Dress Without Stress: 4 Tips For Letting Kids Dress Themselves

If you've got small kids, you've been here before: it's morning, the toast is burning, your car keys have vanished and you’re running late.

Just as you're packing up lunch, you look down and it clicks: your child isn't wearing the adorable outfit you laid out for him. No, your kid is decked out in a princess dress, a cape and a panty hose hat.

The first thing to remember: you are not alone. Sooner or later, most kids want to exert independence, rock their own look and show the world who they are. And why shouldn’t they have fun with fashion when they’re young? Soon enough, they'll be hearing that jeggings are for your twenties and miniskirts are forbidden past thirty-five.

How to deal with these fashion face-offs? Here are some tips for keeping the peace when it comes to clothing conundrums:

Style Standoff

I think one of the best things about having kids is dressing them up in pint-size couture. Children’s clothing stores are jam-packed with adorable attire. 

So it’s understandable when parents get a little upset that kids want to wear Star Wars pajamas to a family reunion.

Here's a tip: for everyday dressing, give your kids freedom to express their creativity and independence. But when it comes to special occasions, it's the parents’ turn to say "yes" to how they dress.

Clothing Comfort

Some kids find certain fabrics itchy, tags prickly or zippers scratchy. You can't expect kids to wear clothes they're not comfortable in.

The trick is to figure out which items tick both the fashion and feel good boxes before making a major clothing purchase.

Be sure to test drive new clothes in the change room and at home with the tags intact before committing.

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Quick Change Artist

As soon your kid has settled on an outfit, she wants to change it. She has more wardrobe changes than Beyoncé. She puts on the green sweater. She takes off the green sweater. She puts on the red pants, only to start looking for the striped ones. 

She has more wardrobe changes than Beyoncé.

How do you rein in your quick-change artist? Try simplifying her choices so she's not overwhelmed when pulling together her own look.

Mismatched Meltdown

Your child is enthralled with a mash-up of jarring stripes, plaids and polka dots. You, on the other hand, are cringing, wondering what people will think.

Here's a tip for parents to keep in mind: hold your head high and bite your tongue, even if it hurts.

Remember that a few funny outfits are a small price to pay to help your child develop a strong sense of personal style.

When all is said and done, clothing calamities are well worth it—you're watching your kids discover themselves through fashion.

So here's looking at you kid, no matter what you wear!