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 | “They can catch a ball — surely their vision is fine?”

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’ – “How did I not notice this sooner?”

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 …. ]

And then suddenly…You’re choosing glasses for your 4-year-old 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!?

You’re Not Alone (And It Gets Easier)

If this sounds familiar — you’re not the only one.

The reality is, most kids adapt to glasses far quicker than we expect. To them, it’s not a big life shift — it’s just something new. In fact, many take to it like a duck to water.

What Actually Matters (When Choosing Glasses)

There’s a lot of pressure to “get it right” — but focusing on a few key things makes all the difference:

✔ Let them choose (within reason)

If they love them, they’re far more likely to wear them.

✔ Prioritise comfort and fit

• Eyes centred in the lens
• Sitting gently on the nose
• Not too big (they won’t “grow into them” properly)

✔ Choose durability

Kids are tough on everything. Flexible frames and spring hinges help.

The Reality: What Parents Actually Deal With

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!

Glasses keep falling off

Cartwheels, playgrounds, everyday play — they don’t stay put.

Glasses keep slipping down

Up they go… down they slide… all day long.

Glasses go missing

Out the door, into the car… and suddenly they’re gone.

Glasses don’t get worn

If they’re uncomfortable or frustrating, kids simply won’t keep them on.

The Simple Fix: Make Glasses Easy to Wear

This is where most families struggle — and where small changes make a big difference. Because it’s not just about having glasses…It’s about making them work in real life.

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 (This Part Matters Most)

For kids, glasses can feel like a big change — but they don’t have to be a negative one.

You can help by:

• Keeping things positive and normal
• Letting them feel involved and in control
• Showing them role models (books, TV, characters)

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.

From One Parent to Another

The transition to glasses often happens quickly — and not always with much warning. But with the right approach (and a few practical tools), it becomes just another part of everyday life. That’s exactly why we created Little Grippers — to help parents make glasses easier, more comfortable, and far less of a daily battle.

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💚 You’ve Got This