Does your DCs school allow sunglasses?

[LynetteScavo]

I like my DC to wear sunglasses outside when it's very sunny, as it has been the past couple of days, to protect them from UV rays.

DD (6) tells me I have to send in a letter to say I want her to wear her sunglasses, otherwise she's not allowed to wear them (no problem, I can write a letter, and will say why I want her to wear them, as well as a hat) just thought it was a bit odd).

A teacher friend tells me children at her school aren't allowed to wear sunglasses, but she didn't know why not.

Just wondered what is normal.

Because they will all get lost or broken, and then parents will moan.

My brother was wearing sunglasses on holiday, aged 6. He tripped over, fell on his face, glasses smashed and cut above his eye. He needed a fair few stitches but could very easily have lost his eye. The playground is for running around, chasing playing football, etc. Much safer to wear a cap to keep sun out of eyes - most schools sell them as part of their uniform.

Because they don't stay on very well when running around the playground/field

Because only "decent" sunglassess are actually effective, children's ones generally not coated sufficiently and actually allow more UV rays to enter dilated pupils

Because children will "swap" sunglasses, along with anything ele that comes to hand!

Because half a dozen pairs will be left over at the end of playtime with no-one claiming them

We say no to sunglasses. I don't know what the official reason is, but some kids would turn up with designer pairs which would inevitably go missing or get lost, then we'd get irate parents.

So what's the difference between those and children who have to wear proper glasses.

Can understand the argument about cheapo ones that don't work and a disclaimer for them getting lost.

our school allows sun glasses for children with hayfever

Do they help hayfever as dd suffers. I get hayfever but have always worn normal or prescription sunglasses.

My child school wuld be the opposite. On hot sunny days they are made to wear jackets and on cold winter days they are allowed out whatever way they want. Some schools just lack common sense. I think a sun hat that shades their face wuld mayb b a better option as u can write their name on it n it wont get lost or stolen or broken.

Not allowed at dd's school. DD hates not wearing sunglasses on sunny days so it's a struggle to convince her to leave them at home.

Proper glasses tend to be fitted and are more secure than sunglasses which are generally bought " off the peg"

Ah right I see. I've never worn off the peg sunglasses so didn't realise it made a difference.

Not allowed but it's so slack about uniforms generally that they wore them in anyway. I won't complain if they get lost or expect the teacher to look for them.

One difficulty is that, whilst some parents will buy decent, coated sunglassess which do a good job, have safety lenses and fit accurately, many will buy cheap " fashion" glasses which do the opposite! You can't have one rule for decent sunglasses and another for fashion versions so many schools ban them completely ( along with the mentioned difficulties of lost/misplaced ones!)

OK, I'm beginning to see the other side. As I have 3 glasses wearing DC, one who wears them for almost all sports, I've never been too worried about them smashing them in the face. Or fitting properly. They constantly seem to bend them out of shape and there's only so many times a week I can get into town to have them straightened.

It totally didn't occur to me that some people would let their children wear glasses without proper protection, as i'm quite fussy about these things.

Does anyone know which children's sunglasses company used to advertise on MN? They had some really funky styles, but I can't remember what they are called.

sunglasses are encouraged , along with hats and sunscreen at DS's school.

We MTA's did spend the first few really hot sunny days fishing sunglasses out of the hedge and a few pairs have been lost for ever, but MOST children who wear them keep hold of them during lunch hour.