Dictionary For Dads

Ten percent of children wear glasses in America. Many individuals who started wearing glasses as a child or in their early teens have experienced some teasing or hounding from other children at school. If not then they have witnessed it in their classrooms or on television. The reality is it is not unusual for children to feel insecure about wearing glasses as any slight difference in appearance can make them feel like an outsider. In addition prior to being prescribed glasses many children have witnessed or even partaken in making fun of other children with glasses. 

When a parent notices their child having vision problem it is their responsibility to have their child evaluated and prescribed glasses. It is also the parents responsibility to and provide ongoing support. This is essential to your child being able to gain an education.

Parents should educate their children about the commonality of wearing prescription glasses and advise their children that glasses do not make them any less or more of a person.  However, there is always some child in the crowd that will not be sensitive to this issue and may make negative comments about a peer who is wearing glasses. The fact is that children are not always nice and do use phrases and name calling such as geek, four eyes, dweeb, goofy etc. These behaviors can contribute to a child developing a negative self image or social insecurity if they are not provided the ongoing support, education and skill attainment in managing social situations, fears and anxieties.

                        Tips on dealing with this issue:

• Make sure that you are part of the process when it is time to choose glasses. This process should be experienced as something exciting and not a mundane chore. A good idea is to involve a couple of their friends and to let them know that glasses actually can make you look good. For example, point out that many of their celebrity or sports idols probably wear glasses.

• There are probably a couple of stereotypes or name-calling issues troubling your child, such as “only geeks wearing glasses”. Your task is to help them deal with those and dispel any falsehoods.

• Make the process of choosing glasses all about your child. It is important that they are the ones deciding upon a pair of glasses as they are ultimately the ones wearing them on a daily basis.

• Let your kids know the value of taking proper care of the glasses. This can add an air of authority to the process, as they are being given a sense of responsibility, or a sense of growing up.

Even though you have followed the above tips, your child could still not be all too enthusiastic wearing glasses. The other solution is to look into contact lenses. A recent study funded by Johnson&Johnson, show that most young people feel more confident while wearing contact lenses. The study, which lasted for almost three years, analyzed surveys filled in by close to 500 children, aged between 8 and 11. While wearing contact lenses these children felt more socially accepted and experienced improved athletic ability in addition to increased self-esteem.

It is advisable to discuss these this options with your children as well as with your eye doctor. Browse the market for available glasses or types of contact lenses to find contacts that match the need of your child.