**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with National Eye Health Week. National Eye Health Week is an annual campaign in the UK, promoted by Eye Health UK. For official information and to learn more about eye health, please visit the Eye Health UK website (www.visionmatters.org.uk).
Monday 21st - Sunday 27th September 2026
Understanding National Eye Health Week in EYFS & KS1
See clearly, learn happily! National Eye Health Week is a fantastic annual campaign in the UK, taking place from September 21st to 27th in 2026. Promoted by Eye Health UK, its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all. It highlights how looking after our eyes is crucial for our overall well-being and ability to learn.
For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this week provides a vital and practical theme for exploring senses, health, and personal care. It's about teaching children why their eyes are so important, how to protect them, and what happens when we visit the optician. This week offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about health and self-care both informative and fun.
Why Is Teaching About Eye Health Important for Young Children?
Integrating lessons about eye health into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) helps improve the understanding they have of their bodies, promoting self-care, and supporting their learning development. Good vision is fundamental to a child's ability to engage with their environment and access learning.
Learning Access: Good eyesight is crucial for reading, writing, drawing, and observing the world around them in the classroom and at home.
Safety Awareness: Understanding how to protect their eyes (e.g., from bright sun, sharp objects) helps prevent injuries.
Early Detection of Issues: Awareness of eye health can help spot potential vision problems early, which is vital for effective intervention.
Understanding the Senses: Focusing on eyes helps children learn about one of their key senses and how it helps them perceive the world.
Demystifying Eye Tests: Learning about optometrists and eye tests can reduce anxiety for children who might need their eyes checked.
Engaging Eye Health Activities for National Eye Health Week (0-7 Year Olds)
Make National Eye Health Week a truly insightful and engaging experience with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovery, protection, and understanding how our eyes work! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available.
Here's some inspiration for bringing eye health to life in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
"Keep Your Eyes Healthy!" Discussion: Start conversations about ways to keep eyes healthy, such as eating colourful fruits and vegetables, protecting them from the sun, and taking breaks from screens. Use our ‘Eye health - 'Keep your eyes healthy!' poster’ to guide the discussion.
Optometrist Role-Play: Set up an "Optometrist" or "Eye Doctor" role-play area. Use our ‘Optometrist dramatic role-play pack’. Provide toy glasses, eye charts (even simple picture ones), and pretend testing equipment. Children can take turns being the optometrist, patient, or assistant, learning about eye tests in a fun, non-threatening way.
Exploring Glasses: Discuss why some people wear glasses. Provide different types of glasses (toy or old, clean ones) for children to try on. Use our ‘Eye health - glasses - 2-piece puzzles’ for a fun matching activity, helping children recognize different styles of glasses.
Word Recognition & Vocabulary: Introduce key vocabulary related to eyes and eye health. Our ‘Eye health - word cards’ and ‘Eye health - word mat’ are excellent for expanding children's language.
Sensory Exploration (Sight): Blindfold children (if comfortable and supervised) and have them try to identify objects by touch or sound, then remove the blindfold and discuss how much easier it is with sight. Emphasize how precious their eyesight is.
"What Can You See?" Games: Play "I Spy" or other visual observation games to highlight how much information we gather with our eyes.
Drawing & Labelling Eyes: Provide mirrors for children to look at their own eyes, then draw and label the different parts (eyelid, pupil, iris, eyelashes).
Creative Movement: How Eyes Move: Explore how eyes move (up, down, side to side, round and round). Children can mimic these movements with their heads or fingers.
Sun Safety for Eyes: Discuss the importance of sunglasses and hats to protect eyes from the sun. You could also refer back to any general sun safety resources you have.
These activities offer great inspiration for making National Eye Health Week a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering an understanding of personal health, sensory awareness, and the importance of caring for our eyes.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Eye Health Week’
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
More Early Years Event Pages for September
Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children
Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!
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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Eye Health Week'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by Eye Health UK, which promotes this campaign. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this week. For official information and to learn more about eye health, please visit the Eye Health UK website at www.visionmatters.org.uk.
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