Nowadays, many parents are willing to spend a lot of money to let their children learn a musical instrument from an early age. On one hand, it is to cultivate their artistic temperament, and on the other hand, it is to acquire a special skill that will make them more competitive in their future studies. Among them, the piano has become the preferred choice for many parents. There have been reports online that "early piano practice in children can lead to myopia." Is this true? So why does learning the piano lead to myopia in children, and what are the causes of myopia? Let's find out together with the following explanation.
Does playing the piano really cause myopia?
Among children with myopia before the age of 8, myopia is mainly caused by the following 5 factors:
First, genetic factors: High myopia or pathological myopia may be hereditary.
Second, improper eye habits: such as walking or riding in strong light or sunlight while reading or writing.
Third, prolonged near-distance vision: incorrect sitting posture while reading, eyes too close to the book, excessive TV viewing time, etc.
Fourth, early or excessive exposure to electronic products: being exposed to mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic products from a young age.
Why does playing the piano make it easy to develop myopia?
The alternating black and white stripes are called gratings, and gratings provide significant stimulation to the eyes. The black and white keys on the piano are considered gratings. In addition, the dense sheet music can have a double impact on a child's vision.
In order to get ahead in the "starting line," many children start learning the piano at the age of 4. However, before the age of 6 is the golden period for the development of a child's eyeballs and it is a critical period that needs protection and guidance. Generally, after the age of 6, the development of the eyeballs is relatively stable, and it is better to start learning the piano at this time.
How can children learning the piano protect their eyes?
1. Enlarge the sheet music. The original printed version of the piano sheet music is usually small and dense, so it is better for parents to enlarge the sheet music using a larger font size for their children to use;
2. Adjust the lighting. The overhead light in the piano practice room should be turned on, and it is best to have an eye-friendly desk lamp specifically illuminating the sheet music.
3. Control the time. The duration of each piano lesson and practice session should be controlled between half an hour to one hour, and practicing 2-3 times a week is a reasonable frequency.
