10 Tips To Get Kids To Wear Their Glasses
October 31, 2024 • 1:57 PM
If you struggle to get your child to wear their prescription glasses, you’re not alone. Many kids take a while to adjust to their new specs, but with the tips listed below, you can help them feel comfortable and confident while wearing glasses.
Here are some of our favorite ways to get kids to wear their glasses:
1. Get Your Kids Involved in Glasses Shopping
Even if you’re a caregiver of younger children, you’ve probably noticed that they have big personalities and unique senses of style. Once you know how your kid likes to express themselves, you can encourage them further by letting them pick out their new glasses.
Including your kids in frame shopping is a fun family activity. It can also provide peace of mind knowing that you made a child-approved choice.
Browse the Base Frame and Top Frame options at Pair, and you’ll find a wide selection of styles your kid will love. The Top Frames are the stars of the show, turning an already stylish pair of glasses into something creative and customizable.
2. Make Sure the Glasses Fit Their Face Shape
Glasses aren’t one-size-fits-all, and if your child hesitates to wear theirs, it might be because they don’t fit correctly. Luckily, there are simple, quick ways to avoid this common problem.
When you take your child to the eye doctor, they’ll be sent home with a prescription card that should include the ideal measurements for their frames. If not, you can get these measurements at home using a ruler or tape measure.
At Pair, we include the dimensions of all our kids’ glasses and adult frames in our shop, making it easy to find exactly what you need. If your child’s pair doesn’t fit properly, you can always send it back and have it replaced, thanks to our 30-day free return policy.
If the measurements are correct, but the glasses still don’t fit, it might be time to make some smaller, manual adjustments. For example, if your child wears glasses with nose pads, they might need to be loosened or tightened by hand for a better fit. Acetate frames (which we offer at Pair) don’t include these nose pads, which makes them more likely to fit right out of the box.
3. Introduce Glasses Slowly
In some cases, wearing glasses for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially for younger kids. If your child doesn’t take to their new frames right away, start them out a little slower by having them wear their glasses for a few hours at a time. Once the frames feel normal, your kid will feel prepared to wear glasses all the time.
If your child needs to start wearing glasses all the time and right away because of a heavy-duty prescription, you can still help them get used to the change by encouraging them and letting them know they’re doing a great job.
Remind them that big changes are hard for everyone — even big kids and adults — and that it’ll start to feel normal in no time.
4. Be a Role Model With Your Eye Care Routine
If your child feels insecure about their new glasses, one of the best ways to help is by confidently wearing your own glasses. If you normally wear contacts, consider picking up Base Frames from Pair to give them some extra support as they transition into wearing glasses.
In addition, you can make your kid feel more confident by reminding them that plenty of cool, accomplished people (and fictional characters) wear specs, too. They’re in good company, and with glasses from Pair, the company gets even better.
5. Always Be Encouraging
Kids often feel self-conscious about wearing glasses, especially in tough stages of life, like middle school. Sometimes, glasses are the target of bullying, which can make kids even more hesitant to put on a pair.
Whether or not your child has dealt with bullying because of their glasses, you can help them feel more comfortable in their skin by reminding them that they look great. Encourage them to express themselves by wearing whatever style feels authentic, whether that means sleek, minimalist frames or a louder, bolder pair.
6. Make Glasses Part of Their Morning
Eventually, wearing glasses will become second nature for your kid, but not always right away. Teaching your child to make a habit of putting on their glasses will make it easy for them to prioritize their eye health over time.
If they struggle to remember their glasses, consider surprising them with Top Frames they’ll love. If they’re a Star Wars fan, our Star Wars collection features designs from a galaxy far, far away. If they love the Wizarding World, there are Harry Potter styles for them, as well.
Giving your kids the gift of exciting glasses will help them develop the habit of wearing them regularly. Additionally, leaving a sticky note on their bathroom mirror with a reminder can work wonders.
7. Reward Younger Kids
If you have a younger child — a four- or five-year-old, for example — who struggles to wear their glasses consistently, small rewards like stickers or extra screen time can be forms of positive reinforcement. This system doesn’t work as well for older kids, but it can be a major motivator for little ones.
One of the best ways to help young kids wear their glasses daily is using a reward chart. You can mark down every day your child remembers to put on their glasses, then give them a prize for a full week of wear. It’s a simple, fun way to let them know that it’s worth it to put on those specs.
8. Get Your Child’s Eyes Checked Annually
If your child has recently started complaining about their glasses hurting their eyes or being uncomfortable, they might be overdue for a pediatric eye exam.
With the busy life of a parent, it’s easy to forget to take your kids to the optometrist. However, remembering to schedule those appointments is worthwhile. A yearly eye exam gives you peace of mind knowing that your kids have healthy eyes and provides you with updated prescriptions for new glasses if needed.
Your kids’ eyes change over time, and their prescription might increase as they age. Glasses that aren’t strong enough can cause uncomfortable vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness) and eye strain, so it’s always smart to stay on top of regular appointments.
It’s also worth mentioning that some kids might need to visit a healthcare provider, such as an ophthalmologist, more often than once a year. If your child has any type of eye condition or has an extra-strong prescription, they may benefit from several checkups per year. An optician can give you helpful guidance on this front.
9. Talk to Their Teachers
If you have a young child who needs to wear their eyeglasses at school to help with close-up vision or distance vision (hyperopia, aka farsightedness), you may want to let their teachers know. Extra support at school will help you keep your child’s routine consistent even when a family member isn’t around to remind them.
10. Let Them Try Contacts
Many kids feel more comfortable with glasses than contacts. Contact lenses can be challenging for young kids to put in, and they’re often recommended for teens. However, once your kids reach a certain age, you might want to ask them if they’re interested in contacts to address poor vision.
At Pair, we’re not huge fans of contacts for kids, especially little ones. However, we are big fans of giving your kids the freedom to choose how they want to look. Sometimes, that means allowing them to switch from glasses to contacts — or swapping between both throughout the week!
Glasses for Kids (and Adults!) at Pair
Pair makes it easy for kids and adults to remember to put on their glasses. Our Top Frames are bold, vibrant, and colorful, helping you stand out in a crowd and express yourself.
If your kids are having trouble remembering to wear their glasses, check out our selection. With so many options, they’re sure to find a style that makes them want to wear their glasses all the time.
Shop our full selection of Top Frames today.
Sources:
What Is Bullying | StopBullying.gov
What Is an Ophthalmologist vs Optometrist? - American Academy of Ophthalmology