SIX PRACTICAL WAYS TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO WEAR PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES

Many people have to wear prescription eyeglasses at different stages of their lives. It is an easier task for adults to wear them without being reminded or encouraged consistently.  Children, however, may need to be cajoled and reminded constantly to wear their new glasses, as it is only natural that they would be unwilling to wear something everyone else does not have to wear.

There are many ways to encourage children to wear their prescription eyeglasses. Besides promising treats and rewards here and there, there are practical steps parents can take to ensure kids’ eyeglasses are worn regularly to correct their vision problems.

INVOLVE THE CHILD

The need for kids' eyeglasses in the first place is to correct an eye defect [SP1] the child has. It is important for the child to know and understand this to be a part of the process of having the defect corrected. Naturally, kids will have many questions. Talk freely to your kids about the worries or questions they might have about wearing eyewear for the first time. This will ease the transition into wearing glasses all the time.

This could involve fun research about their glasses, asking the doctor and making choices together. Your child might only consider the negative aspects of getting eyeglasses, so it’s important to talk to them about the benefits of kids’ eyewear:  movies will be clearer, their favourite stories will be more fun to read, and their new glasses can be a great fashion accessory.

ALLOW THEM TO CHOOSE THEIR FRAME

One basic step is to involve your child in the process of selecting a frame for the eyeglasses This is a particularly important part because - that way, your child feels like he or she played a part in making a big decision about their prescription eyeglasses. They may also feel like they have a say, and it is a choice that is unanimously agreed upon. This way, your child is more likely to wear the eyeglasses, and he/she would feel more comfortable around friends and be more eager to wear his or her eyeglasses throughout the day without being told to.

This step also involves ensuring that the frame is age-appropriate, safe and comfortable. Parents should also suggest colours and styles as they may deem fit.

TINY AND CONSISTENT BABY STEPS

The necessity of wearing a pair of eyeglasses can be difficult to adjust to, even for adults, especially when it is recommended to be worn at all times. Parents should realize that it takes time to get used to this and have this in mind when helping a child adjust to a lifestyle where kids’ eyeglasses are necessary.

A parent may start with short periods of compulsory wearing of the pair of eyeglasses. Then, they can slowly build up to longer time spans until a child is fully used to wearing a pair of eyeglasses. It helps to incentivize them with treats from time to time.

MAKE IT COOL BY SHOWING THEM CELEBRITIES WHO WEAR GLASSES

Every child has someone they admire and see as super cool. These people are most often celebrities or characters. Children would automatically think an act is cool when someone who they see as cool is doing it. It would be a boost for children to see celebrities who just like them, wear eyeglasses. These people are not limited to celebrities. They could also be kids’ eyeglasses from books, movies, or TV shows. The list is endless.

CHECK THE FRAMES FROM TIME TO TIME

It is not uncommon to have frames become loose and less fitting after wearing them for a long period. In some cases, the lens becomes less effective and may be due for a change. It is important to check your child’s eyeglasses from time to time to see if there are any noticeable changes to be corrected.

If your kids ’eyewear has lenses that are ineffective, they would not be encouraged to wear the glasses, especially when a kid is being cajoled into wearing them in the first place. Uncomfortable lenses can also cause discomfort and aches.

No children will want to wear their eyeglasses if they’re too loose or uncomfortably tight. If you find that your kids’ eyeglasses aren’t fitting well, be sure to take them to your eye doctor’s office or local glasses provider to have him or her adjusted or fitted for new frames.

HAVE A SPARE

Apart from the obvious fact that kids’ eyeglasses get broken easily, it comes in handy when a child forgets their pair or misplaces it at some point. Also, since you can’t be with your kids every hour of the day, check-in with their teachers to make sure they’re wearing eyeglasses when they need to be. You can also have a spare pair with the teacher if necessary.

As a parent, display an encouraging and positive attitude about your child’s new look. Don’t just talk about how important glasses are for your child, but play up the fact that they now have a new, fun accessory or magic tool to help them see better and look cooler.

It is not helpful to turn wearing eyeglasses into a battle or constantly nag your child to wear the frames. Help your child understand that being able to see is a gift. Encourage and praise your child when they do wear their new frames, especially until wearing eyeglasses becomes second nature.

To read more articles, click here