Clothes make the child

Clothing and dressing play important roles in children's learning and development. Parents can give children positive messages about clothes by:


. Discussing clothing with children. Talk about tastes and preferences in clothing and fashion with children. Even every young children can have a keen interest in what they and others wear. As children become older they often also become interested in clothing that shows favorite characters. Many school aged children, and even some younger children, are conscious of labels and fashions. When discussing clothing with children, adults should avoid sending children the message that they are being 'judged' either positively or negatively by what they wear.

. Make the selection of clothes and dressing a pleasant experience. When children become interested in dressing and undressing themselves, make the tasks achievable and give as little help as is needed for the child to continue. For younger children, this may mean using strategies such as pulling a sock partially off and asking the child to take it off the rest of the way. Let children try when they want to, and offer them encouragement. Like other routines, dressing activities offer a valuable chance for quality, one to one interactions with children.


. Dressing children to support their play and learning. Clothing can either support or hinder children's experiences and development. Clothes that fit properly, without being too loose or tight, allow children to move freely and comfortably and participate freely in experiences. For girls, dresses and skirts may interfere with their participation in physical activities. Wearing trousers or shorts may allow for free movement and reduce children's self-consciousness, particularly for older children. The clothes children wear can significantly affect the development of their self-help skills. For example, trousers that fit loosely and have an elastic waist are easier for young children to pull down and up.