U.S. mothers feel less prepared to talk to their children about makeup, use of contact lenses, nutrition than about drugs, alcohol and smoking, survey finds

Graziela Medina Shepnick

ROCHESTER, New York , July 20, 2011 (press release) – Bausch + Lomb Partners with Mom Central to Tackle the "Daily Talks" of Adolescence While Giving Teens a Chance to Win a Scholarship

A majority of recently surveyed moms feel well-prepared to have conversations with their kids about tough topics such as drugs, alcohol and smoking. Yet, relatively few felt adequately equipped to handle more basic "daily talks" that can impact their child's self-confidence.(1)

To help arm parents with the tools they need to make the most of these confidence-boosting opportunities, Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, and Mom Central Consulting are partnering to deliver tips on how best to have those "Daily Talks" about everything from acne care to transitioning from glasses to contact lenses.

"The Daily Talk" survey, conducted amongst more than 800 moms in the U.S. with at least one child over the age of 10, showed that 93 percent of moms have already had the "big conversations" with their child about drugs, alcohol and smoking and that 63 percent felt well-prepared to discuss these topics. On the other hand, the survey showed that it's the day-to-day conversations about issues related to nutrition, use of contact lenses and makeup that were hardest to navigate. Overall, moms felt least prepared to talk to their children about makeup (33 percent) or to talk with a child who wants to forego glasses for contact lenses (21 percent).

"We find it interesting that moms feel stymied when it comes to discussing those issues that are more closely linked to a child's self confidence. Wearing makeup and contact lenses are associated with a child's desire to look better and not as closely linked to safety as some of the 'big talks'. These topics can however, help a child to address issues related to self-confidence and even academic performance," said Stacy DeBroff, CEO and Founder of Mom Central Consulting. "Speaking with an outside party, such as a doctor can help to provide answers while also giving your child another impartial, but credible source of information."

As kids enter their teen years, physical appearances become increasingly important as kids begin to encounter issues with self-esteem tied to their outward appearance. While mom may be reluctant to allow a child to transition to the use of makeup or even contact lenses, a recent academic study revealed that 68 percent of tweens (ages 10-12) and 65 percent of teens reported improved levels of performance in all activities after wearing contact lenses.(2) Medical experts also agree that they have seen a positive change in the overall health and performance of teens after wearing contacts versus glasses.

"When a child doesn't feel they look good in their glasses or if they feel that glasses get in the way of an activity, they simply won't wear them. The greater confidence that a child has when he or she has transitioned to contact lenses pays dividends in performance," said Shelly Toltz, O.D. an optometrist, mother, and former school teacher. "We know that moms worry about taking care of contact lenses, but those concerns can be addressed by choosing an affordable daily disposable lens which doesn't require cleaning and storage."

Back-to-school is when many kids begin to think about improved skin care routines, contact lenses or are beginning to use makeup. "We encourage mom to use the opportunity tied to back-to-school physicals to engage her pediatrician or eye care professional in helping her to have the conversations on the more basic subjects of skincare and eye care so that she feels well-armed when negotiating with her teen or tween," said DeBroff.

To help boost her child's visual acuity and confidence for back-to-school, Bausch + Lomb is encouraging parents to make an appointment with their child's eye care provider by offering a free trial of SofLens® daily disposable lenses. Simply visit www.soflens.com for a free trial offer. Additionally, kids can enter the "Daily Score" sweepstakes for the chance to win a sports tote and to enter to win the grand prize, a $5,000 scholarship.

About the survey

The survey was conducted via an online quantitative survey by Mom Central Consulting. A total of 801 Moms (with at least one child over the age of 10) completed the survey between May 23, 2011 and May 27, 2011.

References

(1) "The Daily Talk." Survey. Fielded May 23,2011

(2) Contact Lenses in Pediatrics (CLIP) Study: chair time and ocular health. Optom Vis Sci. 2007 Sep;84(9):896-902.

About Bausch + Lomb

Bausch + Lomb is one of the best-known and most respected healthcare companies in the world. Its core businesses include contact lenses and lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments, and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Founded in 1853, the company is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Its products are available in more than 100 countries. More information is available at www.bausch.com.

About Mom Central Consulting.

Mom Central Consulting builds strong, passionate, enduring relationships connecting influential Moms and brands that inspire action and create powerful results. Mom Central Consulting has partnered with over 200 of the world's leading brands and their agencies to build powerful brand relationships with Moms, using social media and off-line influence. MCC specializes in launching passionate advocates to tell a brands' story: to increase brand awareness, ignite brand enthusiasts, raise positive brand sentiment, answer brand detractors, generate trial and drive to retail. For more, please visit www.momcentralconsulting.com.

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