How to Help Your Preteen Daughter Pick Appropriate Back to School Clothes

With the reopening of schools just around the corner, parents are already busily shopping for new clothes for their children to wear back to school. How can you help your preteen pick appropriate back to school clothes?

Review the School's Dress Policy

Before you hit the shops with your preteen daughter, sit down with her and review the school's dress policy. Read through what is and what is not acceptable school attire. Are spaghetti straps allowed? How long must skirts be? Are there any certain colours (that identify gangs) or styles of clothing that are expressly forbidden under the school's dress policy?

Choosing Modest Clothing

Choosing modest clothing for children is becoming harder and harder, which is why parents who go clothes shopping with their preteen daughters need to be very selective and not give in to pressure to buy the latest fad clothes for their daughters that "everyone" is wearing. When looking at knee-length skirts and dresses, do not just settle for skirts and dresses that fall to your daughter's knees. She will likely grow during the school year, which means her appropriate knee-length skirt or dress will be shorter by the time the end of the school year rolls around. Look for lengths that go below the knee, such as to the mid length or calf.

Shop Together

It is all to easy to hand your daughter a wad of cash or your credit card and tell her what she needs to buy for the next school year, but it is a much better idea to shop with her, rather than let your preteen make her own clothes choices for school. Shopping together will give you a much better idea of what your daughter likes and dislikes and you can offer suggestions on what looks good on her and what she needs to avoid. Even an 11-year-old might not see anything wrong with a mini skirt and low-cut top, but these styles will not be appropriate school attire; nor should they be appropriate to wear outside of school.

Shopping for back to school attire with your preteen can be a challenge, as you disagree over what to buy. But before you even go shopping, sit down together and review the school's dress policy. Next, search for modest clothing that will be appropriate for school, and be sure to shop together. Preteens need help and guidance when shopping for school clothes and should not be allowed free rein to buy their own clothes.