Kids can be picky when it comes to wearing something that will affect their looks and parents should be just as picky about fit and how long the glasses will last in the often rough and tumble world of kids.
Children’s glasses need to be kid-tough and very fashionable, so they come in a wide variety of styles, shapes and colours. Here are some of the children’s glasses they’ll love and you can feel good about.
Eyeglass Frames for Kids
Any type of frame that you can get for an adult is also available in children’s frames. They include:
- Thick or thin
- Wire or plastic
- Full or half-rim
- Round, oval, square and rectangle
Frame Colors
Glasses for children need to be fun, so frames come in different colours. Patterns like camo, gummy greens and blues are trendy for boys, while girls look cute in mini versions of trendy, oversized round shapes in purple or brilliant blues, pinks or reds.
While the boys can get frames that are solid black or brown, if they prefer, they might also choose frames in blues and greens, colour-blocking or fun tortoiseshell prints.
Frame Shapes
Kids have a choice of frame shapes in rectangular, oval, round and more. Zoobug Daisy glasses are perfect for a little girl between the ages of 3 to 8. They come in bright pink or violet and have flower-shaped rims and laser-cut side bars. Older girls will choose almond and round silhouettes in cat-eye and geek-chic styles.
On the other hand, boys will want athletic wraparounds, wayfarer styles and traditional square profiles. For boys ages 9 to 12, Zoobug Spy glasses are a great retro option. They have a full, square frame in a variety of masculine colours surrounding shatterproof polycarbonate lenses.
Frame Details
As with adults, details matter. On girls’ glasses, you’ll see strong brow bars and flashy sidebars embellished with floral prints or animal patterns. Younger fashionistas will go for the Hello Kitty Demi Pink glasses. They have a rose-pink finish with round lenses, silver stud embellishments, and sidebars that boast the Hello Kitty name and trademark red bow.
For boys, look for camo details, keyhole bridges and cool cut-out effects. The Zooventure Green Gummy glasses feature oval-shaped lenses and the brand’s shiny silver frog logo.
Converse Kids Zoom Blue Glow glasses have a fabulous glow-in-the-dark detailing, a stylish rectangular shape and cool blue plastic frames.
Practical Considerations
- Lens Thickness – If your child’s prescription calls for strong lenses that are likely to be thick, keep the frames as small as possible to reduce the final lens thickness.
- Plastic or metal – Plastic frames used to be considered less likely to be bent or broken and were lighter in weight and less expensive. Now, there are metal frames that have these features, too.
- Proper bridge fit – Children’s noses are not fully developed and don’t have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding, whereas metal frames have adjustable nose pads that fit everyone’s bridge.
- Style of Sidebar – Sidebars that wrap all the way around the back of the ear help keep glasses from sliding down or falling off altogether.
- Spring hinges allow the sidebars to flex outward, away from the frames, without causing damage.
- Lens materials like polycarbonate or Trivex are significantly more impact-resistant than other lens materials.
- Back-up Pair – It is always advisable to have a second pair of eyeglasses on hand, especially if your child has a strong prescription and can’t function without their glasses.
- Warranties – Many optical retailers offer a warranty plan that will replace eyewear at no charge or for a small fee in the event of damage.
