My almost 3 year old needs to get glasses - how will I ever get her to keep them on?

My daughter will be 3 in 2 weeks. She has been assessed by an opthamologist who says she needs glasses as is borderline short sighted and that the age of 3-5 years is important so if she wears them now it will mean the best potential for her eyes. I am devasted as I am a teacher and I know how cruel kids can be and I hate that she will be the odd one out at preschool because none else wears them. I feel extremely guilty for feeling this way as I know she is healthy and that is all that matters!

Anyway, how do you get your young children to wear their glasses all the time? and should she gradually build up to wearing them all the time? Im worried she is going to trip and smash them too :(

Things have changed big time in regards to kids and glasses and how they are treated by their peers.

My two older children have to wear glasses for school, reading and tv. They LOVE them and their friends want to wear them as well!!

I don't have any trouble with teasing or getting them to wear them when they need but they started wearing when they were 5.

You'll probably find she will want to wear them because it'll be much easier for her to see.

Dd1 has glasses and got them at 3, she had a period of chewing the nose pieces off and ds broke a pair but she has generally been good.

Ds has just been diagnosed as needing them but at just 2 he hates them and it is a battle at the moment.

My grandson wears them and you will need to keep reminding her to wear them. He keeps losing them so it's good to have one place they must be placed when not wearing them.

Also be prepared for many visits to have them reshaped, mended etc. Make sure it is part of the service when you get them. Most have a warranty which includes new frames should they get broken. They are on their second frame and have had many trips to have them fixed.

Forgot to add she loves them her current ones are pink and black her favourite colours. She has bifocals but isn't picked on at kinder or out and about.

Like Tinks has mentioned..she will be able to see better with them on a most likely want to wear them.
They are so cute these days, brands like Dora or Looney Tunes. You can get them with hooked temples (arms) so they stay on better. You can get straps for them so they stay on.
Let her pick the one's she wants to wear within reason.
My DH works in Optics and I used to, most kids love them.
As far as 'smashing' them, the lenses these days are made out of a toughened plastic, shouldn't smash. Pick frames that have 'springs' in the arms or you can get frames that can be twisted to a certain point that will not snap.

Not really answering your question here but thought I'd mention. Recently got glasses from one of the chain places. They now offer insurance for extra $29 for a year which covers scratches,losing it & breaking it. Might be worth it depending on how much the glasses cost.

When she first gets the glasses, first get a strap that keeps them on and secondly put them on and then go for a walk or to the park or something very distracting that she'll be interested in. Try this for the first few days! It did help with my then 18 month old when she got glasses. Don't be scared to give her a sticker or chocolate or toy at the end of each day when she has worn them well. Good luck! Xx

A friends 3.5 yr old just got glasses, she got these clearish rubber things that you put on the arms and hook just behind the ear, can find out what they are called if you like.

Dd's hook behind her ears too, keeps them on so she can still run about.

Dd's hook behind her ears too, keeps them on so she can still run about.