Unpopular opinion, but true.
Parents wonder why their children suddenly change their style when they’re sixteen but, the reason is simple. Kids have their sense of style, and many develop it when they’re young.
This piece can show any parent why they should let their kids choose their style from as early as four years old.
It’s Like Privacy, but for Clothes & Shoes
Kids want their own thing, in pretty much the same way as adults, if not more intensely. Sure, a parent might think that their kids could not possibly have developed a sense of style just yet and that they must help them. However, kids can only know what works for their style by practicing different things.
If your kid isn’t completing some basic tasks of dressing (or undressing) themselves by two and a half years or three years tops, there might be a problem. One of the reasons in the next section tells you why there may be a problem.
3 Reasons to let Kids Choose their Own Style
As early as three, kids start to make sense of their environment. They’re building several different skills and are interested in showing off those skills in their daily activities.
Below is a list of three reasons to let kids pick out their styles;
- It builds their cognitive skills:
Your kid may end up picking a bathing suit for a frost Saturday in January but, it won’t happen for long. As you guide your kids without necessarily making the style decisions for them, they grow to understand what they can pick for themselves and how temperature and the seasons of the year can influence their decisions.
- It builds their sense of independence:
Can you remember when you were a kid? It might be easy to forget what it feels like to be a kid as a parent. But, if you can remember that you must’ve felt frustrated more than once when it seemed like your parents called all the shots, you’ll make a lot of progress with your kid.
Kids want to feel like they call some shots, at least. The more space you give them to call the shots about their wardrobe selection, the more responsible and independent they feel.
Try to make getting dressed every morning as visual as possible. Maybe create posters of each stage in the process and paste them on their bedroom walls. Have them pick out their outfits the night before, if possible, and watch how they fare with the posters to guide them the following day.
- It builds their confidence and self-esteem:
Don’t be surprised when your kid wants to show off how much better they’re getting at self-dressing. When it’s a style they’ve picked out themselves, you can be sure everyone’s going to hear of it.
And it’s a good thing because, in addition to a sense of independence, they’re building their confidence and esteem around getting things done.
Wake up one morning, and you might just have your kid telling you that those red pants you’re wearing don’t fit your shirt! Such confidence!
Before we go, this quick guide helps you let kids pick their style
- Give them options to choose from:
You’re trying to let your kid build those much-needed cognitive skills and a sense of independence and self-esteem. You’re also trying to leave the house on time, and the two may not always fit.
You can make it out of the house in good time by providing them with options of which color of the sweater, socks, t-shirts: that way, no one’s getting delayed or frustrated.
- Allow for taste:
You might just have a fashionista brewing in your house, so, as much as you can, pay attention to your child’s tastes from the selections of clothes they make.
The more likely you are to present them with options that they find tasteful, the easier it’ll be for you and them. Plus, they’re still gaining all the skills they’ll need.
If you don’t want a full-blown rebellion by the time they’re teenagers, get invested in your kid’s sense of style very early.
I hope this helps!