Sunglasses for Children

By Erinn Morgan

Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. However, they need sun protection just as much as adults do and sometimes even more, since they are spending more time playing outdoors and in direct sunlight.

The good news about children's sunglasses is that there is much variety available for all tastes, as many sunglass companies have seen an opportunity here and entered this marketplace with great products. And design has been stepped up a notch to appeal more to kids so that they continue to wear the shades purchased for them by their parents.

The most progressive designs for children's sunwear (kids aged 3 to 12) are modeled after the very ones worn by adults. The colorful, adolescent styles are still available, but sunglass companies have found a niche in appealing to children's desire to look like their parents or older siblings.

Oval, round, rectangular, cateye and geometric shapes are all popular in cool, sophisticated colors like greens, blues, tortoise and black. Metal frames are very popular, but the real news for kids is in plastic frames that look like miniatures of the trendy adult styles. Also, sporty styles for kids like wraparounds are available as well in miniature adult editions.

Where to Get Them

The best places to find kids' sunglasses are sunglass specialty stores like Sunglass Hut, optical chain stores like Pearle Vision and LensCrafters, and your local optician or optical shop. Some opticians even specialize in children's sunglasses and eyeglasses and have dedicated areas just for kids to play and shop for their frames.

Don't Forget the Accessories!

Many opticians also take the time with the children to explain the benefits of their sunglasses and how to care for them. And often they will include cleaning cloths, solutions, hard cases (for kids to place their sunglasses in and throw in their backpacks) and sunglass cords (commonly called retainers), which can be attached to the temples of the sunglasses so that when sunglasses are removed they can be hung around the neck and not misplaced.

One important factor to remember is that sunglass lenses are impact resistant (as required by the FDA) but they are not shatterproof. Many parents prefer polycarbonate lenses for their children's eyewear and sunwear since they are strong, durable and impact resistant. Special sports eyewear and sunglasses designed for rough activities are available as well.

UV protection is also very important for children. Most sunglasses feature 99 percent or 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays and are suitable for wear by children as well (see "UV protection" section). Be sure to check labels on the lenses or with the salesperson to ensure you have chosen the appropriate frames for your child's health and safety.

Top Five Trends in Kids' Sunglasses

1. Styling that mimics that of adult sunglasses — cool, sophisticated, and trendy.
2. Hip plastic styles in great colors (no more bubble gum adolescent colors).
3. Sports eyewear in scaled-down adult versions.
4. Sunglass clip-ons for children's eyeglasses are readily available and reasonably priced.
5. Fashion designers and recognizable cartoon and television programs (e.g., World Wrestling Federation) have lent their names and design sense to kids' sunglasses and eyeglasses.

[Page updated November 2005]