New Reader - How Close should they hold a book?

[frugalmama]

My DD just started really reading today - books rather than a word here and there. It seems to me she wants to hold the book really close - around 6 inches from her face. Isn't that a bit close? Or is it because she is new to reading? She can read from 10 inches or so but mixes letters up worse at that distance.

I started wearing glasses at a young age FWIW and am now nearly legally blind without glasses. She hasn't had an eye exam since she was about a year old {one of the INFANTSEE exams} and nothing was found at the time except that her eyes were extremely light sensitive.

Should I take her in for an eye exam with a regular eye doc? I know here in the Public Schools they do exams in K {DD is doing K work a year early}, but I'm not sure whats open to us as home schoolers.

[PGTlatte]

If my child knew the letters, but was mixing them up at a distance of ten inches and the print was large and dark, I would be concerned.  I would go for an eye exam - preferably with a developmental optometrist. 

http://www.covd.org/

What I learned from ours is that it is biologically normal for preschool-aged kids to be farsighted.  It is not recommended to put them in glasses for near vision at this age unless they are clearly outside of what is normal for their age group.  Large, dark print is appropriate for young kids.  However if she needs to be super close to read it, there may be issues.  I would want to get it checked out.   But I would only want it done by someone who had extra training regarding vision in young children.

[Marsupialmom]

That would bother me. With you questioning it I would have her tested.

Eye test are not complicated or that hard. They can be fun. Just do a little research on opthamologist in your area. One that has more familiar with kids her ages is best.