Comments on How to Get Your Child to Wear Glasses

To increase a behavior, provide reinforcement immediately after its occurrence. When your child approaches their glasses, provide a reinforcer, such as an M&M. When they are wearing them, give an M&M and lots of verbal praise. Fade out the use of M&M's or other reinforcement gradually, and then keep it intermittent over time, with just the verbal praise. Let your child hear you over the phone tell Grandma how proud you are of them for wearing their glasses, don't make it a power struggle. Any time you observe appropriate glasses wearing behavior, use reinforcement. The child will understand the reinforcement is contingent on the target behavior. This behavior strategy is very brief, and not mean to be clinical advice. There are lots of case studies available on children and glasses wearing, using behavioral analysis. It works! If done well, your child won't even know you're doing it. And they end up wearing their glasses which is good for them.

When my 3 year old got glasses, I allowed him time to adjust to wearing them. I let him take breaks during the day as needed, but was very firm about him needing to wear them every day. My husband has glasses, so I always said just like Daddy, just like Arthur (on TV), just like Jason (his friend at school). He adjusted very quickly. We always point out to him others that also wear glasses and tell him how handsome he is with them on. It helped too, not to make too big a deal out if it, we treated it mostly matter of fact; this is just how it is.

When my 3 year old got glasses, I allowed him time to adjust to wearing them. I let him take breaks during the day as needed, but was very firm about him needing to wear them every day. My husband has glasses, so I always said just like Daddy, just like Arthur (on TV), just like Jason (his friend at school). He adjusted very quickly. We always point out to him others that also wear glasses and tell him how handsome he is with them on. It helped too, not to make too big a deal out if it, we treated it mostly matter of fact; this is just how it is.

I was ten years old when I needed my first pair of glasses. What really helps is for parents to be patient with their kids. Finding glasses that I liked took some time, and I had to go through just about everything on the shelf several times until I found a pair that suited me. Make sure that he or she picks out glasses that look good on them, not because they make them look like Harry Potter. And please, be certain to let kids get different frames every couple of years. As they grow and their facial features change and develop, glasses that looked fabulous in the fourth grade can and often times will look absolutely wrong on them in high school (or they won't fit properly anymore).

Chris (aged 3 years old) got a prescription from the Eye Clinic for glasses. The first (recommended)optician I took Chris to, was a nightmare - he wanted to show us the choice of frames very quickly, while trying to convince me to buy the most expensive. Chris shouted and was uncooperative. I said I'd come back later. The next day Chris and I walked past a small optician's office in our neighborhood (that happened to have an advertisement with a small picture of Superman in the window). We called in and the owner explained that she was happy for us to drop in and look around a few times. After a couple of visits, Chris was OK about trying frames on. Once he got his new glasses, he went off to his nursery wearing them. He kept them on the whole day and has been fine ever since. The patch he had to wear every day for 3 months (at 3 and a half years old) to help correct his squint was another matter - the leaflet said "Do not force your child to wear it" After a patient discussion, bribery and threats, I ended up having to tackle him to the floor each morning to stick it on. Still, it worked, and both his eyes are now working.

I was ten years old when I needed my first pair of glasses. What really helps is for parents to be patient with their kids. Finding glasses that I liked took some time, and I had to go through just about everything on the shelf several times until I found a pair that suited me. Make sure that he or she picks out glasses that look good on them, not because they make them look like Harry Potter. And please, be certain to let kids get different frames every couple of years. As they grow and their facial features change and develop, glasses that looked fabulous in the fourth grade can and often times will look absolutely wrong on them in high school (or they won't fit properly anymore).

You have made some good points, but there is SO much more to obtaining compliance. In my book, "Dispensing Pediatric Eyewear," I devoted an entire chapter to the subject! A 5 year old child is not going to wear eyeglasses because his Dad does. He is not going to wear his glasses because you explain how important they are to his future well-being. He is not even going to wear them because he sees better. He IS going to wear the glasses because his parents insist he wear them. It is the parents who are the key to compliance. There are lots and lots of tips on gaining compliance, but they are not the same for each age category.