Tricks to Get Toddlers to Wear Glasses

Many toddlers are resistant to wearing glasses.

Toddlers are notoriously stubborn and independent, and glasses can be a huge battleground. Young children who require glasses need them to remain safe, to prevent their eyesight from getting worse and to avoid developing conditions such as lazy eye, according to "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child." The fact that your child needs glasses may not make it any easier to convince her to wear them. There are several easy tricks you can use to get your child to wear her glasses.

Imitation and Modeling

The textbook "Child Psychology" explains that a hallmark of toddlerhood is the desire to imitate adults. Toddlers aspire to be older than they actually are and typically copy the behavior of their same sex parent. Girls imitate their mothers and boys imitate their fathers. If you wear glasses, use this as an opportunity to model how much fun glasses can be to your toddler. Allow her to pick out frames similar to your own. If you don't wear glasses, consider getting frames with non-prescription lenses. Show your toddler how many adults wear glasses and point to people in magazines and books who wear them.

Importance of Control

Toddlers crave control over their bodies and their surroundings. Neurologist Lise Eliot explains that the struggle for autonomy is an important part of toddlerhood. Although it may be tempting, avoid getting into a power struggle with your toddler over his glasses, and never force him to wear them. This will only make him want to wear them less. Instead, give him some control and help him get gradually acclimated. Tell him, "Let's try wearing glasses for an hour today. When today do you want to wear your glasses?" Then gradually move on to two hours, three hours and a full day.

Rewards

Glasses mark a huge change in a child's appearance; they can also be uncomfortable and get in the way of normal activities. Thus punishing your child is likely to make him hate his glasses even more. Instead, set up a reward-based system in which he gets a small treat or toy for every day he wears his glasses.

Creativity

Most toddlers love art, so let your child's imagination go wild with her glasses. Encourage her to decorate the frames with stickers, and allow her to choose her own frames. Go to a kid-friendly store to help her pick out her glasses. Be sure to choose frames that fit her face without falling down her nose or giving her a headache.

References

• "What's Going On In There?"; Lise Eliot; 2000
• "Child Psychology: Development in a Changing Society"; Robin Harwood, et al.; 2008
• "Health, Safety and Nutrition for the Young Child"; Lyn R. Marotz; 2011