5 Yr Old Refuses to Wear Glasses

Hi, my daughter, now 7 has been wearing glasses since she was 2. she adjusted really well, I think cause she could see better. My neighbor's daughter, 4, just got glasees and she is having the same problem as you. She brought her daughter to our house to see that my daughter has 'big girl' glasses like her. That did help. I think you need to make rules with the glasses. no t.v. with out them, read with them on, computer the same. This will help her get used to them, then gradually increase the time to 1/2 the day, then a couple weeks later add more time. I think you should talk to her also about the schedule of wearing them and let her know that this is the schedule, no changing it. Soon she will be so used to wearing them, she'll be ready for kindergarten. When my daughter started school, she never got made fun of her glasses. No one cared. Now when they broke last month she went with out then for a week and everyone at school thought she looked weird cause they've never seen her without them, so if she begins school wearing them, it may be better. Hope this helps.

My 5 year old has been wearing glasses since she was about 9 months old. At first, she wouldn't wear them and threw them. Honestly, this lasted about 2 years, but I think the biggest problem was that she was soooo young when she got them and didn't understand. Now, she looks for them as soon as she gets up in the morning. I think a few things really helped once she got older...1) a rule that she could not play or watch tv or do anything unless she wears her glasses... even though your doctor said that she doesn't necessarily need to, I think you are going to have a fight when she has to wear them if you allow her to not wear them when she is doing fun things. 2) as soon as she was old enough (and your daughter is definitely old enough) I let her pick out her own glasses, ones that would make a good "fashion statement" -- she loves fashion! She picked out a bright pink/purple pair and a royal blue pair. The pink/purple pair were barbie brand and the royal blue were spongebob I believe. She thought that was cool. She wears the pink pair with pink clothes and the blue pair to match blue clothes. They were obviously more expensive, and to have two are as well, but it's well worth it to me and we always have a spare for when they break (all the time) -- speaking of this, we go to the Elmhurst Hospital Center for Health and it is completely free to fix them. We have even received brand new pairs for free. Well worth it since they have broken many times (stepping on them, washing them, throwing them in a tantrum, etc.) 3) Seeing that other people wear glasses -- you said she inherited it from you and your husband -- do you both wear glasses or contacts? If contacts, switch to glasses at least for the time being so she can see that mommy and daddy wear them all the time also. If you already wear them, that should help. Neither my husband or I wear glasses, but we both bought some (without a prescription lens) and started wearing them all the time like a fashion statement. I got mine at Claire's, I don't know where he got his. If you are anywhere near us and want to meet at a park so she can see someone her own age wearing glasses, I'd be happy to.. just write me back!

Thanks and good luck!

Been there, done that!!! My 5 year old son has been wearing them since he was 4 1/2. It was a struggle at first but then we showed him Harry Potter and how "cool" he is. Then he started to wear them more often and now we have a rule he doesn't get to watch TV if he doesn't have them on. Since he thrives on sports, I do not want him to have them outside- which now is all day. So the rule there is once inside he has to wear them. Our BIGGEST problem now is were he puts his glasses as we don't have a "set place" for when he goes outside.

I would find someone who she likes and find out if they wear glasses. Once she gets use to them then start putting rules into place.
One other thought-in the first 6 weeks of wearing them we visited the repair center several times for screws falling out and nose pieces - don't be afraid to ask for glue!!

Good luck and be patient, she will decide to wear them!!

I don't really have any magic words of wisdom. I think glasses are an issue for children at any age. My son got glasses when he was 15 years old and did not want to wear them. (Per pressure) He finally did agree to wear them and we agreed to get him contacts shortly after but he still puts of his glasses now and them at home instead of putting in his contacts.

If your daughter needs glasses she needs them, if she doesn't wear them at school she may have some problems doing the work.

Good Luck...