Children like to dress like many of the negative role models they see that promote inappropriate clothing choices; such as social media, teen idols, pop culture and older kids. It is up to the parents to make sure their kids are not dressing in the styles they pick up from these negative influences. Unfortunately, people judge others by what they wear, so if an eight year old is dressing like an eighteen year old, they may be seen as much older by other people. Children want to dress like the teens they see on TV, on the internet or even other kids they are around. Although some parents believe it interferes with their child’s individuality, they can still guide their kids in a more appropriate style of dress. Parents should monitor what…show more content… In the essay Should You Let Your Daughter Wear a Bikini, a mother and father are discussing whether their toddler should wear the bikinis that are available for young girls. The mother Erin Peterson, is appalled that bikinis are even made for toddlers. She attributes it to the over-sexualization of young girls. She states that “Her innocence is priceless, and her childhood will go by in a flash, so I will fiercely protect her, as her parent” (Erin Peterson; John Crossingham, Todays Parent, Para. #5). Dressing children as adults may be cute, but it can encourage them to want to dress in a more grown up way. The father on the other hand does not agree with his wife that a bikini is inappropriate. The father, Ohn Crossingham, states “If I do my job right as a parent, a bikini looks the same on her as a one-piece, a pair of trunks or a wetsuit does. Her clothing does not define her” (Erin Peterson; John Crossingham, Todays Parent, Para. #11). Because he does not see his daughter in any other way than a baby, he misses his wife’s point that their daughter may be seen as more mature with a bikini on. Just because stores sale clothing styles that are geared towards making kids look older, does not mean parents have to buy them. Nancy Dennis, a children’s wear trend director states, “It can be tough to encourage younger children to wear age-appropriate apparel when they see fashions adorning the racks that older kids are wearing” (Lauren La Rose, The Canadian Press, Para #19). She believes there are options that are age appropriate, we just have to search for them. Even though there are many inappropriate choices in stores for our kids, we just need to be proactive and work with our kids to make better choices in their
