Hi, My toddler girl, who just turned 2 is very cautious walking up and down stairs...she really takes her time. She is not much of a climber or risk taker on jungle gyms. She is very careful going up and down even small steps. She also seems to be confused when she is walking on unfamiliar ground and there is a change in the texture. For example, going from concrete to grass. She'll slow down and become afraid that she might fall. She usually asks to be carried (which we resist doing) or for mommy or daddy's hand at this point. She also hesitates when walking up and down ramps. She'll do it, but it's a slow process if it's a new place. Yet, the ramp at the mall that she goes to weekly, she's a pro at! I haven't noticed and visual problems. And she did have a one year eye check, which was normal. Yet, could this be a depth perception problem? If so, might anyone have any recommendations. Or is this her personality...to be very cautious on unfamiliar ground? Once she walks or runs in a different environment a few times over, she's fine because she is familiar with it. For example, she runs wild on the soccer field because she "knows it" and goes to class every week. But, I'm still concerned? Thank you for any suggestions or insight you might have!
Great advice! I'm hoping this will be something she'll grow out of...yet it's best to double check things. My daughter has had her eyes checked at one year by an eye specialist and everything was fine. But, I will request another check. Our pediatrician checks her eyes as well at each appointment. Yet he ,has not noticed any problems. However, I had a "lazy" right eye as a child, so maybe this could be the problem. I will follow up soon:) Thanks SO much!
I have the feeling she is just being caustious. Keep taking her to the eye doc every year and he'll notice anything out of the ordinary. Some kids are just not risk takers. Good luck!!
It sounds like she just has a cautious nature. There is certainly nothign wrong with that. You can always ask your doctor to check her for vision problems again, I am not sure how they test for depth perception. Just let her take her time to get comfortable in a new place or situation, for some children that is very important and if you lose patience and make them hurry or pick them up and carry them it will lead to a tantrum. Be reassuring when she seems worried about new surroundings, and there is nothing wrong with holding her hand and walking with her, or kneeling down and helping her to feel the different textures and talk about what they are. The world can be a confusing place for a two year old and reassuring them that they are safe is important.
I am writing to you just to give you my experience in a similar situation. My daughter seemed a little clumsy at age 2, so I took her to the eye doctor. He got very frustrated and said to bring her back in a year. I did, but the doctor could find nothing wrong. He wasn't sure about it, though, and said to come back when she was 4. I brushed it off, thinking I was being a worrying mother. Well, when she was 17 she went to get her drivers license and we found out she could not see out of one eye. We took her to an eye specialist who said she had ambliopia (lazy eye) but that her eye had never wandered, so she was never diagnosed. She was not doing well in school, at this point and had to quit art class (her talent) because she couldn't understand perspective.So, I am offering this advice. Find a really good children's
eye specialist and make sure there is nothing wrong with her vision.
This could be a proprioceptive or vestibular problem. I know those are unfamiliar words, but they have to do with sensory issues that can be related to vision, personal awareness, or physical awareness issues. The best way I can describe it is to refer you to this site: http://www.out-of-sync-child.com/. The author of these books talks a lot about these sensory issues. My child was very similar to yours in these ways, and this book has helped me know how I can help him. I hope this helps you and gives you some insight. Also, it could be that she'll need vision therapy -- which is different than passing an eye exam. A therapist will help your child learn how to use her vision to help her get through those depth perception issues. If you can help her now, then she will have fewer problems in school later on. If you are concerned more about some of these issues, you can always have her tested by your local early intervention programs. If she qualifies, it's free to you, and VERY helpful! The point of the programs is to help these children be ready for school -- something every parent can use.
This is very normal. My daughter was very cautious of things and always thought things through very thoroughly. She was my first child so I got a little irritated at her but she is now a senior in high school getting ready to leave for college in the fall and I am so excited for her. I don't think that if she didn't think things through to such an extent she would not be where she is now. She got over the walking issues after about six monthes, but she always was a very strong independent thinker. I would just suggest to you that you should embrace the fact that you have a very wonderful child who thinks things out to the very end and is very contientous. It will be pay off if you just feed her creativity. Make suggestions and do not give demands.
she could be having vision or depth perception problems, or maybe she's just a little timid. if you're worried though, ask your doctor for a referral to see Dr. Neica Caltrider. she is really great. she's a pediatric opthamologist. my daughter saw her for almost two years before we moved and we really miss her. our new doctor is terrible. good luck
My little girl did the same thing, especially with gridded floors, the grate on the second level at the play ground which she could see through, they all threw off her balance, as I thought it messed up her depth perception. This lasted a few months and she grew out of it. I wouldn't worry, as it was developmental for her, and I would imagine it is the same for yours.
The learning process is different for all kids.
Two things, one, my son is very cautious, too. He is now 4 1/2, and is finally going down all of the slides at the park, and running around like everyone else. Your daughter could be just cautious by nature. But if you are at all worried about sight, a great childrens eye doctor is Children's Eye Physicians, www.cepcolorado.com. They have a few offices around, I took my kids to the one by Park Meadows. My kids had no eye problems, but it was a big relief to be sure, by taking them there. They see kids from baby's on up.
My niece was exactly like that. We used to chuckle watching change from grass to concrete or carpet to tile. Any terrain change caused her to stop completely and carefully step over. My sister calls her "safety girl." She was always extra careful on stairs and sounds a lot like your little one. She is now 9 and completely normal. It sounds like more of a personality thing but you should take her to an eye doctor if you are worried.
Take her to a pediatric eye doctor specialist. We've experienced this with our nephew, who was born blind, had cataract surgeries, and can now see. Since she's exhibiting similar traits to our nephew who's vision-impaired, I'm thinking that you should check her vision with a specialist.
Signs to look for of depth perception issues would be her reaching too far or near to grab something, and such. This sounds to me more like a sesory thing. She may just be very sensitive to feels. How is she with new textures of clothing, things she feels with her hands, etc?
It wouldn't hurt to have her vision checked again, and you said your doc does it regularly, but there probably isn't much to be worried about there.
