October is Children’s Vision Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight our heartwork, the Fit To Read Project. I created The Fit To Read Project in 2018 as a way to connect books with kids, and to raise awareness about children’s vision issues and the vital connection between vision and learning.
Approximately 80% of what a child learns in school is presented visually, and for children with undetected vision problems, this can make reading, classroom learning, and even day-to-day confidence much more difficult. As an optometrist, I see first-hand how improving a child’s vision can spark not only better school performance, but also greater self-esteem and a stronger love of learning.
Reading, too, is about more than academics. Books bring peace, focus, imagination, and joy—and they’re a cornerstone of wellness for both kids and adults. That’s why the ultimate goal of the Fit To Read Project is to connect children with books and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
To make this possible, we collect new and gently used books all year long and donate them to Calgary Reads and other incredible partner organizations focused on improving literacy outcomes for children in our community. We’re so grateful to everyone who has contributed to our project over the years and helped us to change over 6000 little lives (and counting). If you have books you would like to donate to our project, drop them off at Sphere Optometry and help us share the joy of reading with kids in our community!
With love,
Dr. Danielle
Sphere Optometry + Wellness
