Helping your children dress better.....

[tiggger1]

here is one I am getting my daughter.. It has 5 shelves and its labeled mom-fri and you pick the clothes for the week and they are ready for school

http://www.lillianvernon.com/catalo...archParam=LV&pdId=7606&addOn=684&sid=eas&bs=1

 

[Aidensmom]

There are some great ideas on this thread!

My DS will still ask my approval after he picks something out and before he puts it on, but I am sure he will outgrow that at some point. I am not so sure how good it is to get my approval, as I let him wear black t-shirts with navy shorts, see my sig pic!!!

 

[JVL1018]

Well first of all, my almost 5 doesn't even dress himself(can you say lazy boy and a mom who lets him be that way? to me)
Anyway, he has definate opinions, like he hates "button shirts" polos, button ups, doesn't like to wear them.
I made it a rule that I will never ask him to wear them unless it's for something nice(like a nice dinner out, or church) and he's fine with that.

He does insist on picking his clothes out and if things don't match, I tell him he's got to change the shirt or the shorts/pants.

If he can pick out the shirt he really doesn't care, so I let him pick out his shirt every day and if necessary, I pick out the bottom, though 90% of the time he's wearing jeans/jean shorts so it doesn't matter.

My DD is almost 7 and i just have to say..ooooh that doesn't look that great together..it's okay, but such and such would look better, and since she is all into fashion, LOL, she is happy to go and change.But she's usually better dressed than I am!

 

[MareQ]

My older two are like this as well. I finally broke down and got one of those hanging clothes racks. You put it in the closet and it has a shelf for Monday - Tuesday etc. I fill each shelf with an appropriate outfit - right down to socks and undies and then allow them to pick whatever day from there. If they don't something they will go in their dresser and change it so we still do get some odd outfits but for the most part they come down looking just fine

I should probably do this for DH as well considering the fact that he tried to go to work today in tobacco brown colored slacks with a lime green shirt.....

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I should probably do this for DH as well considering the fact that he tried to go to work today in tobacco brown colored slacks with a lime green shirt.....

Maybe he was thinking of the DIS when he was getting dressed.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Anyone remember Garanimals? That was the best invention ever......

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I give my 6yo "guidance", but there have been plenty of times that he's disagreed with me and I've let him wear what he's wanted to wear. He's convinced that if he has on black shorts, that a black shirt is matching, and that's a hard concept to argue with a kindergartner. Sometimes I'll just go pick out clothes and he'll wear them. Just depends. I don't want to be picking his clothes out forever, though, so I do try to let him have some say. And before long he'll be like my teenager and all rules will be out the window (the hell in a handbasket phase), so these really are the good years.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I did similar to what many on here do. I always matched my DS's clothes together. The nicest outfits were hanging together in the closet. Most of his school outfits were hung up, but some for art day, etc. were folded together as outfits in the drawer. Play clothes were in seperate drawers, & not matched together. For school, he was given the freedom to choose an outfit, but not a top & bottom of his choosing. It had to be an already matched outfit. He's now 14 & picks out his own clothes. The clothes he's allowed to wear in public, are still hung in the closet. His hang around the house, or go to the park to play bball, clothes are in his drawers. Actually, he's much better at matching his clothes than his dad is. I think it could be that he has always had to wear clothes that match, & now knows how his clothes should look together. He still has to get my approval on what he wears to school though. I've always had a fear of him being kidnapped or something. I never let him leave the house w/o me storing a mental image of exactly what he's wearing, in case the need should arise. Yes, I'm an overprotective mother.

 

[golfgal]

Anyone remember Garanimals? That was the best invention ever......

I loved Garnaimals!!! I had a girl in my class that had a hard time with Garanimals even. The particular outfit that for what ever reason STILL comes to my mind every time I hear Garanimals is a pair of plaid pants and a flowered shirt. Yes, they had the same animal tag but they still didn't "go together". They colors were the same but the patterns, oh, my!

 

[minkydog]

Honestly, at that age, this wasn't a battle I was willing to fight. Trust me, that the preschool and Kindergarten teachers have seen it ALL when it comes to kids clothing choices.

I would even let DS pick shorts if it WAS going to be 50 degress, and tuck a pair of sweats in his backpack.

As long as it's not dangerous, or distracting, I don't see it as a huge deal.

My personal favorite of DS's was in preschool, when he wore his Spiderman costume (one piece, tied in the back) with a black sweater over it, since it was January. His teacher convinced him to change once he realized how hard it would be to make a quick break for the potty.

Yup, they learn quickly that if you wear your Christmas sweater in August you get stinky. Not that my boys every cared, haha.

I'm also in the let-him-dress-himself camp. Kids have definite ideas about how they want to dress and as long as it isn't dangerous I don't involve myself.

My DD was very persistent in her abnormal clothing style One time she went to church wearing two different shoes. Our preacher complimented her on her unusual shoes--one blue and one pink. She looked down and said,in all seriousness,"I have another pair just like them at home"

At 13yo she is my clothes horse.

 

[momrek06]

My 20yo son is so stylish, he is probably the ONLY student at his college where the majority of his college attire is DRY CLEANED!!!!!

Now...let me just explain to all you parents of little boys that this exact son that I am writing about never matched his clothes AND had absolutely NO problem wearing his sneakers on the WRONG FEET.

HE COULD HAVE CARED LESS what he looked like day in and day out....

But around high shool age (I think it was the fact GIRLS entered his life) everything started changing..yup..he matured, grew up (whatever) and went from this completely DISHEVELED little boy of mine to this "metro-sexual", getting most of his clothes at Brooks Bros as well as wearing the likes of fashion designer Joseph Abboud!! He buys all his jeans at Express and will wear designer mens shirts with them.

BOTTOMLINE, LADIES, your DS' WILL CLEAN UP...please give them time, let them experiment when they are younger, dress as they please but one day sooner than later they will SURPRISE and AMAZE you!!! And then you will simply go "AHHHHHH, that's MY son"!!!!

 

[liamandcaili]

And I'm not at all concerned about when we're home. In fact I didn't even really mind about pre-k or going out (depending on where we're going). But, I'm just concerned about starting at the elementary. I don't want older kids making fun of him because of his clothes.

Don't worry about the boys. We live in a nice area and most kids have nice clothes, but if you go into the school, half the boys are wearing unmatching outfits, almost all are wearing sports jerseys, and another percentage are wearing pants or shoes that may have been purchased last week but now have grass stains, holes or mud on them. Boys just don't make fun of each other because of clothes (unless you dress him up too much), and I am absolutely certain that my son could not describe a single outfit that any boy in his class was wearing on any given day, unless it was a really cool Red Sox jersey.

Girls...that's different. The girls in my neighborhood start demanding certain styles, brands, etc, as young as Kindergarten.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

There are some great ideas on this thread!

My DS will still ask my approval after he picks something out and before he puts it on, but I am sure he will outgrow that at some point. I am not so sure how good it is to get my approval, as I let him wear black t-shirts with navy shorts, see my sig pic!!!

I've never noticed Aiden's outfit in that picture. What I have noticed was his BIG smile--happy to be spending time at probably his favorite place, with his favorite person.

 

[lsyorke]

Don't sweat it! My grandaughter showed up in stripped leggins(primary colors) and plaid skirt(earthtones), an orange poncho, and pink shoes. Her father just looked at me and said" What can I say... she dressed herself!". AND she was quite pleased! Just tell people he's 5.. they'll understand!!! LOL.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I firmly believe that you can not wear black and navy blue together.

You can when you're 5! Other 5-year-olds will either not notice or compliment on Spidey shirt!

IMHO, not worth fighting 5 year old over fashion.

Wait until they want to jeans that show underwear or whatever hideous thing is popular in ten years.

 

[paigevz]

Well first of all, my almost 5 doesn't even dress himself(can you say lazy boy and a mom who lets him be that way? to me)

You just made me feel so much better! I am pulling my hair out trying to get DS4 to dress himself. He can now put on his underwear, shorts and sandals, and ALMOST put on his shirt, but he has always had this thing about having his arms stuck and that panics him (poor thing, probably because I swaddled him, they told us babies LIKED that!) so I usually have to unstick him.

He's nowhere close to able to do any fasteners or even socks and shoes.

He prefers to be naked, and failing that, if I insist, he'll wear his underwear ony.

My boys each have one of those IKEA organizers..........I love 'em. I keep their hats, video games, zipoff legs, card games, and extra shoes in those.

 

[cruisnfamily]

We had a mom at the bus stop last year who must have subscribed to the "let them where whatever they want" philosophy. Her son frequently(probably 2x per week) went to school in cowboy boots(with shorts mind you! We live in FL) and quite often had a super hero cape on over whatever outfit he was wearing. I'll tell you, he looked pretty odd most days but it must have just been a battle she wasn't gonna fight. Pretty funny as his older brother(only 1 year older) always looked fine.

 

[donnajon]

My DS9 puts together some strange choices. The other day he had on a pair of blue and green plaid shorts and a red t-shirt with some green writing. When DH told him he didn't match, he claimed he did match because the t-shirt had green in it! The DH said, "What do you think your mother would think?" and he said, "I don't think mom would think this matches." and he changed his clothes! (He was going out in public!)

 

[tarheelmjfan]

"I don't think mom would think this matches." and he changed his clothes! (He was going out in public!)

I am so with you on that one. I must be anal. (Really, I'm not. I'm so laid back they routinely have to check my pulse to make sure I'm still breathing. ) Shallow as it may sound, I never wanted to be the mom walking around with the kid that had everyone saying, "He/ She must dress themselves". I've never heard anyone make that statement in an "Oh that is so adorable. He/ She must dress themselves." They're either laughing at (not with) or rolling their eyes over the situation. I personally couldn't care less how anyone dresses, that includes kids. (I do draw the line at vulgar.) I just never wanted to be the parent being talked about. As I've always told my DS, "Yes, it is my business what you do & what you wear. Noone blames your appearance or behavior on you. I'm the one being judged, when you leave this house." It's sad, & maybe dumb, but very true. Teachers have seen it all, but trust me, they do notice. Their response isn't always kind, but it's never directed toward the child. I'm quite close with several, & know how they talk.

I may have to start tomorrow but I've never had to fight a clothing battle with my DS(14). He's always know that mom has the final decision, so there's no need to argue. I buy it. He wears it. It's that simple. I do let him pick out his clothes. However, I won't buy pants that fall off his bootie, or any other unacceptable (to me) clothing. I've had to fight a few other battles in the middle school years, but this isn't one of them.

Please, don't get me wrong. I'm not judging the decisions any parents make, when raising their children. As I've said many times, "None of us have mastered the art of parenting." I'm just relaying my feelings & observations on the subject. Also, I wanted to let those parents who have yet to battle with their young kids over clothes know that you don't necessarily have to pick your clothing battles.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

My 20yo son is so stylish, he is probably the ONLY student at his college where the majority of his college attire is DRY CLEANED!!!!!

Now...let me just explain to all you parents of little boys that this exact son that I am writing about never matched his clothes AND had absolutely NO problem wearing his sneakers on the WRONG FEET.

HE COULD HAVE CARED LESS what he looked like day in and day out....

But around high shool age (I think it was the fact GIRLS entered his life) everything started changing..yup..he matured, grew up (whatever) and went from this completely DISHEVELED little boy of mine to this "metro-sexual", getting most of his clothes at Brooks Bros as well as wearing the likes of fashion designer Joseph Abboud!! He buys all his jeans at Express and will wear designer mens shirts with them.

BOTTOMLINE, LADIES, your DS' WILL CLEAN UP...please give them time, let them experiment when they are younger, dress as they please but one day sooner than later they will SURPRISE and AMAZE you!!! And then you will simply go "AHHHHHH, that's MY son"!!!!

I think this is a good example of why you should try to let your sons pick out their own clothes as much as possible. It makes them more aware of how things go together and creates independence, plus it's one less thing for you to do.

My husband's mother always picked out his clothes, very nice ones I'm sure, but to this day he can't match his clothes together and commits many of the faux pas described here. Give up a little control, moms. This is one area where it doesn't really matter for their everyday wear.