buyer's forum
Join the Club
Amy Spiezio
For youngsters, stepping into eyewear for the first time can be upsetting or exciting. The eyewear product selection they find in a dispensary is a critical deciding factor in how they will feel about wearing spectacles—and themselves.
The list of options in children's eyewear gets longer every day, and the audience for the product is there—according to the American Optometric Association, one in every four school-age children has a vision problem. How optical dispensers deal with these young patients can influence the children's future success in matters ranging from school discipline and safety to athletic success and physical comfort.
Consider the following when planning your optical inventory:
Fitting first: Eyewear may be adorable, but it will remain at the bottom of a school bag if wearing frames creates discomfort. Utilizing the right nosepads, temples, and adjustments takes time and tests patience, but is critical for optimal results.
Fashion second: That being said, if kids think they look dorky, nerdy, geeky, or otherwise uncool, they may opt to forget their glasses at home on a regular basis. Good looks need to appeal to a variety. While two 12-year-olds may come in with the same prescription, they may be at very different maturity levels that will be reflected in their selections.
| Inventory Question of the Month: |
|---|
| When it comes to eyewear styles for children: ■ This year I'm not expecting sales of eyewear that isn't covered by insurance plans. ■ Kids will have options that take style cues from many directions, including cartoon characters, TV heroes, and big kids or grownups. ■ I'm expanding my kids' section. Regardless of the economy, people buy for their kids. Please email your responses to managing editor Amy Spiezio at amy.spiezio@wolterskluwer.com |
| READING LIST |
|---|
| Spec Pages First-time eyewear users in the grammar school set might need a good example of what to expect from their eyewear. Stock the following kids' books in your waiting area for a spectacle-friendly read: Bumposaurus by Penny McKinlay, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup Bumposaurus is a short-sighted dinosaur who is diagnosed with myopia after a close call with a Tyrannosaurus. Monty, the Dog Who Wears Glasses by Colin West While Monty's glasses are just empty frames given to him by the small boy who owns the dog, it's love at first bark and he continues to wear glasses throughout his adventures. The Harry Potter books by JK Rowling The wizard boy put a spell on youngsters with his magical adventures, and children throughout the world have to have a pair of the round frames Harry sports in his years at Hogwarts school. While the full books might be a bit much for the waiting room, coloring books and story books based on the series are available. The Arthur Books by Marc Brown Known by many of the nine-and-under set thanks to his televised cartoon series, the spectacle-wearing aardvark is an endearing character who wouldn't be caught without his glasses. X-Ray Mabel and Her Magic Specs by Claire Fletcher Finally, a girl who wears the glasses. But these are not the ordinary sort…along with the usual correction, Mabel's magic specs allow her to see through various objects on Earth and in outer space. Dogs Don't Wear Glasses by Adrienne Geoghan Nanny Nettles is sure her dog, Seymour, needs glasses, but it eventually turns out that it is Nanny's vision that needs help. |
![]({"src":"/media/lujnatpw/62009.jpg","focalPoint":null,"crops":[{"alias":"thumbnail","width":1110,"height":700,"coordinates":null}]})