A Parent’s Guide to Introducing their Children to Glasses

Parenthood is an unpredictable journey filled with surprises, and one such twist may be when your child’s eye specialist recommends glasses. While it’s entirely normal for kids to need glasses, the transition can stir up a whirlwind of emotions and pose unique challenges for both parents and their little ones. We may worry about our child’s vision, while children might feel self-conscious or hesitant about wearing glasses.

How it started

Our journey started following a B4 vision and hearing check at Kindy, which recommended our child has a follow-up eye test.

DENIAL | Our wee guy can catch and hit a ball OK, so surely he doesn’t need glasses?

And it didn’t take long before I saw why he was referred for a follow-up eye test, as he sat in the ophthalmologists chair, strangely turning his lead to look out of the very outside corner of one eye to see the cake icon on the screen.

GUILT | “Mom guilt” – a name given to the feelings of guilt and shame mother’s feel when they don’t live up to their own or others’ expectations in their role as a parent. How did I miss this!

Turns out, Charlie has Amblyopia (or lazy eye). Amblyopia is the most common cause of poor vision in children. Amblyopia occurs because the part of the brain that deals with vision for that eye has failed to develop normally – Auckland Eye

[NOT READY YET!!! STILL PROCESSING …. ]

So, Charlie needs glasses, and we can choose the frames on the way out the door….

What colour does he want?
What glasses do you get a 4 year old, active, boy!?
Oh wait, can he actually see the colour?!
What shape should I get him?
Why is this so hard to pick a pair of glasses for a kid!!?
What if he wont wear them?
What if the kids give him a hard time?

What IF your child takes to it like a duck to water!?

Like a Duck to Water

And before you know it, you’re on this journey, whether you are still wrestling with your internal monologue or not. 😊 If you’re anything like me, then hopefully this story helps you realise that you are not alone. Its definitely a transition, but if you can keep everything normal, then everything will settle down, and they really do seem to take to it like a duck to water. Afterall, they dont know any different! Just another super power to add to your kids arsenal.

But, there are some things that can make this process easier! (Read On)

Choosing an Optometrist/Ophthalmologist?

By the time most people read this article, they will have already stumbled in to an optometrist or specialist ophthalmologist. But if you haven’t, then consider your options, especially if you have Health Insurance with Specialist cover.

If you are fortunate to have Health Insurance with specialist cover in NZ, then look for an eye clinic with ophthalmological services as you may be able to claim for your visit and glasses.

If you’re in CHCH, I recommend THE FAMILY EYE CENTRE, who specialise in diagnosis and treatment with on-site ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, and technicians to manage diabetic retinal screening. And they are amazing with kids! I have also heard good things about ANSTICE OPTOMETRISTS

Choosing Glasses

Let them chose their frames (within reason).

To help them really enjoy wearing their glasses, involve your child in selecting their frames. Lets face it, they’ll love them more than any pair you decide on, and they’ll feel proud to wear the frames they’ve picked out. 😊 Having said that, the ones they would choose may not actually be the best option. Easiest way is to try some on, and ask them which ones are not very comfy and discard those. From the remaining options, pick the two you like the best, then let them have the final choice.

When it comes to fit, your optometrist should be able to point you in the right direction. But from a parent’s perspective, your child is much more likely to wear his or her glasses if they are comfortable and fit properly. So what are some things to consider?

Things to consider when selecting glasses for your child:

Eyes should be perfectly centered in the lens. If you can get that right, then you’re ahead of the game.
Glasses should sit gently on the bridge of the nose.
Durability. Kids can be rough on their belongings, so durability is essential. Opt for frames made from materials like acetate or plastic, which are sturdy and less likely to break. Spring hinges can also be a great feature as they allow the glasses to flex without snapping.
We often like to buy big so they get extra wear out of these expensive items, but in this instance, buy the glasses that fit now. As they grow their face changes, and by the time they “grow into” the frame, it will no longer fit due to changes in facial features.
And at the end of the day, if you cant get a perfect fit – especially with arm length – then there are accessories available! And that’s where we can help!

Accessories to make your life easier!

More often than not, despite your best intentions, when glasses are used in a child’s everyday life, sometimes the fit isn’t perfect. At Little Grippers we have curated a collection specifically to smooth the transition when starting glasses, and these are some of our favourites!

STRAPS

These are fantastic for active kids who love to play. Adjustable straps help keep glasses securely in place, preventing them from slipping or falling off during physical activities. .

EAR GRIPPERS

Again, if the glasses aren’t a perfect fit, then the glasses will more often than not slip down the bridge of the nose until the backs of the glasses grip behind the ears. Silicone EAR GRIPPERS are designed to sit behind the ear to stop the slip.

GLASSES CASE

Our neoprene glasses case with bag clip is an affordable, stylish and functional accessorie for kids glasses, particularly for school kids who may need to take their classes off during the school day, or for after school

GLASSES STAND

Keep your child’s glasses secure and stylish when not in use with our kids glasses stands, featuring a variety of cool designs that add a touch of personality while ensuring their glasses are always safe and easily accessible.

SWIM GOGGLES

My little one doesn’t need to swim with his glasses, but a mum recently told me that her girl does. They tried looking for prescription googles, but without success, so they wear their glasses, with a Little Grippers Strap.

If you are in NZ, and have a very standard prescription, there are very limited options available. For more information, try chatting with SWIM FUN.

CLEANING WIPES

I’m constantly amazed by the amount of gunk he gets stuck to his glasses. If you’re at home, rinse with dish liquid. If you’re out and about, then alcohol cleaning wipes are very handy, or a glasses cleaning solution you can use with your cloth!

Cleaning wipes are readily available at most pharmacies. You can pick up a box of 60pcs for $8.99 at Chemist Warehouse

Building Confidence

Remember that the journey to glasses is an opportunity to teach your child about self-acceptance and embracing their unique qualities.

Embrace role models

Books are great for helping children deal with big things. And getting glasses is a big deal for kids.

Reading a book where they can see someone that looks like them is a good way to help normalise the change, especially for the younger kids. And there are so many characters in both books and on tv/movies; there is guaranteed to be someone that they can resonate with.

New articles coming soon (Book Reviews & Character lists)

The transition to glasses often happens very quickly and often unexpectedly, so we hope our experience can help others starting their own journey with glasses and patching.

We have recently started Little Grippers NZ, to help parents access functional, fun and affordable accessories for kids glasses, to help smooth this transition.