How to Select Clothes for an Elementary Student

It's a given that kids will grow and their tastes will change throughout the grammar school years. Although some youngsters will still look to their parents for style direction, many will find themselves hypnotized by the clothes worn by cultural icons and peers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take a moment to discuss clothing with children each time they enter a new grade. Get a sense of what they like, what styles, colors and motifs they no longer fancy, and a few stores, if any, they'd like to visit.

2. Buy on the big side, as your child will grow into items with the progression of the school year. Younger children may still need the simplicity of easy snaps, large buttons and elastic waists, while older kids will gradually start to fancy fashion over function.

3. Build your child's wardrobe around mix-and-match separates to make self-dressing fun and effortless. Besides coordinates allow you to build more outfits with fewer pieces, easing the tug on your pocketbook.

4. Take advantage of Back-to-School sales. Your child will have grown over the summer and these sales allow you to realize good deals on basics like underwear, socks, jeans and tees, as well as big ticket items like coats.

5. Give in to your child's desire to buy a few trendy pieces of clothing. Even boys may want to experiment with the fabrics and cuts he's seen on his favorite sport's star.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring your children with you to shop, resisting the urge to take care of it for them. Not only is it important for your children to try clothes on, including them in the selection process with boost their self esteem and allow them to explore their personal tastes.
• Let your child know about his/her clothing budget for a given year. It's wise to keep a little in reserve so they can get a few additional pieces as the year progresses.
• Check with your child's school regarding formal or informal dress codes. For example, tank tops, slogan tee shirts, mini skirts, non-gym shorts and sandals may not be appropriate.

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on 2/25/2006 In early elementary school, some girls will be copying their older sisters and start wearing clothes suitable for much older girls. This would include, depending on what's in style, miniskirts, very high heels, maxi-length long straight skirts, belly shirts, spaghetti strap shirts, and even thongs worn to show the straps.

Sometimes this is hard to discourage (except for the thongs). It is difficult to explain to a totally naive elementary schooler why sexually suggestive clothes are not good.

Try to keep it simple and not get in a war or give her age-inappropriate information. Usually pointing out that these shoes or skirts will make it impossible to play at recess is a good start. Showing them how boys cans see their underwear in a given outfit is usually a stopper too.

If you look around, or are willing to modify ready to wear items, you should be able to find fashionable and not too sexually forward clothes for your elementary school girls. If your child is tall for their age, the quest gets more difficult in the older grades. Find out from other moms whose daughters are wearing clothes you and your daughter both like where they do their shopping.

Try to find a middle ground so your daughter won't be a pariah for continuing to wear jean jumpers and tights when the rest of the class is dressing more stylishly! At the same time, preserve your daughter's innocence and encourage her to run and play without being restricted by inappropriate clothing.