Letting Your Kids Dress Themselves

ROFL!!!!
ok sorry I had to laugh because I have a 9 yr old that STILL dresses in outrageous outfits. She is SOOO creative and as long as it's not revealing or say , sweat pants in the middle of summer, I let her go.
That's just her style I LOVE that she isn't worried about dressing like the "in crowd" . She is her own person and has her own style. I ADORE her unique style

If it's weather appropriate and occasion appropriate then they get to choose. I only mandate changing if they'll be extremely hot or cold, or if they're trying to wear sweats to a wedding or something. I've had adult friends make observations about things not matching or even clashing but I don't care. I'd rather have a kid who is happy and comfortable than argue over it. Just today my daughter went everywhere in PJ pants, although I advised her to change into a regular t-shirt so she wouldn't be hot. I do advise sometimes -- that skirt is little fancy for the park, etc. -- but if I don't have a good reason for changing then I shut my mouth.

I'd let them wear it.
Anybody that has an issue with a little kid (or anyone really) not matching needs to find something constructive to do with their time.

I never redress my kids. I let them wear pretty much whatever they want. Now if it is snowing outside..your better believe they will have boots gloves and a warm coat..What they wear under it all I could care less.

Clothes has always been a means for self expression...Which I think is one of the most valuable things a person can have.

As long as it is not gonna hurt them or offend anyone...What does it matter if the are wearing shorts, leggings, one black sock ,one blue sock a shirt that is too big and mismatched shoes:)They like the chuckles they get from people, most the time they are innocent and in a good manner...There have only been a few littler kids that just dont ''GET'' it...Its because they have never been given the freedom.

If it's weather-appropriate and they are covered, I'll let them wear it. Small children are allowed to be eccentric, I figure. My daughters have been know to go to Target in ballgowns, to the grocery store in hula skirts... most of the people who shop at places I go to are parents themselves, so nobody thinks it's weird. I mean, it's obvious the kids dressed themselves, because *I* am not dressed like that! LOL (At least, that's what I hope!)

I never make my daughter change. My son always ends up matching and I have NO IDEA how! My 4 year old daughter, on the other hand, is super creative and is not afraid to mix stripes with a plaid! :)

The last outfit she wore when we were out was: jeans, a plaid tutu skirt, a shirt that totally didn't match the skirt, cowboy boots and a sun hat. She was the hit of the town!
My son used to wear rain boots with EVERYTHING. It was so adorable, I couldn't make him stop. I miss those days!

Edit* I just saw the post about the Halloween costume! Hahaha! I love it! My niece wore a bee costume for most of her 3rd year of life. Kids ROCK!

I allowed my daughter to dress according to her own tastes, even if I didn't like the outfits she put together. And yes, she went out in public in them. Clothing is one of the decisions that littluns can make for themselves where there aren't any wrong answers (assuming that they don't want to wear their swimsuits in a blizzard). We went to the grocery store and even to church many times with her wearing a tutu and cowboy boots or shorts and a flannel pj top or a Nala Halloween costume.

Oh Man... You should have seen some of the outfits my son, particularly, has gone places in when he was about 2 1/2 to about 5. We have lots of costumes in out house and my son was a big fan of wearing them anywhere we went. MANY times we've gone out in a leopard unitard that started as my daughter's halloween costume, also a bear costume was a favorite... paired with unicorn ears and tails or the bear head or unicorn tail with kitty cat ears. The spiderman costume was heavy in rotation as well.

I have always let my kids dress themselves in what they wanted to wear. I love their individuality and freedom of expression. They grow out of it and "conform" soon enough.

I love it when I come across a kids that dresses like punkie bruester. I think, what an awesome mama who allows them to dress themselves and express what ever they'd like. I have a girl who chooses the match and coordinate every day.. at four. She's better dressed than I am.

There is a boy in her class who came to school dressed in a Santa suit for picture day. We see the class picture and I love that is what he chose in that moment.

I can see being concerned when there is a special event, but creative dressing otherwise... go for it.

Before I had kids... or when mine were little I use to think "hmmmm" when I would see a child walking around like that. But now that my children are preschoolers I just go w/it.

I always make sure it's weather appropriate (or I do make them change) and I say things like (if they pull out a shirt first..) "try to find something to tone with that" in an effort to help teach them how to properly coordinate an outfit. But I can't remember ever telling them to change - unless it isn't weather appropriate.

One older woman who has a parenting style that I really admire (and has great kids) once told me if she could do anything over it would be not doing the YEARS of fighting about clothes. Several people have told me that too.

If it is an important event I will pick out an outfit for them... but that doesn't happen very often.

I've taken my 4 year old daughter out in her dress up tutu and a crown. Who cares? Even if it's an odd outfit people think it's cute. I usually let her pick her clothes. Just if we're going to a party or someplace I help pick out clothes. Also no dress up stuff at daycare. I usually make her take stuff of before we go out but I don't always remember. I figure making a big deal out of clothes is just going to make her fight me more. I just make sure she's weather appropriate.

mine is a boy so he doesn't care as much. i try to "steer" him towards acceptable outfits lol...but if he pushes it (has only happened like twice or three times) then yes, i'd let him, as long as it's weather appropriate...but i MIGHT just be tempted to tell his teachers/my family/friends/whoever we are with, that it was HIS idea to wear his x,y,z...!! :)

I used to be an early intervention specialist and had one little boy who insisted on dressing himself with some hilarious quirks. We all loved it!
My sons never minded me putting their clothes out for them when they were little. But now that they are teenagers, OMG! Nothing really inappropriate, but definitely not my style. (They probably say the same about me!)

It always depended - I would help my son pick out appropriate outfits for family dinners, church, etc. But trips to the grocery and such I just let him be. He came up with some stuff tho...ah, memories of the batman stage. LOL

He is 15, and I still let him dress himself - but, ugh, he did a better job of it when he as 5!!!!

We actually have a pin I made up that looks like a award and says "I dressed myself today!"

Last Sunday, my daughter dressed a Belle, wore a feather boa, and a crown made from pipe cleaners and pony beads... I have pictures...

Here are the rules in my house:

-- We do not wear PJ's out of the house.
-- We do not wear dress up clothes out of the yard. (the dress up jewlery she can wear when we are out and about, because she wants to wear a necklace like mommy)

My daughter knows which are the PJ, tops, bottoms & underwear/sock drawers. So if asked she gets items out of the apporiate drawer. On days that I know we are visiting friends or family, or going out to eat I will give her a choice of this outfit or that outfit. Of course we have talked about being weather apporiate and she understands that.

Now at age 5 she may say can I wear something pink or purple so I find something that matches. When just running errands I let her dress herself, after a few months she has started to get the idea of matching. I have done this by saying well the skirt has blue, green and pink it in so try to find a top that is blue, green or pink. Now if it is not a perfect match that is fine, it is a learning experiance.

My 5 year old daughter is a creative dresser. I will usually allow her to pick her own clothes if it doesn't matter where we are going. I help her match when we are going to places I want her to look nice like church or out to eat.

I don't let her wear pajamas out unless we've given her a bath and are heading out afterwards (and hoping she will fall asleep). As long as the outfit is weather appropriate, I just roll with it. I also let her "do her own hair" if she wants (I make sure it is detangled, and then she can add all the clips or barrettes etc she wants). If we are going somewhere important, I will make sure she is presentable (maybe give her options and let her pick) but I pick my battles.

When I was growing up, my mom let us pick our own outfits. We had a rule though, less than 5 colors (which was maily for me) and more than 1 color (which was mainly for my brothers!). Otherwise, we wore what we wanted. The only thing I couldn't do was wear sweatpants to school and that was a bummer because it was "in style", back in the parachute pant days. My mother was never embarrassed of what we wore because she knew we picked out something that we truly liked. She supported that!

I plan on letting my daughter pick her own clothes too. It is one of the few ways kids can express their own personalities these days. Or, even if they aren't expressing their personalities, it is how they learn to put things together and learn to experiment with what works and what doesn't.

If my son dresses himself, it is one less then I have to do for him and one more step towards his independence and development of his personality. A couple of weeks ago we went out wearing shorts over jeans and rain boots. His clothes are often on backwards, but they are on! and I LOVE It!
Oh, and we often go out wearing a bike helmet...and no bike. Whatever!

I agree with Catherine C. If I'm going through my daughter's closet and she really really wants to wear her butterfly dress up tutu costume with the wings on it then I let her. As long as she isn't tryna go out in a swim suit then I'm okay (popped in my head b/c a lady at walgreens had her 3 yr old in a bikini and the guy behind her was staring at the little girl, yuck).
I could care less if my daughter wanted to wear her red bear slippers to the store lol. I think it's cute, like you said, as long as it's weather appropriate. If it was horribly matched maybe I'd put out a few mix and match clothes she could pick from the next day lol.

I let her pick out her clothes within set guidelines: We have a drawer for play clothes and a drawer for school clothes. So I control what goes into to the drawer and she asks every morning which drawer to pick her clothes out of. PJ's and church dresses are kept in seperate places. She absolutely NEVER matches! She was very proud of her polka dotted pink and orange skirt paired with her heart and star blue and purple shirt recently (and stripped socks to match!)...look mom, I'm all shapes! I mean she IS putting serious thought into what she wears just not using the parameters I would to put together an outfit :) AND she got two spontaneous compliments that day, I was amazed other adults picked out her theme w/o being told.

BUT I look at pictures from my preschool years and I didn't match either....and I loved that I picked out my clothes...I thought it was very wierd to hear kids as old as 10-12 saying their mom picked out their outfit that morning. On the occasions where I want her to match and IMO look "nice" (pictures, birthday dinners) I let her know ahead of time what the event is and that she will be wearing "x". She hasn't given me grief about it yet :)

If my kids came out looking bad I'd explain to them why the shirt didn't match the pants then ask them to change one or the other and give them a suggestion of what to change. If they are completely happy with what they have on, then so be it. It's not worth the battle IMO and at least they dressed them selves right?!?! I've even taken my son out and about in his pirate outfit before because he didn't want to take it off before we left the house.

I do have some ground rules though and we don't wear our PJs out of the house and there are certain play clothes we don't wear in public either but that's about it.

S.

preschoolers yes, its not that big of a deal. But i'm not sure where to draw the line, I thought my 6 yo would be getting the hang of putting together outfits but NOPE.

I let my son pick what he wants to wear. He's very spirited and I have bigger fish to fry with him. Sometimes he takes my advice about what to wear.

Yeah, I don't care. I figure it's obvious they dressed themselves and they feel proud of themselves. There are times I do not let them dress themselves, and in those cases, I try to always give them a few options so they are still choosing.

It just depends...it has to be weather appropriate, and if something where dressing up is expected, then I have to let DD know that she can't totally pick her outfit, but she pick between the yellow dress or the pink dress. She's never done anything too zany but it's interesting to see what she considers "matching" - like when she went to preschool and insisted on wearing a striped top with striped leggings that were a totally different color scheme and pattern, along with striped socks that also did not coordinate. Because in her mind they all matched because they all had stripes. I let that one go - it was useless arguing with her. And sometimes she decides she wants to wear non-matching socks - like one pink and one purple, or one with stripes and one with dots. I'm okay with that too.

Unless we're going somewhere nice I never care. My youngest son wore swim shoes for over a year as his day to day shoes. I ended up buying him a couple pairs just like I do sneakers so he could always find them. Much better than open toe sandals I guess ;) When it was cold he would only wear his snow boots around that same year. His sneakers from that time are almost brand new!
I make sure they're weather appropriate. Oh the fun that was when my oldest son refused to wear a jacket so we had to get creative and buy lots of sweaters, fleece hoodies and the like. My youngest just grew into that size recently and we had to go buy him a jacket because there wasn't a single one to hand down LOL
We had to set limits on the dress up clothes. Some of those things we couldn't get them buckled into their car seat to go anywhere if we let them wear them out. We always made a point of taking a picture of them before they took them off so they felt better about having to take off their creations.
My daughter is only 2 so we don't have any real issues with her yet. Although if she had her way she'd wear nothing but Elmo at all times at the moment. But she's easily distracted and I can get something else on her when the Elmos aren't clean or I don't want to put her in Elmo today ;)
I was always a flashy dresser, toned it down for easy care after kids. Lots of wash and wear and hide the kid mess now.
I say let them play!

It really depends on how awful it is and where we're going! I do feel it's part of my job to guide them in what matches and looks good together and what's appropriate (church is no place to wear your bathing suit ;-) but if we're just hitting the grocery store or park, the shark swim trunks, batman cape and froggie galoshes are fine!