To Old for Dress Up

[Ayleana]

My DD will be 7 this Christmas. While discussing gift ideas with my mom, I showed her the new Frozen costumes. My mom feels that she is getting too old for dress up stuff and "that hopefully she will out grow it". My DH and I feel that its a normal childhood experience, plus we love to dress up for events/conventions too. What are others thoughts? Would 7 be too old for costumes? Especially if she still likes to wear them. I mean, if she were to come to me and say "mommy, I don't want to dress up any more." then that'd be different. My mom (as much as I love her) can make me doubt my decisions.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

My DD is 9. We have been going to Disney every year since she was 1. She still loves to dress up in princess costumes (completely her decision) to go to the parks. She has the rest of her life to not want to wear a Rapunzel costume. That time will come soon enough - there is no need for us to rush it.

 

[rachael95]

Seven is a GREAT age for dressing up. Sheesh, I badgered my DH to dress up with me for a Renn Faire this year (though he already had the kilt) and we're in our late 30s and early 40s. If I could dress up at Disney, I'd probably do it. I think (someone correct me) Disney rules say something about 13 or 14 year olds and older not being allowed to dress up. So if Disney thinks it's ok, then that means there are thousands of other girls who are dressing up at that age as well.

Yes, if she feels she's too old to do it, I wouldn't force her. But if she wants to dress up, let her feel like a princess as long as possible. Little children are forced into becoming miniature adults way too early in our society. Let them be kids and dress like kids.

 

[Woodmnky]

Not too old at all. She is still excercising her imagination in a very natural way. I would ask your mom to please keep her opinions to herself and do not express this opinion to DD. DD will outgrow this eventually (or not, but is that really a big deal?) but it will be in her time.

 

[PWammy]

Kids vary; if she's into it keep doing it. I had one niece who grew out of "dress up" around 1st grade; my younger niece is 16 and still likes to dress up for halloween or even dress to the theme of my daughter's birthday parties.

 

[disney is my life]

Definitely not to old. My DD has just recently gotten in to dress up and she is 7. She got her first Cinderella costume for Christmas last year and loves dressing up in it whenever she can.

 

[scrapquitler]

My DD will be 7 this Christmas. While discussing gift ideas with my mom, I showed her the new Frozen costumes. My mom feels that she is getting too old for dress up stuff and "that hopefully she will out grow it". My DH and I feel that its a normal childhood experience, plus we love to dress up for events/conventions too. What are others thoughts? Would 7 be too old for costumes? Especially if she still likes to wear them. I mean, if she were to come to me and say "mommy, I don't want to dress up any more." then that'd be different. My mom (as much as I love her) can make me doubt my decisions.

If you child still likes to dress up, then she's not too old for it. When she decides she's too old for it, she'll stop doing it.

My son is almost 11 and he still dresses up sometimes, though these days it's only his Harry Potter robe/glasses/tie/wand. When he was 7/8 he was in his superhero and ninja costumes regularly.

 

[Ayleana]

Thanks everyone. That's how I feel. She even dresses up for the local Celtic Fest every year and has even tried to dress her brother (2) up. We as a family LOVE to dress up. I see nothing wrong with it. My mom is the one that hounds me and my daughter about it. I've told her that I see nothing wrong with it, that's she's being a child but my mom thinks she should start out growing it soon. I really should point out that her youngest (my sister) is 26 and still dresses up for Halloween and other such stuff too (and she doesn't have kids to be dressing for, she just does it for the fun).
Thanks everyone for your input.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

My DD will be 7 this Christmas. While discussing gift ideas with my mom, I showed her the new Frozen costumes. My mom feels that she is getting too old for dress up stuff and "that hopefully she will out grow it". My DH and I feel that its a normal childhood experience, plus we love to dress up for events/conventions too. What are others thoughts? Would 7 be too old for costumes? Especially if she still likes to wear them. I mean, if she were to come to me and say "mommy, I don't want to dress up any more." then that'd be different. My mom (as much as I love her) can make me doubt my decisions.

"Hopefully she will out grow it"????? Why would you want your kids to grow up faster than they need to. Kids grow up too fast already. Instead of discouraging this perfectly acceptable kid behaviour, I say encourage it and get the dress. Before you know it she'll be an adult an you will think to yourself, "where has the time gone, and how did my baby grow up so fast?!" Enjoy these years to the fullest and savour every moment. Besides, the frozen dress is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

My DD will be 7 this Christmas. While discussing gift ideas with my mom, I showed her the new Frozen costumes. My mom feels that she is getting too old for dress up stuff and "that hopefully she will out grow it". My DH and I feel that its a normal childhood experience, plus we love to dress up for events/conventions too. What are others thoughts? Would 7 be too old for costumes? Especially if she still likes to wear them. I mean, if she were to come to me and say "mommy, I don't want to dress up any more." then that'd be different. My mom (as much as I love her) can make me doubt my decisions.

"Hopefully she will out grow it"????? Why would you want your kids to grow up faster than they need to. Kids grow up too fast already. Instead of discouraging this perfectly acceptable kid behaviour, I say encourage it and get the dress. Before you know it she'll be an adult an you will think to yourself, "where has the time gone, and how did my baby grow up so fast?!" Enjoy these years to the fullest and savour every moment. Besides, the frozen dress is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

 

[jedimeg16]

You are never too old to play dress up (said by a 29 year old mom who just won the adult costume contest at a Halloween party my sons attended). I plan on making Merida and Anna costumes in the near future too. As long as your kids want to dress up, let them.

 

[Ayleana]

Thanks again everyone. These are all similar arguments I give my mom, "i don't want her to grow up too fast" and that "i want her to be a child". I think that she's forgotten what it's like to be a child. Myself, I've been surrounded by kids my entire adult life (as a daycare teacher then as a mom) so I believe very strongly in letting my DD be a child and continue to dress up. I just wanted to get some feed back from other parents about this topic, because the ONLY input I get is from my mom (never really made friends when I moved to this city). I can't post it to FB to ask for my friends' opinions b/c then my mom would see it or my dad would see it LOL. I'm 35 and considered about that, but then I don't want to upset either of them. My DD WILL be getting the Frozen costumes for Christmas or her birthday (only 3 days apart there). And my DS will be getting the Peter Pan costume too (if I can ever find it again).

 

[BooCar3126]

My DH is 7 and LOVES to dress up. She has so many princess dresses and even dresses from her dance recitals. Her friends come over and they dress up too. I think their is nothing wrong with it and I will encourage her to do it until she feels she is to old. It is a great way to express creativity. My DS 6 also loves to dress up.

I dont know why someone would want to take that away from a child! I still like to play dressup with my kiddos!

I worked in a before and afterschool program and my dramatic play (aka Dress up) center was my most popular with kids from k-6, both boys and girls.

 

[poohguys]

DS13 still dresses up every once in awhile. Not so much in the last two years. We had a bonfire the other night and he put on his fire helmet and fire uniform. They grow up too fast! I miss those days when he was little. Enjoy it as long as you can. I think your DD is just fine still playing dress up

 

[rachael95]

I worked in a before and afterschool program and my dramatic play (aka Dress up) center was my most popular with kids from k-6, both boys and girls.

I work at a university and we recently did a re-opening party for our library after a renovation. People thought I was being silly making a photo booth where people could dress up in costumes and take their pictures in front of period back drops. It ended up being THE most popular booth and not just for students, all the faculty, staff and even some of the C-level administrators got into the dress up.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My daughter was seven when she first dressed up at Disney and went to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. She did it for three years in a row. Loved it. The pictures we got are some of my favorite. I couldn't imagine telling her she was too old. My biggest to do at disney is the Mickeys Not so Scary Halloween party so we can all dress up so I am a bit over 7 and haven't grown out of it and I am perfectly okay with that.

 

[smiths02]

My DS is 7.5, he still pulls out costumes to wear around the house. He still believes in Santa and the tooth fairy.

I don't see how 7 is too old.

I know many adult women who "dress up" everyday...they love fashion and make up.