Daniel Marsula, Post-Gazette Click illustration for larger image.

Q: My little girl is 3 and her doctor says she has to wear glasses. I'm worried that the other kids in her daycare will tease her. How can she get through this?

A: It's great that you're seeing both the challenges and benefits of glasses. Eyesight is important to your daughter's ability to learn, particularly the early literacy skills that are the foundation for reading.

Happily, kids at this developmental stage are less apt to tease and more apt to be curious and ask questions.

		Parenting 4 Kids Nationally accredited, 4 Kids Early Learning Network serves children and families throughout the Mon Valley. Through this column, 4 Kids staff members answer reader questions about raising children in the critical early years. E-mail questions for consideration to: questions@4kidsearlyed.org, or mail to: 4 Kids Questions, 445 Fourth St., Braddock, PA 15104.

We suggest you work with your child's teacher to prepare for those questions. For example, the teacher can read the class a book such as "Arthur's Eyes" by Marc Brown. The daycare center might schedule a vision care professional to visit and talk about how glasses can be helpful. The center's dramatic play area can include play glasses for the kids to put on themselves and their dolls.

It's more likely that teasing would come when the children are older, probably around age 7. You might want to keep these strategies in mind in case your daughter needs them at that point:

Ignoring: because teasing often stops when there's no response.

Responding with straightforward words: "I don't like it when you make fun of my glasses. It hurts my feelings."

Visualization: teaching your child to imagine the teasing words bouncing off her instead of hurting her.

If the teasing continues, telling an adult -- a teacher or parent -- about it. (In the case of severe teasing, parents should talk with the child's classroom teacher.)

All along the way, be mindful of your daughter's self-esteem. Encourage her in pursuits she'll enjoy and do well at -- and even occasionally (and casually) point out accomplished and attractive people who wear glasses.