Choosing Glasses for Kids: Share your tips for helping children adjust to glasses - £200 voucher to be won

[BellaMumsnet]

We all know that getting the right pair of glasses for our little ones can be a big step. Whether it's their first pair or just a style upgrade, helping kids feel comfortable and confident wearing their glasses can be a journey.

How did you help your child settle into wearing glasses? Whether it's picking the right style, easing into wearing them full time, or even keeping them safe and clean - we’d love for you to share your advice.

• Share your tips and tricks on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher

Here’s what Specsavers has to say:

“We know that wearing glasses is about so much more than just being able to see properly and understand that being told you need them can be an emotional experience for children (as well as parents)! Some kids are excited about wearing glasses and others are a bit nervous. Our experts in store can offer you lots of tips and advice on helping your children adjust to wearing them to make sure they have clear, comfortable vision.”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

We didn't make a big thing of it. Dc1 was picked up in reception screening and then needed patches and glasses. Both DH and I are glasses wearers so it was just normal really.

Since then we've done regular checks for all the DC. Having their eye test is as normal.as the worst regular dental check up and the prospect of glasses has never been scary.

Not cracked keeping them clean and safe yet. Despite always providing cases and so on at age 17 my dc still puts them on the floor by his bed overnight and is still amazed when they get occasionally trodden on and broken. I'm not sure how he sees out of them either.

Urgh. On the app and can't edit. Not the worst dental check up, just a regular dental check up!

Make it a positive experience. There is plenty of choice now and 'bendy frames' seem to be standard, making them practical and less likely to break. Reading Harry Potter books definitely helped DS to be happy about wearing specs!

My 12 year old now needs glasses. He’s very fashion conscious so wanted a nice pair, the staff at Specsavers were very patient as he tried on about fifty pairs!
So I would advise being patient while they choose a pair they love.

Both of my children wear glasses. Both were very different when they first began wearing glasses. My oldest was reluctant so letting her choose the frames and try lots on helped. She loved the character ones in Specsavers. My youngest actually wanted to ask Father Christmas for ‘clear’ glasses before she needed them (she was the only one in the family without them for a while!) As a teacher, I always comment positively when I see new glasses. The children seem to really appreciate it and you can see their confidence grow with a positive comment.

Helping my child adjust to glasses was all about making it fun! We let them pick a frame they loved, which gave them ownership and excitement. Starting with shorter periods of wearing them and gradually increasing helped too. We also made a game out of keeping them clean, so they felt responsible. Now, they see their glasses as part of their personality, not just something they 'have to wear.' It’s been a positive experience!

Helping my child adjust to glasses was all about making it fun! We let them pick a frame they loved, which gave them ownership and excitement. Starting with shorter periods of wearing them and gradually increasing helped too. We also made a game out of keeping them clean, so they felt responsible. Now, they see their glasses as part of their personality, not just something they 'have to wear.' It’s been a positive experience!

My tips would be spend time picking frames which they like - not you, they have to wear them, and it's so important that you make the right choice, they will be part of your child's life for years (I know from personal experience of getting NHS one's as a child and never wore them at school - my eyes got worse andn my schoolwork suffered). Look into insuring the glasses for damage, so repairs are not so expensive.

The NHS ones were AWFUL. They also were obviously cheap and really gross designs, I remember people being bullied at school because of them.

Going for a colour that is one you wear a lot or that at least features in a frame if multicoloured is a good idea. I would go for a pair for school that matched the uniform and a pair for best. I would also offer a treat on the day, ice cream or hot chocolate depending on the weather. Then go home and if young children read their favourite book to them showing a practical reason as to why their life will be better now. I went to spec savers recently and they offered a free basic hearing test, so was really pleased. Getting older still excellent hearing, can hear DH annoying me through walls still :)

Before any eye test visit a few and decide who has the best selection before making an appointment. Make an appointment well in advance as if you want one out of school hours then you can ofter have quite a wait.

My tips would be to allow plenty of time for your DC to try on lots of frames and really feel happy with their choice, it is something that they will be wearing for a long time. Try to take any stress away from the experience. Take them for a treat afterwards. It's a beg event for them and they will be confused about the change.

I'd help them adjust to glasses by helping choose ones which are lightweight, and have a decent size lense to they are not looking over them. I'd start wearing my glasses more too, (contact lens wearer)

My tip is to buy a spare pair (often offers on at opticians) we have had so many dislogged lenses and twisted frames which need a repair.

I would help adjust by looking on-line for glasses, I would go through with them what an eye test would entail, and I would ask them if they had any worries about wearing glasses, and speak to their teacher if then did.

I think letting them know how much their life could improve by being able to see clearly and have no fuzzy edges, how cool they would look in glasses - look through the website and choose together - make it a positive experience.

My tips - buy a parking ticket with enough time - it's not an experience you should rush.

My son used to like the little glasses charms that you can buy to put on the arms of the glasses - little cars and rockets and things. They made him go from not wanting to wear his glasses to being excited to put them on for the day.

We were just prescribed glasses, and he's only 2,5. I was really scared what this will do to him and if his eyes can get worse. We went to optician and we tried several frames, till we found the one fitting him best. As well the flexible handles frame where you (nearly) can not break the handles is the best, as he is pulling it that much, he would probably break it in a day. Now we are doing it little by little, until he gets used to it.

This would depend on whether they were long or short sighted - my DS was short sighted and he wore his glasses for the TV at home, then progressed to wearing them just for the classroom - I always remind him to put them in his case - which we have decorated with football stickers - he likes that.

A book on glasses and how they can help you see with a quiet time picked with no stress to pick and no siblings.

Definitely let them choose the pair they want - let them feel empowered and they will get excited about having a new accessory!

Definitely positivity around glasses and as much choice re frames/look as possible.

Help them adjust by acting normally around them, they will be self concious of their new look, let them take the lead in adjusting - and if they have siblings - them not to tease or stare and the new glasses - one throwaway comment can do a lot of damage to this process.

Lots of great tips - I would add that a second pair would be essential for WHEN they loose, sit on, sprain or scratch a pair. Get a good case with the glasses to help prevent some of the potential issues.