Everyone knows that it’s important to wear sunglasses when the bright sun is out in the summer. But a lot of us simply forget to put them on ourselves and on our kids. I’m personally very guilty of this. Just like it’s important to put sunscreen on to prevent sunburn, skin cancer and age spots, it’s also necessary to wear sunglasses to prevent eye damage from the UV rays.

Perfect sunglasses need to block 99% to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays. They can’t have any flaws in the lenses like distortions or bubbles. They should be made of polycarbonate – the most impact-resistant material available. And they need to suit the person’s life style.

As adults, we can make decisions on our own. If we forget to wear sunglasses, it’s only our own fault. But what about our kids? We need to make sure their eyes are also protected. Especially for kids there are Real Kids Shades.

As said, Real Kids Shades specializes in kids sunglasses from infants up to age 12. They know how hard it is to get a child to wear something on their head. That’s why they offer many different styles, patterns and colors so that older kids can choose what they like. They also know how hard it is to keep something on a baby’s head and their infant sunglasses feature a soft band with a Velcro strip as opposed to the usual plastic sides which go over ears. Real Kids Shades make their sunglasses with no lead, pthalates or BPA. And their sunglasses are not only FDA approved, but have also received a variety of awards such as the iParenting Media Award. Right now they are partnered with Prevent Blindness America.

I was very excited to receive 3 different pairs for my son. One can never have enough sunglasses!

My First Shades are the ones I thought would suit the little guy the most. I got them in brown and in size 2-5 years. These sunglasses feature 100% UV protection, polycarbonate frames and lenses, wrap style design with a neoprene band for a perfect fit. They are also shatterproof, impact resistant, waterproof and rustproof. They fit and look great just as I expected.

Xtreme Element for 3-7 years has the same features as My First Shades but has a cooler design. They come in a fancy tube case and include a microfiber bag which is also a cleaning cloth. The underside of sunglasses is made of foam for a more comfortable fit.

Flex for 3-7 years old l0ok like the sunglasses we are all used to seeing. However the plastic sides that go around your ears are very soft and bendable, not like the hard plastic I’m used to. The pouch doesn’t come empty, it includes a soft band to go around the head for a comfy fit, in case your kid isn’t yet comfortable with the plastic feel. Flex sunglasses fit my 2 year old perfectly.

Overall I loved all Real Kids Shades sunglasses equally. The design you choose really depends on your personal preference. They are all made of good quality and they all look cool and more importantly do a great job of protecting your child’s eyes. I’ve only had one problem with the sunglasses, which isn’t at all sunglasses fault. My son won’t keep them on! I’ve been trying very hard to get him to wear them, but he just takes them off. I’ve tried wearing sunglasses myself to show him how cool it looks. He loves it when I put them on, but won’t do it himself for longer than a couple of seconds. Does anyone have any tips on how to get a 2 year old to wear sunglasses?

Real Kids Shades start at $14.99. Estimated shipping to both US & Canada is only $5.95. That’s a pretty good deal!

Don’t forget that it’s as important for kids to wear sunglasses as it is for adults. Children are actually at increased risk for permanent damage from sunlight until they are at least 10 years old. More importantly, sunglasses are not toys or accessories, sunglasses are necessity.

Giveaway Prize:
One lucky winner will receive a pair of Real Kids Shades sunglasses of their choice

How to enter:
- Complete the mandatory entry and leave a separate comment for each bonus entry
- Leave a valid e-mail address in the form, no need to also write it in the comments
- For Facebook entries – “Like” with you personal profile (not a page) and leave your first name and initial
- For Twitter entries – leave your Twitter username

- visit Real Kids Shades and tell me which sunglasses you would choose if you won (by name & besides what I’ve reviewed)

EXTRA entries
- follow My Secret Home via Google Friend Connect
- subscribe via e-mail & confirm (2 entries)
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- like My Secret Home on Facebook
- like Real Kids Shades on Facebook
- follow My Secret Home on Twitter
- follow Real Kids Shades on Twitter
- tweet (1 time per day & leave direct link) - #Win any pair of kids sunglasses from Real Kids Shades | US&CAN Ends 9/5 #Giveaway @mysecrethome http://www.mysecrethome.com/?p=2295
- grab my button & tell me where I can find it

Rules:
This giveaway is open to residents of USA & CANADA and will end on September 5, 2011 at 11:59PM PST. Winner will be determined via random.org and notified via e-mail. They will have 48 hours to respond back or another winner will be chosen. One entry per household/isp.