Eye-rest games: 20-20-20 for kids who won't sit still for it
Aylara A.
Kids' teacher · founder of AylaraTalks
The 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds — is excellent advice that no seven-year-old will follow as advice. As a game with a safari, a race and a song, it follows itself.
Far-focus games
- Window safari — 20 seconds at the window: 'Hunt for something moving… something green… something tiny!' Report back in English.
- Far-near race — point at the farthest thing you can see, then the nearest; name both. Five rounds.
- Room I-spy — one round of I-spy played entirely OFF screen, in the child's room.
Blink and palm games
- Blink song — blink to the rhythm of the hello song's chorus. Silly, effective, done.
- Warm palms — rub hands hot, cup them over closed eyes for a 10-count in English. Darkness + warmth = reset.
- Butterfly eyes — 'Blink as softly as a butterfly lands.' The gentleness instruction prevents scrunching.
⭐ Take this with you
Eye care that survives childhood is eye care disguised as safari, race and song. Two eye games per online lesson — their optometrist will never know whom to thank.
🎈 Put it into play
Everything here pairs with our free classroom games — no prep, no accounts.
About the author
Aylara A.
Kids' teacher · founder of AylaraTalks
Aylara is a kids' teacher who spent years hand-making every classroom game — cutting cards and drawing boards on paper sheets. She created AylaraTalks so no teacher has to start from a blank page again.