Eye wear and self-esteem
Do you think wearing glasses makes you look ugly, or geeky? Are you getting teased because you wear glasses? These are questions that parents have been asking their children for years. But, if you notice that your child exhibits a lack of self esteem because of this, what can you really do?
The first thing to remember is that it takes time for anyone to adjust to wearing glasses. Children might actually feel bad or inadequate for having vision problems. This reaction is completely normal, but it is important for them to remember that they are definitely not alone. Nearly 1 in 10 (9.2%) children between the ages of 5 and 17 are short-sighted. Glasses can feel strange when people start wearing them, and they might become really self-conscious. Also, other kids can unfortunately be really mean, and it is hard to ignore other people if they make fun of the glasses.
On a brighter note, many people think glasses make a person look smart and beautiful. Remind your children that celebrities like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Johnny Depp, Alicia Keys and many other Hollywood stars wear glasses and look fantastic in them. How do they do it?
Tips(a) on how to look good in glasses:
1. Choose Eye Glasses. Hear what your children have to say, but make sure that they listen to the optician’s advice too. You can also ask one of your child’s friends for advice. Make sure the glasses fit their face properly.
2. Encourage them to pick glasses that reflect their personality.
3. Remind them not to act any different because they wear glasses. They should be proud of who they are!
4. Make sure they keep them nice and clean,and not to drop them or scratch them. Adding a sense of responsibility helps to make them feel more mature.
5. Get a stylish case to put the glasses in. Details such as these go a long way.
If they still don’t feel comfortable wearing glasses, you can look into getting contact lenses for them instead. A new study(b) has shown that young people feel more confident in contact lenses than glasses. The three-year study of nearly 500 children aged 8 to 11 found that contact lenses significantly boosted kids’ physical confidence, feelings of acceptance amongst their friends, and athletic ability (because those who wear glasses are less likely to play sports).
In comparison, contact lenses are less affected by rain than glasses. They don’t steam up and can provide a wider field of vision. Also, contact lenses are more suitable for certain sporting activities. You can get lenses that will last a single day, or even weeks or months, and you can also get lenses with extra color to enhance or change their eye color. If you want to find out more about contact lenses, take your children to the nearest optometrist for an eye exam and expert advice.
(a)
www.wikihow.com/Look-Pretty-in-Glasses
www.wikihow.com/Look-Cool-in-Glasses
(b)
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/lenspercept.htm
NOTE: The health section of Parenting.co.uk is not to be used as a substitute for your GP; if your child is ill then seek the advice of a qualified doctor or other health professional without delay.
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