Helping Your Child Handle Teasing or Bullying About Glasses

Author: Hayley Martin 

An Enchanted Guide to Turning Hurt into Confidence, and Fear into Pride

The first time your child is teased for something she can’t change, it hurts in a place deeper than words. You feel it in your chest, in the space where you’ve tucked away all your hopes to protect her from the world’s unkindness.

When that teasing is about her glasses, the very thing helping her see clearly, it can feel especially unfair.

At Once Upon a Charm, we know that wearing glasses can be a beautiful part of a child’s story. But we also know that not every child (or classmate) understands that yet. If your little one has been teased about her glasses, here’s how to respond with grace, strength, and a little sparkle.

First, You’re Not Alone

So many parents whisper the same story:
“She loved her glasses… until someone laughed.”
“My daughter came home and said she wanted to hide them.”
“She asked me why she couldn’t just have ‘normal’ eyes.”

Once, after my own daughter was teased at school, she looked up at me and said, “I feel bad that my classmates have to look at me in glasses for the next eight years.”

And in that moment, my heart cracked. 

These moments sting, but they’re not the end of the story. They're the turning point. And with your love, support, and a few empowering tools, your child can grow through this.  Not in spite of it, but because of it.

The Real Magic, Building Confidence from the Inside Out

Children look to us to understand how to feel about themselves. So, when glasses are treated as something special, not something to hide, that belief becomes part of their inner story.

Here’s how to nurture that magic when it feels like someone is trying to snuff it out:

1. Listen First, Then Reassure

When your child shares that she was teased, hold the space before jumping in to fix it. Gently ask:

• “What happened?”
• “How did that make you feel?”
• “What did you do next?”

Then, affirm her emotions:

“It’s okay to feel hurt. That wasn’t kind of them. But their words don’t define you.”

2. Normalize and Empower

Let her know she’s not alone, and not the problem:

• “Lots of kids wear glasses. Even grown-ups!”
• “Some people tease because they don’t understand something different or special.”
• “You’re strong and brave for being yourself.”

If it helps, share stories or books featuring kids with glasses.

 

3. Practice Magical Comebacks

Empower your child with confident, respectful phrases to say in response. Keep them simple and age-appropriate:

• “I like my glasses. They help me see you better.”
• “You don’t have to like them. I do.”
• “That’s not a kind thing to say.”

Role-play different situations so she feels prepared and powerful.

 

4. Enlist the Right Allies

If teasing becomes persistent or crosses into bullying:

• Talk to her teacher or school counselor
• Ask for a check-in or classroom observation
• Ensure the school’s anti-bullying policies are being followed

You are your child’s advocate. She’s not meant to go through this alone, and neither are you.

 

5. Celebrate Her Style

Let her choose frames that reflect her. Soft? Sparkly? Sophisticated? Pink? Purple? Glasses should feel like an extension of her personality.

This is where our magic at Once Upon a Charm truly sparkles, our interchangeable charms feel like tiny treasures from a fairy’s twinkly collection. Each one is a whisper from the enchanted world girls carry in their hearts. These aren’t just accessories, they’re bits of wonder, like the ones she imagines in the garden, in the stars, or just behind a fluttering curtain. Little glimmers of magic only she can see.

When a child loves her glasses, she wears them with pride, and that radiance speaks louder than any teasing ever could.

 

Surround Her With Representation

Whether it's TV shows, storybooks, or your own friends and family, point out the many beautiful faces who wear glasses:

• Scientists
• Artists
• Athletes
• Characters in stories she loves

Seeing glasses as normal, even cool, can make all the difference.

 

Help Her Write Her Own Story

The truth is that teasing is often about power. But when a child learns that her power doesn’t come from being like everyone else, it comes from being herself, she becomes unstoppable.

Remind her:

“Your glasses help you see. But what you do with what you see? That’s the real magic.”

What to Watch For

If your child suddenly refuses to wear her glasses, or:

• Fakes “losing” them
• Shows signs of withdrawal or sadness
• Has unexplained tummy aches or school anxiety

It may be time for a deeper conversation and additional support. Talk to a counselor, therapist, or trusted teacher to build a circle of care.

 

You’re Doing Everything Right

We know you wish you could wrap her in a bubble of protection, and in some ways, you already are. By showing her that:

• She’s beautiful and whole as she is
• Her glasses are part of her story, not a flaw
• She has tools and words to stand tall

Each time she hears this message, you’re helping her build resilience, confidence, and pride.

 

Takeaway for Parents

• Teasing about glasses can sting, but it’s not the end of her story.  With the new clarity her glasses are giving her, it's actually very much the beginning of her story.
• Listen, affirm, and empower your child with loving guidance
• Let her see her glasses as a magical part of who she is
• When she feels proud, the world sees it, and learns to follow

Let’s raise girls who don’t just wear glasses, they own them. With joy. With charm. With vision for a world that sees the beauty in every difference.

 

From "Different" to Dazzling

She’s not just wearing glasses, she’s wearing magic. Explore our beautiful frames and magical charms that help her express her sparkle, her strength, and her unique story.