When it comes to fashion, parents and their kids are often on different pages. In the current issue of the Family Education newsletter, parents were asked, “At what age should kids be allowed to pick their own wardrobe?” Here’s how parents voted:
10 or 11—53%
12 or 13—26%
14 or 15—9%
16 or older— 12%
I believe in giving kids choices but only to a certain extent. For instance, I will ask Tyler if he wants cereal or oatmeal for breakfast. If I simply ask him what he wants without offering choices invariable he will say, “I don’t know.” On the mornings when he wakes up and asks for something specific, grits, for instance, I am only happy to oblige.
When I take him shopping with me I generally don’t ask him his opinion on what clothes to add to his wardrobe. If he sees something that he likes and I also like it I will get it for him. I will veto anything I don’t like no matter how much he begs- or how big the sales tag is. For instance, I don’t like Sponge Bob (but he does) so we don’t buy Sponge Bob shirts or other apparel no matter what.
My philosophy is that since I am footing the bill, I have the final say in what he wears. As he gets older I plan to do pretty much the same thing. I have no problem with him picking out his clothes at 10 or 11 but I plan to have veto power over all of his purchases; even if he wants to use allowance money or money received from others.
I don’t anticipate too much of a struggle; boys are generally easier to shop for and not as much of a slave to fashion as girls are. I won’t have to worry about the same issues a mother with girls have to face–dresses that are too short, pants that are too tight or tops that are too low cut. I figure my biggest challenge might be his wanting to “sag” and that will never happen as long as I’m alive!
See also:
Tattoos, Piercings and Mohawks (Oh My!)
Job Fairs- Appropriate Attire for Teens