Protecting Children’s Eye Health

With screens becoming a bigger part of our children’s lives, it’s more important than ever to understand how screen time affects their vision - especially their ability to see clearly at a distance.

Recent research shows that excessive screen time is linked to a rise in myopia (nearsightedness) in children. Close-up focus on tablets, phones, and laptops can strain young eyes and reduce their ability to focus on distant objects.

A 2024 study in BMC Public Health found that each additional hour of screen use increases the risk of myopia in children and teens. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-19113-5

 Recommendations to reduce eye strain and support healthy vision includes:

• Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Spend at least 2 hours outdoors each day
  Set screen time limits and encourage breaks
• Choose outdoor activities like bike riding, sports, or nature walks
• Use larger screens when possible and keep them at arm’s length
• Schedule regular eye exams

Mental Health Mini Expo

This year, we will be holding our inaugural Mental Health Community Expo on Friday the 10th of October from 8 a.m. – 9.30 a.m. We are excited to welcome representatives from community mental health groups onto our school grounds to support this year’s theme “Empowering Communities, Thriving Workforces”.  Our expo will highlight mental health supports available in the school and the wider community.

Parent Input Classes 2026

As part of our process in forming classes for 2026, we welcome your input via this form. Whilst no request is guaranteed, we do our best to take into consideration the information shared.  If you have multiple children attending New Farm, please complete a separate form for each one.