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How does your child express their individuality? Tell us for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher plus picture book Odd Dog Out

238 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 25/01/2017 09:20

Rob Biddulph's beautiful new picture book Odd Dog Out is all about blazing a trail, and being who you are. To celebrate its publication, we're asking you to share how your mini superstars dare to be different.

It's a dog's life in the big city but one dog doesn't quite fit in. It's lonely being the odd dog out when all she wants to do is find her place in the world. She's willing to travel far on her quest, but it might take a different kind of journey for her to realise that maybe she's exactly where she needs to be.

A sublimely sunny and exquisitely illustrated tale about fitting in and standing out, from the award-winning and tremendously talented Rob Biddulph.

We'd love to hear how your little ones to express their individuality (and how you help them to do so) - whether it's insisting on wearing their favourite character costume 24/7 or only eating certain coloured food. For a chance to win a copy of Odd Dog Out and £100 voucher to spend at John Lewis, just tell us on this thread.

This discussion is sponsored by HarperCollins and will close at midday on 22 February

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How does your child express their individuality? Tell us for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher plus picture book Odd Dog Out
How does your child express their individuality? Tell us for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher plus picture book Odd Dog Out
OP posts:
barricade · 30/01/2017 20:31
  1. Wearing hat, wellies and scarf INSIDE the house, and insisting on going without when going outside.
  2. Finish his snack at his own pace. And I mean at his own pace - will not allow us to throw anything away even if he has been struggling with it for over an hour - he will come back to it when he is good and ready.
  3. Specific bedtime toys for specific days of the week --> the T-Rex is NOT for Mondays!!
Rae1000 · 30/01/2017 19:56

My daughter requests bowls of mussels & prawns in restaurants & olives as appetisers! She gets lots of raised eyebrows

Alanna1 · 30/01/2017 19:38
  1. Clothes, as others have said. She often wears multiple skirts / wants to be a particular pattern or colour.
  2. Drawing and painting or collage of something. Always fun.
  3. Putting on a show.
StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 30/01/2017 19:32

DD (3) has 2 favourite outfits: being a crocodile or being a nudey. It's fine if she wants to go to the shop as a crocodile. Less fine when she strips off in the park.

Lovewatchingrainfall · 30/01/2017 19:30

My 3year old gives people bits of paper with there super powers on. She has some big scars on her chest and we tell her that they gave her super powers so she says that everyone needs them. She loves to wear a cape but after it got stuck in a door she now has one on her teddy instead

buddles · 30/01/2017 19:21

My DS loves to dance at any given opportunity. He loves Michael Jackson and will proudly show off the entire routine to 'Black and White'. He's loved him since before he was 3 and still loves him now he's almost 5.

PickAChew · 30/01/2017 18:58

Ds2 will only wear matching socks for their first ever wear. After that, he unpairs them and will only wear them odd!

TeenAndTween · 30/01/2017 18:54

My DD doesn't eat sandwiches. Or buns around burgers or hotdogs. Or toast.
But she will randomly ask for a piece of bread to eat all on its own Confused
She's 12.

rhinosuze · 30/01/2017 18:51

She 'expresses' herself through her clothes and accessories, from a really early age she wanted to choose what she wore which inevitably leads to a mish mash outfit and about 10 hairslides at once! Some days I look and think people will think we've gone mad dressing her like that, other times I just think I'm really glad she isn't desperate to look like everyone else (which if you think about it is a lesson my 4 year old could actually teach mum!)

Pigeonpea · 30/01/2017 18:44

Rainbows! Life is one big rainbow for my little girl - colour is everything, so her outfits are spectacular and vibrant - she's decorated her own lampshade in rainbow colours

lottietiger · 30/01/2017 18:11

My 3 year old loves to break dance. He loves to surprise people by starting off with a song, then a normal dance then dropping on to his knees, flipping over and doing back spins! Done know where he got that from :) he also won't drink fizzy drinks at all prefers water, doesn't like fast food or chocolate. It's great but doesn't always go down well at parties.

GizmoFrisby · 30/01/2017 18:07

Doing funky dancing.
Amazing lego models of the craziest things.
Role play.... with things like a card board box blankets and plastic animals.
Plastic play food meals such as a squirrel sandwich 🙈
I've been in and out of hospital a lot recently and my ds writes me stories. I most recently got one called SANTA NEEDS A WEE 😂

Love my babies with all my heart. They are unique little things.💗

RatOnnaStick · 30/01/2017 18:02

DS1 isn't happy with his outfit unless every item is a different colour. If his socks are blue stripy then the pants will be red, the trousers green and the tshirt orange. The idea of coordinating clothes is anathema to his 6-year-old mind brighter is better.

crimeworm · 30/01/2017 17:59

My son never sat still - I suspect he had ADHD, which was a nightmare in his school days, but has meant he's a very hard worker and has been promoted above older men to deputy manager. He earns far too much for someone his age, though, in my opinion! My daughter was the polar opposite - nose in a book, in a world of her own. She's started her own business now, as well as having two part-time jobs. They were just so different from each other - but were, and remain, incredibly close. We're very proud of them.

Booklover123 · 30/01/2017 17:55

One of my dd,s , when a baby/toddler used to adore a tin of skinless and boneless sardines in olive oil on a picnic!! The rest of the family would be chomping away on the usual cheese sandwiches and our little one would be chomping away on her sardines! Dare to be different! By the way , she detests sardines now!

shadydelta · 30/01/2017 17:52

My 6 year old son is very comical he goes everywhere wearing a hat. He has all different kinds and absolutely loves them. His favourite is a big blue fluffy monster hat that always seems to be with him. He also likes to sing while using the bathroom. He can complete a whole version of Dynamite by Taio Cruz before getting out while we all wait in a line with our legs crossed!!

Wishonastar77 · 30/01/2017 17:46

My 5 year old son doesn't follow the popular football teams. He is an avid fan of little old Watford FC and as such has brain washed his baby sister already. They love going to watch.

How does your child express their individuality? Tell us for a chance to win a £100 John Lewis voucher plus picture book Odd Dog Out
InvisibleKittenAttack · 30/01/2017 16:24

Clothing will go in themes, themes rarely work well together...

The importance of wearing every fucking hair clip we own is something I don't get...

kateandme · 30/01/2017 16:20

she has a wicked cackle of a laugh.trys to hide it sometimes but when hse really allows herself to it comes and soars through our hearts.its beautiful

NauticalDisaster · 30/01/2017 16:13

My 5 yo DS has recently decided he doesn't want anything to match. So batman pj bottoms now get paired with a dinosaur top, a Captain America sock goes with a Hulk sock, and a Spider-Man underpants surely must get paired with a Dusty Crophopper vest.

It may make my eye twitch but he can choose what to wear and express himself however he sees fit... except for shorts when it's zero degrees out!

Mrsmonkeymoo1 · 30/01/2017 16:13

My son is a little bit eccentric - is currently wanting to wear bow ties all the time. He also only will wear other clothes that have badges on them. He doesn't care what other kids think. If he could go to school in just his underpants and a bow tie - this would make perfect sense to him. I dread to think what the teachers faces would be like Wink

thesoupdragon44 · 30/01/2017 16:09

My son has always been a little bit eccentric and used to all ways wear a smart shirt and a hat. He was known as hat boy at one point. He wears less now but has a favourite beanie which he will wear all weekend if he can get away with it.

gemmie797 · 30/01/2017 16:07

My youngest son has always had a strong fashion sense! He likes to wear all sorts of wacky outfits and I love that he's happy with his individual style. My friends comment "only Charlie could carry that off" I hope he always pleases himself with how he dresses as he gets older

VioletRoar · 30/01/2017 16:07

He wore largely only fancy dress until he was about 5.
someone told him pink was for girls, so he bought a pink bottle to prove a point. Often wears girls jeggings etc as prefers the fit.

foxessocks · 30/01/2017 16:06

My dd is 3 and just wants to chat to everyone and anyone and asks them very strange questions! It can be a little embarrassing sometimes but I do love her confidence.