6 Tips to Help Your Teen Dress for Her Age
by Celine Sanders
Did you know that 82 percent of parents think children dress inappropriately for their age and that nearly one-third of parents say that they have a difficult time finding appropriate and fashionable clothing for their kids? These statistics, reported in an article at Family.Go, show that parents are finding it increasingly difficult to make their kids look like kids, not miniature models and movie stars.
But what’s a parent to do when their teens are revealing way too much skin? Be a mom and stand up for your daughter by teaching her that she can accentuate her beauty without attracting unnecessary attention from her male peers. Here are six tips to help you stop – or prevent – your daughter from dressing too mature for her age.
Expose Her to a Variety of Styles of Clothing
Get busy scouring the Internet for images of outfits that flatter – while covering – the female body. Take a look at them with your daughter and teach her how to choose styles and colors that best suit her figure and face. Then take her to the mall to shop for items that can be layered, like maxi-style Macy’s dresses and skirts or cute blazers.
Set a Good Example
You probably know that the old “do as I say, not as I do” adage doesn’t work. The best way to encourage your daughter from exposing too much is by keeping your body covered up in the way you hope she will. Practice what you preach before you explain to her why she should choose shirts with higher-than-average necklines and wear skirts that fall at or below the knees. You don’t have to sacrifice your personal style or get all of your fashion tips from the Amish in order to accomplish this, just be a little choosier in your clothing choices.
Praise Her Achievements, Not Her Looks
The tween and teen years are an emotional roller coaster for girls, and at some point she’ll likely feel the need to gain attention from her looks. Consistently remind her how smart and talented she is without putting too much emphasis on how she looks. Explain that it’s far better to gain praise from making the honor roll and acing the ACTs than to get the same by wearing risqué attire and leaving school with little more than an impressive closet full of the last four years fashions.
Remind Her That Others Will Judge Her Looks
While this may seem contradictory to the above point, your daughter needs to realize that even though the people that know and care about her will look past her duds, outsiders will judge her based on what she’s wearing. If she wants to be taken seriously as a young woman, than dressing like a Playboy-Bunny-wannabe isn’t in her best interest.
Embrace School Uniforms
More schools are opting in favor of uniforms as a way to level the playing field for children that come from various socioeconomic backgrounds. If your school is just getting into this, be supportive of the policy and explain to your children that this removes the focus on fashion and allows them to concentrate on their studies. If that doesn’t work, remind them that they’ll get to sleep in longer since the daily dilemma of “what should I wear?” has been eliminated!
Implement a Clothing Policy
Until she’s 18 and out on her own, you expect your daughter to obey the household rules which are in place for the good of the family. An article from Today.com states that there’s nothing wrong with making rules like “necklines must not reveal cleavage” and “shorts must have at least a 5-inch inseam.” The earlier you start this – especially if you have younger girls – the easier it will be to enforce.
About the author: Celine Sanders is a mom, wife and director of operations for a marketing company. She has an MBA, but motherhood has been her most valuable education.
