October 11, 2020

Kids Fashion: Let Your Child Pick Their Own Outfit!

It is an age-old battle fought between children and parents – picking out kids’ clothing. When it comes to kids’ fashion and the struggle between choosing “good” outfits and play clothing, is there a way to avoid unnecessary trouble?

Little serious fashionable toddler boy in denim clothes and trendy cap. Isolated on pink background

Here's a scenario – see if it's familiar: The alarm goes off and it's time for that predictable morning routine. Your little one must get dressed for school but they're insisting on wearing either a superhero cape or a tutu. Then again, maybe the inner fashionista in your preschooler is insisting that the pink flowered dress goes perfectly with the blue polka dot socks.

This ends up in a back-and-forth exchange that takes place in households all over the world every day. The last thing a busy morning needs is a battle that nobody's going to win. As a parent, however, we have to learn how to help our kids develop important life skills. Eventually, they'll need to know how to select their own style and clothing as well as dress themselves.

Power Struggle Management

When it comes to your child getting dressed, choosing clothes, and the power struggle that is bound to occur, here are some ways to reduce a volatile situation:

  • First step – Decide and define what is unacceptable or inappropriate. It could be the weather, the occasion, school rules, or what have you, but sometimes it's not okay to wear a certain outfit or article of clothing.
  • Choose your battles – Is anybody going to die because your kid goes to school with one purple sock and one pink sock? If that's the way they chose to get dressed today, so be it. Over time, they will learn the skill of color coordination. Consider yourself lucky there's a sock on each foot.
  • Give your child choices then let them decide – Determine what an acceptable outcome would be and give your child a couple of choices - at least when it comes to outfits/clothing. Example: "Do you want to wear your green shorts today or your blue pants?" Of course, the "how" of getting dressed will be harder to nail down for toddlers than the "what" aspect of the process.

In some cases, parents have had great success dressing their child for the next day at bedtime. By dressing them comfortably in short outfits or sweats for bedtime, in the morning they have but to brush their hair and teeth and go. Sometimes kids just don't want to get dressed in the morning. Usually, on those mornings when confusion and delay is the last thing you need.

Other Suggestions For Reducing The Trauma Of Getting Dressed

Here is a handful of other ideas that should help you make the battle between parent and child a little easier to navigate through – at least when it comes to getting dressed:

  • Go shopping together for your children's clothes. Let them feel like they have a say in the matter.
  • Don't wait until the last minute to decide what your child should wear. Plan ahead.
  • Have certain days assigned to "kid’s choice" and other days assigned to "parent choice".
  • Be consistent. This applies to expectations, fashion rules, etc. No means no. It's not “no” this week and “maybe” next week.
  • Make it perfectly clear that you have the final say. Your child should be allowed to express themselves, but you maintain the right to veto their decision.

Make Hat Choices Easier – Shop Together at Hat Heaven

Pull up our selection of kids hats on your computer and share some quality time with your child while he or she picks out their new cap. Shop Hat Heaven today.

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