Encouraging Children: First Pair of Glasses

Finding out your child needs glasses can be a difficult experience. Some parents might feel sad that their child's eyesight is not perfect. Others may worry about how their child will adapt to this change in their life. Christine Misener, a doctor of optometry, has helped many parents encourage their children to wear their glasses and ensure that they're comfortable.

Dr. Misener recommends the following tips to help your child adapt to their new glasses:

• Let your child pick the frame style and colour – while they still need to be properly fitted by an optometrist, make sure they're happy with their choice and are excited to put them on.

• Buy them a book to help them accept the idea of wearing glasses, like:

• Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg,
• What Can Pinky See? By Lucy Cousins, and
• Pearl and Wagner: Four Eyes by Kate McMullan.

• Inform your child's teacher when their glasses should be worn in school.

• Share photos and stories of some of their favourite characters who wear glasses, such as Arthur, Superman's Clark Kent, Harry Potter, Spongebob Squarepants and Spiderman's Peter Parker.

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