Dress Me Pretty

MANILA, Philippines - You only want what’s best for your kids, but in today’s world, sometimes media’s mammoth influence makes children think that they can already pick their own clothes because they saw someone on TV wearing it. The sad truth is, you don’t really want your daughter to dress up like the latest Bratz Doll which looks like a dominatrix but at the same time you don’t want her to be an outcast for being a fashion disaster. Here are a few tips that will help you balance these two things:

Know their environment

Almost all schools in the country require a uniform. So when it’s foundation week, Christmas party or gimmick day, it’s the only time when kids are allowed to dress to impress. The trick to know what the appropriate clothes are for your kids is to get to know their world. Once upon a time, you were a kid too and you know how it felt when everyone looked ten times cooler than you. Pay attention to how your kid’s friends are dressed. What are the new trends? Do kids their age care about labels already? Or is style all that matters? It’s not that you want your kids to conform, it’s just important that the clothes you buy for them are suitable for their age. When picking up your kid from school, check out how the other kids dress up. So before you buy that shirt with the big Jonas Brothers picture, make sure that it wouldn’t make your kid look like the biggest fan girl in school.    

Don’t just say yes

Although it is good to encourage your kid to find his or her own style, this doesn’t mean that you should say yes to everything he or she wants. When shopping, let your kids pick the pieces that interest them but also make them try it on and show you how it fits them. For kids, the only criteria when they’re looking for clothes is a good design, but as a parent, you should explain that the fit varies with every kid that’s why they have to try it on before purchasing. When your kid picks something you totally disagree on, keep your cool, don’t say no right away, give your kid the chance to try it on and if you really find it inappropriate, explain why and offer something similar but more apt for his or her age. But when your kid insists on purchasing an item, compromise by saying that she can have that item as long as she pays for it with her own savings. This might make her re-think if the item is truly worth her month’s savings.   

Meet them halfway

You adore your classic black dress, your nautical blouse and your patent leather flats; you just don’t understand how it is possible that your offspring is mad about brightly-colored leggings, giant t-shirts and hiking boots. Giving your kids bad comments about their style might make them rebel even more, so, to not cause any tension between you and your kid, it is best to insert suggestions subtly. If she really wants to wear her floral leggings, let her be and tell her that it looks good with a plain shirt, rather than another printed top. The trick is constructive criticism rather than telling her what’s wrong. Instead of pointing out the problem in her outfit, suggest solutions that will make her look good. Common problems in pre-teens is when they’re either too conservative, feeling uncomfortable with their body, or too liberated, showing off as much skin as possible. This is an opportunity for you to get creative. Suggest that her funky bolero is in again and that she can layer it on top of her tank top so she won’t get too cold. Saying things like “Too short!” and “Too low!” only agitates a kid, so if her short skirt bothers you, recommend that she might want to pair it with leggings under.