Do you let your kids...

[Mouse House Mama]

wear whatever they want? I don't mean do you force them to wear dresses if they hate them or jeans if they are uncomfortable. I mean do you at least insist that their clothes match and look neat? I am curious.

 

[brockash]

My dd is only 2.5 and although she'd like to pick her clothes out on her own, it' pretty easy to distract her, so she always looks nice and is in some kind of "outfit." My DS is 7 and for the longest time, he's really liked wearing t-shirts with some kind of character/design on them. The shirts aren't old or dirty, but I just don't like them, to me they look just blech. If we're going somewhere or on vacation, I pack "outfit's" for him, or make him wear a nicer shirt, but otherwise I'll let him wear those t-shirts. I do make sure he doesn't clash though.

 

[paintnolish]

No. I make sure they match. DD and I pick out or I at least approve outfits for school. She is quite the fashionista and some of her choices are a little risky (not risque!). DS will wear whatever I pick out. I've never been a fan of letting them wear whatever...sorry, you are not wearing a tutu and rainboots today.

 

[Darcy03231]

My children are 18(DD) and 16(DS). As long as everything that should be covered is, and the clothing is clean, I really don't have any issue with what they wear. They both have grown up knowing how to dress appropriately for whatever they're doing and I can't recall any time that I've made them change.

 

[eeyore65]

It depends. DS is 10. For school, he has a uniform, so he always matches and looks neat. He has a few going out to dinner outfits and if I tell him we are going out or he is going to a party, he wears those. We live in FL so these are dressier long shorts and a collared shirt. Otherwise, it is frightening what he picks to wear. Usually non-matching shorts and t-shirts. I joke about his ketchup and mustard outfit (yellow shirt, red shorts) and his christmas tree look (red shirt, green shorts) But I really don't care if we are running around town doing errands. As long as they are clean with no visible holes, I am happy. I try and pick my battles.

 

[freckles and boo]

On the weekend I couldn't care less what they chose to wear. Bring on the florals and the stripes!!! On school days (or if we have someplace nice to be) I nudge them toward outfits that look decent. They always have to wear something that is appropriate for the weather and I always reserve veto power. My older daughter is nine and has started to take an interest in clothes but I usually pull clothes out for my younger daughter unless she wants to wear something specific.

 

[okeydokey]

I put out my 9 year old DSs clothes for school and church, he could care less what he wears, so that works. On weekends he wears what he picks out of his drawers. My 11 year old DD wears what she feels like, sometimes it matches, sometimes not. As long as it is clean and is the appropriate length for the dress code at school and for the weather, I'm good with that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 13yodd is wearing capri's and flip flops in 60 degree weather. Granted we are in MO and 59 degrees can feel like 80+ in the sun.

I am forcing her to wear a jacket to the bus stop in the morning since it has been 40ish degrees.

I shoot for clean and appropriate.

 

[postage stamp]

As long as my kids are dressed for the weather, I really don't mind. Most of the time they let me pick out heir clothes, but sometimes they REALLY want to wear something and I figure in the grand scheme of things them not matching 6 times a year won't kill them, or me. They are 3 and 4 BTW, so the odds of them wearing something THAT inappropriate is slim.

 

[JessicaR]

This reminded me of my oldest when he was little. He was always very involved in what he wanted to wear each day. Usually it was about comfort or a favorite color and he couldnt care less if he matched. I cringed sometimes but it seemed so important for him to be in control that I just let him. On the days he dressed himself his pre-school teacher knew it.

My other son let me choose his clothes.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My kids pick out their own clothes, but they aren't allowed to wear certain things to school. No sweatpants, jeans with holes, cut off jeans etc. They have to wear something in good condition. On the weekend if we are staying home they can wear whatever. If we go shopping they must at least be clean and clothes in good condition. I do let my 7 year old wear his lime green mickey crocs which don't really match anything.

If we go somewhere where the adults must dress up, then the kids must dress up too. Then they wear dress pants, button up shirts and nice shoes. Sometimes they wear a tie.

 

[disneycruising]

My kids are 9, 11, 14, 15.

I think it depends on the situation. If we are just hanging around the house, they can wear what ever they want. If they are going to school they have to wear "school outfits" that we have pick out and bought together. If we are going to vacation: mom get final approve of all outfits.

I usually take my children shopping with me to help pick out there own outfits: that they like, that matches and that they with be comfortable in.

**There are only two times a year that I don't take the kids with me to pick out outfits: At Christmas and Easter. These are selected by me ...then I know that everyone... has one good dress up outfit for that season. But I do try to keep in mind what each child does not like: No tights for DD, soft fabric for DS, etc.

 

[TwinsinCA]

Just to save time I get out their clothes on school mornings. If they find something is uncomfortable or they'd rather wear something else, they are free to pick out something different. As long as it is clean, roughly matches, and is warm enough/cool enough -- I don't care. I want them to be comfortable.

The only two things I am picky about are them wearing dresses to school (I see no need for kids to be that dressed up for school) and I *strongly* discourage them from dressing exactly alike if they plan to leave the house.

 

[aprilgail2]

Basically my 9 year old wears whatever she wants to school- I don't BUY her anything that is not appropriate so she wouldn't have it to wear anyway! As far as dressing for the season-I don't even insist she wear a coat if its 30 degrees out...I SUGGEST that she does but should she choose to not listen then she is the one freezing at the bus stop and the next day she is smarter and will wear a coat. I don't care if she wears short or long sleeve shirts, I wear short sleeves all winter long, it could be 10 degrees out and I still wear a short sleeve shirt because I hate long sleeves.
I do not EVER force her to wear a dress or skirt...she has them and can wear them if she chooses but to this day I resent all the crap my mom gave me to wear dresses and I always vowed I wouldn't do that to my child!

 

[PghLybrt]

I think it is cruel to force a girl to wear a dress when she is uncomfortable in it. ( I know no one has said they do this). I do think that it is ok to approve that they are appropriate and clean.

 

[Tink888]

My boys are 12 & 14. With the exception of special events (weddings, etc) I let them wear what they want as long as it's clean. They're pretty much jeans/shorts and t-shirt kids. It pretty hard to mess that up.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I was asking because I know someone who's child literally looks like Ringling Brothers threw up on them every single day. Now I don't care what anyone does but the Mom lets her dress this way because she just can't say no to her. Let me just say that the not saying no thing carries over into everything else as well.
I was curious what others do because IMO teaching children to dress properly (no ripped clothes, no butts hanging out, looking neat and matching etc.) teaches them to take pride in themselves. Now I am not saying a child cannot express themselves and of course if on occassion they really want to wear something that the parent may not love that is one thing. But every single day? I just find it odd. None of my business of course, but I do find it odd.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, DS10 would wear a suit and tie or tuxedo every darned day if I let him My rule is the "nice" clothes are expensive and have to be saved for special occasions (but he can wear a tie to school if he wants and has a couple of sports jackets I let him wear also). I am also more "controlling" of what they wear if we have something more important going on (like dinner with DH's boss when I have to explain it can be a tie occaison but not a tux occasion). Other than that, I figure they can have their own style so long as everything is clean (thus buying sports jackets and ties for DS). If things don't match, who really cares Of course, I come at that having two kids who have eccentric but clear fashion sense and I don't recall seeing them clash much--for goodness sakes they even will coordiante with each other--it is like having my own litte Ryan and Sharpay

 

[DisneyBabies]

DS wears a uniform for school, so I don't have to worry about that, he just picks which color shirt he wants to wear that day and he knows not to wear his white shirt on the days he has art . Otherwise, he can wear what he wants as long as it is weather appropriate. He and I have always liked the same sorts of things when it comes to his clothes, so I am rarely surprised by what he chooses to wear.

DD loves dresses, so we have lots of those in her closet. She picks out most of her own clothes now and we haven't had any disagreements so far about what she picks out in the store to buy. That said, we go out in tutu's and ballet skirts over jeans or shorts on a regular basis and although some people look at us funny (well, they look at me as if I'm the worst parent ever) most of the time we get comments to the effect of "Oh, it's nice you let her wear what she wants." and "Isn't she cute!" Just like my DS, I don't really care what she wears as long as it is weather appropriate.

And we keep their clothes in really good condition, so I don't worry about rips or holes. They are even good about bringing me their clothes if they spill something on them to put the stain releaser on them ; although we did have a hard time explaining to DD that water will not stain .

The only time I pick their clothes is when we get pictures taken (family pictures, Christmas card pictures and pictures with Santa and the Easter Bunny) and they don't argue since any other time they get to pick their own clothes.

 

[mjkacmom]

Heck no! That was always my favorite part of when they turned 3 or 4, and started picking out their own clothes. For the little ones, I want them to wear weather appropriate clothing (ds11 won't be wearing pants until November ), but if they don't match, they don't match. By the time they get to the age of caring, they really do start to know what items go together. Dd13 can't wear what I consider inappropriate clothes to school, and will sometimes be sent up to change.