Do you like your kids to look nice when you go out?

[maltesers]

I know i am a bit fussy but i do like my kids to look well dressed. . .Anyone else the same? I havnt got much money and a single parent.
However, if we are going somewhere in particular they have to put on what i have got out. . . within reason. My youngest is 9 ys and he isnt fussy what i make him put on. . thank god. My older two are grown up now and away from home; so its up to them entirely and always from about aged 14 yrs. I hate my child to wear nylon football clothing. . unless he was actually playing footy. Socks have to match rest of clothes. .

Oh, DD1 has what I call 'Dubai Taste'. Tacky. But of course, she's a nearly 7-year-old girl.

Two very lovely French girls were playing with her in Amsterdam airport, though, and asked her her name in English, and where she was from. So she told them and asked their names.

And they went on to say, 'Qu'elle est belle!'

So despite her rumpled attire, well, there you go.

Dd (11) picks her own clothes, not always to my taste, but what can you do? When she was younger she was always co-ordinated though.

Ds is 6 and happy with whatever I put him in although sometimes asks for a particular t-shirt etc.

I always have him in trainer socks with shorts though.

Girls in beautiful dresses ruined with trainers on their feet is my pet hate.

I have 3 under 6 and alwys have them dressed nicely,

Every da they have nice, clean, ironed clothes on.

They wreck them within hours of course, but I like to know I have tried

They don't wear 'posh' clothes, alot is whatevers in the sales or second hand, but its always clean and bright and co-ordinated

I think some are forgetting that we may lead different lifestyles and the choice of clothes will reflect how you live.

We live in a small village surrounded by the woods and many farms, nice dainty little shoes and a pretty french dress wouldn't last too long here.
When we are at home or somewhere local the DC wear practical clothes and can look a bit scruffy after a few hours. That not to say they are going around in cheap rags their clothes are generally good quality and natural materials.

When we are going up town for an outing or eating out they wear something a lot more suitable For DD a more classic style in a smart blouse and skirt with polished shoes.

I certainly am not teaching my children that if they don't looked groomed everyday the will do less well in life. They see their dad walking around looking like a tramp some days and then suited up the next for a business meeting.
I hope they understand that you dress for the occasion and environment and that you never judge what's on the outside unless you are ignorant of mind.

Yes I am fussy about what DS wears, but that is all the time.

He doesn't own any clothes I don';t like. They are not expensive or 'smart' (I don't like that look on children) but they are all nice, all co-ordinate and are bright colours, ironed and clean.

Well said 'thediary'

Mine's only 18 months so I do tend to play dressup with her. But it's all practical - until she could walk well I never put her in skirts or dresses, only trousers that didn't hamper her crawling; mostly she wears jeans and tops and sneakers; I've never 'done' her hair, ever; no labels, nothing that isn't machine washable on hot, nothing that can't get dirty, in short.

I do wish we had more choice here in Australia, though. It's a bit depressing to go to playgroup and see three other girls in different colours of the same jumper.

and I don;t care how messy or dirty he gets, ever, and let him wear jeans with holes in the knees.

I just like to pick clothes that I like and that he likes, but they are always practical and comfortable.

They do have lovely dresses and shoes for going to a ballet, a party, museum, etc.

But we live in teh countryside in Scotland. They have about 3 pairs of cheapo wellies each.

I'm rather more concerned about whats in my kids brains than how they look!.But when i had only one i used to dress her up like a little dolly.BTW now i have 4 we would never get out of the house if i dressed them all beautifully.But i hate seeeing kids at school with dirty clothes and i make sure my kids are all bathed and wear clean clothes every day.My youngest always looks scruffy no matter what i put on him and the others all chose appropriate clothes and look smart.I think its totally wrong to teach kids that the way they look is the most important thing but it is a useful skill to know or be taught.I also think that the amount of money you spend on kids designer clothes is often in inverse proportion to the amount of money you have/earn for whatever reason.Children need to learn that they have to work for nice things and not just expect to be given them on a plate.

If there clothes fit and are clean and ironed, and their hair is brushed, and they are clean that is good enough for me, I dont mind them getting dirty while we are out (within reason) as my stepdad always says, " a dirty ki is a happy kid"

Thediary - "you never judge what's on the outside unless you are ignorant of mind"? What is on the outside that we have control over (ie how we dress) is how someone is choosing to present themselves to others. Its sending a message, if you like. So it is not ignorant to at least consider someone's appearance when "judging", instead I would consider it ignorant not to. Think the key, though, is the weight attached to appearance - it is just one part of who we are, and definitely not the most important part.

Teta I am also more concerned about what's in DD's brain than on her back, but I don't see appearance and character/intelligence/education as mutually exclusive. Don't think we disagree on that.

But bunny some people don't have control over what's on the outside either their brains aren't wired to think about how they look or they can't financial afford it.

The whole point of teaching them to wear particular clothes on certain occasions is to teach them that such things are expected of you occasionally. But that also it's not acceptable to ONLY judge someone on their clothes and personal appearance are like that would be shallow and you may miss out on meeting and engaging with interesting people.

Hopefully they will understand that yes if you want to be part of a corporate world you will have to look smart each day as thats part of the lifestyle but there is another way in life were many people won't care and it's fine if she'd rather be part of that world and that she can still be successful, money in the bank and a corporate lifestyle isn't the only route to success and happiness.

For what it's worth I know many successful farmers who earn a very nice living (loaded some of them due to selling land) and none of them wear suits or their kids wearing french outfits.

I love choosing my DD's aged 22months clothes.Also have 2 older DSs so am long due "dress up" time. Have to be honest and admit I spend far, far more on DD than DSs put together. No one seems concerned.
Regarding labels I can't bear seeing designer labels or sportswear. LOVE the Boden look tho not the price tag. Tend to buy majority of clothes from M and S, Next and H and M. Have bought quite alot of Monsoon stuff from Ebay, lovely.

DS has lots of nice clothes but he mainly likes to wear something with a car on the front.

Clean and co-ordinated when he leaves the house is the best I can do at the moment.(Toilet training)

But it is a permanent irritation that boys clothes are so boring. He has his whole life to wear a navy polo shirt and jeans - why can't I find something bright to put him whilst he is still a little boy?

god no!
both dds pretty much choose what they want to wear, and have done from an early age, with varying degrees of eccentricity. colour co-ordination is simply a pipe dream.

I only intervene in the event of grubbiness (but that isn't usually a problem) or if the child is likely to be far too cold/hot.
dd2 is particularly fond of VERY odd outfits, dressing up gear, deliberately odd socks.
dd1 is frequently dressed in a particular theme (e.g. today - "one of those French clowns" "a zoo keeper" "Beatrix Potter"

dd isn't usually fussed and will happily put on wjatever I hand her (except knickers, which she has strong views on)

I do confess that for birthday parties where we are going straight from nursery she changes into proper cotton dress, clean socks and party shoes - she could go in her painty jeans and trike-scuffed shoes but she enjoys it as part of the buildup to the party

and obv I practically burst with pride

I absolutely hate to see designer labels on children.

hello Mrs B

I really couldn't care less as long as they do not look frightful, ds 3 is currently enamored of a rhinestone waistcoat/dinosaur croc/any shorts that are clean combo, obv if going out to a 'do' it's best bib n braces
but for every day pah who cares

I think that if the first thing you notice about a child, or even an adult, is their clothing, it's a bit of a shame.

hello harpsi

I will support Clary. I don't like football tops but my DSs did-I can't see any harm it if they are happy. I think that any DCs clothes should be practical, hard wearing and easy to wash-unless it is something like a wedding.
There is nothing sadder than a DC saying 'my mummy will be cross'when they get paint, soil etc on clothes. They should be able to play without worrying about clothes.
I was in a park yesterday, having a picnic in the sun, and 2 little girls were nearby aged about 6 yrs and 4 yrs. They were identically dressed in pretty dresses,with sashes and white socks and black patent leather shoes. They looked nice but it was inappropriate for the occasion-they needed shorts, T shirts and scruffy trainers. Their mother would have had a fit if they had climbed trees, like the other DCs nearby.

And there is hope. My 9 year old no longer wants to wear football shirts except to football training. He is currently wearing a skinny jeans, waistcoat, scarf and trilby uniform of which he says marks him as an indie kid.