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All children will eventually reach the age when they are ready to dress themselves. For some parents, this could be a welcomed mat. Granted, having a child that is able to put on, and take off their own clothes will cut down on the time it takes to get ready in the morning. Children generally begin dressing by themselves around the age of five or six; some much younger. The good thing about this stage in life is that children are usually eager to dress themselves. It gives them a level of independence, and a way to express themselves.

Although parents are willing to allow their young children to dress themselves, some parents quickly discover that their taste may slightly differ from that of their children. Younger children are attracted to bright colors. This is fine as long as the colors match. Unlike adults, children do not have the ability to discern which colors should be worn together. There are some parents who encourage creativity, thus they allow their children to venture outside the house with clothes that do not necessarily match. Understandably, some parents are forced to pull rank and select clothes that are easier on the eyes.

The best solution for a middle ground is parents assisting their children, or showing them how to dress. Again, children are too young to know that the color black matches all colors, or that sneakers should not be worn with a nice dress. Children have a tendency to want to wear their favorite outfits regardless of the season, occasion, or day. There was a little girl on my block who would wear her favorite plaid pleated skirt every other day. She wore that skirt with sneakers, sweatshirts, sandals, etc. Despite her mothers efforts in explaining that dressing also involved style, the little girl continued to wear that skirt until her father stepped in.

Parents should let their child help when selecting their wardrobe. Most parents are the sole decision maker when buying clothes for their children. They select the outfits and purchase them without any input from their child. Obviously this is ideal for very young children. However, around the age of four or five, children may be able to express which pieces of clothing they prefer. Whereas parents may not give their child complete control, they may allow the child to choose between a few pieces of clothes. For example, the parent could select two or three outfits that they prefer. In turn they can allow the child to select which outfit they want to buy.

In some families children must wear hand me downs from older siblings. In situations like this children may not be able to make clothing decisions. To give old clothes a new feeling, parents could allow the child to select accessories that give the outfits a unique look. Accessories could be a belt, patches, a sweater, etc. Simple creative touches like this can make any outfit look brand new.

Once the childs clothes have been purchased, parents could hang matching pants and shirts on the same hanger. This way, children will not have to guess which pieces of clothing match. They simply open the closet door and select an outfit. Parents who allow their children full control, may encourage them to pick out their clothes the night before. Parents will be able to see what their child selected, and offer suggestions. Choosing clothing the night before contributes to a smoother morning. It is also wise that children understand which pieces of clothing they should wear on their different body parts, and the importance of changing undergarments. Parent should also allow their children to pick out underwear and socks that they will wear with their outfit.

Some parents are hesitant to allow their children to dress themselves because they may take a long time. We all lead busy lives and seem to always be in a hurry. The morning is an especially busy time. Thus some parents feel that it may be quicker to dress their children themselves. However, parents should avoid handicapping their children in order to save five minutes. Even if it means starting the day a little early, parents should not discourage their children from dressing by themselves. Parent may have to get creative in order to make their children get dressed quicker. Turning the dressing time into a race is perfect. Parents could inform their child that the last one dressed is a rotten egg. It works every time.

Like adults, children want to look their best and often mimic the styles of their peers. Allowing the child to dress themselves and to pick out their own clothes early will encourage creativity and self-expression. It also lets the child know that their mother and father respect their feelings, and have a high regard for their opinions.