright, athletic, easy learners can often be "spirited" and a little more challenging than other children. An interesting resource is Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's book, "Raising the Spirited Child." You might see if he has some of the characteristics she describes and if this behavior is one of them.
Are you and the childcare provider pointing at the object? Both my boys--2 and 5--have issues with pointing. My five year old just finally figured out how to follow my finger through the air to where the object is. And, come to think of it, yesterday my husband told my 2 yo to throw something in the garbage, which was literally touching his knees. He could NOT find it, even though he regularly throws things away. I would say it should improve, but that as it is now, it's probably not a huge problem unless it gets worse.
My daughter does that on occasion she is also a little over two, i have seen it several times for the past few weeks...
it never bothered me, since I know that happens to me too... I can spend an hour looking for my keys, when they hang in the exact same spot as they always do...
I think they just have a lot of things on their little minds at this age and everything needs to be immediate or warrants a meltdown...
My son just turned 2 and he does that sometimes, but I don't think he has a vision problem either. Usually when I point out whatever he's looking for, he sort of laughs at himself. I consider it the kid version of when you're looking for the car keys only to find they were in your hand the whole time.
Try to get your son to slow down and look harder when he's getting upset about something, and maybe he will figure it out and the problem will stop. Or if he's far-sighted, his distance vision could be perfect but things up close are blurry. Definitely mention it to the doctor, and if you're still worried, find an eye doctor that sees young children.
