There is a time in every child’s life when they decide that they want to dress themselves. Usually this happens when they are old enough to go to school. They start to develop of sense of what they like and what they do not like and they are no longer happy to have their parents pick out their clothes for them.
Many children go through a phase where they will not take off a certain garment. In many cases the garment is a Halloween costume. However, it can be something more everyday like snow boots or a certain shirt. You might be totally embarrassed to be seen with your child out in public wearing a Transformers costume in the middle of January, but the important thing to remember is that other parents have been there to and are not judging you. Everyone else will just think that your child is adorable. The best way to handle this is just to let it go. Have your child put on regular clothes under their costume in case they get to hot and let the phase run it’s course. Fighting with them will only cause frustration for both of you.
If your child is starting to decided what they want to wear for school everyday the worse thing that you can do is be critical. They have picked out an outfit that they think that looks great and they are looking to you to say that they look wonderful. Do not crush their spirit. Rather, encourage that they wear matching colors. However, if you are just supportive of their choices they will learn the fashion rules on their own. They will see what you are wearing and what others are wearing and make the connection. If nothing else, be quick to point out that they dressed themselves. Remember, every school teacher has seen this phase.