The visual system of children must be routinely examined by the pediatrician. Speed, skill and diagnostic abilities will increase quickly as the examination techniques described here are practiced on a daily basis. When parents recognize that the pediatrician is also concerned about their child's visual health and development, they will play a more active role in obtaining crucial family ocular history, note ocular changes that otherwise may be ignored, and, if indicated, participate in the referral and treatment process to avoid life-long visual consequences.