The surprising link between your child's vision, behavior, and screen time with Dr. Meenal Agarwal

What if your child's difficulty focusing, struggles with reading, or even some of their behavioral challenges had something to do with their vision, even if they can see perfectly well? In this episode, I sit down with optometrist and author Dr. Meenal Agarwal to explore the fascinating connection between our eyes, our brains, and the way children experience the world around them.

Together we explore:

• Why having 20/20 vision doesn't necessarily mean your child's visual system is functioning optimally.

• The surprising ways undetected vision difficulties may show up as inattention, learning struggles, or behavioral challenges.

• Why some children can see perfectly clearly but still experience eye strain that makes it harder to focus at school.

• What screens may be replacing in your child's development, and why that matters just as much as how much time they're spending on them.

• The fascinating science behind why spending time outdoors can help protect your child's eyesight.

• What parents may be overlooking during routine eye exams, and the important questions worth asking your optometrist.

• Simple, playful ways to support your child's visual development, spatial awareness, and brain health without adding more to your parenting to-do list.

• A refreshing shift in how we approach screen time that can reduce power struggles and make room for more connection, movement, and play.

Whether you're concerned about your child's screen time, wondering if their attention or learning difficulties could have a visual component, or simply curious about how to support their development, this conversation will change the way you think about vision and give you practical ideas you can start using at home.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 Dr. Meenal Agarwal

📚 Stuck in a Flat World: How Screens Rewire Our Brains, Spatial Awareness, and Sense of Safety

📱@dr.meenalagarwal

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:

🔗 Dr. Sarah Bren

🔗 Check out my group practice, Upshur Bren Psychology Group, offering therapy and coaching for individuals, children, parents, and families

📱IG: @drsarahbren

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

👉 At Upshur Bren Psychology Group, we take a holistic approach to understanding children and their families. Whether it's vision and sensory processing, emotional regulation, learning differences, or family dynamics, we recognize that a child's behavior is often just one piece of a much bigger picture. Our team offers individual and family therapy, psychological evaluations, and parent coaching to help families better understand what's going on beneath the surface and find support that fits their unique needs. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services or schedule a free 30-minute consult call to find the right support for your family.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how understanding our child's sensory sensitivities can help us strength their emotional intelligence with Alyssa Blask Campbell

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about developing emotional intelligence in the middle years with Alyssa Blask Campbell

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about why kids remember more when they write by hand with Dr. Audrey van der Meer