Everything has its place: how to properly tell your child about the dress code

 Just three questions will help both parents and children better understand how to dress for an event.

Dress code is a uniform set for a specific event or event. The dress code disciplines, makes you take the situation seriously, allows the participants to correspond to what is happening and create that very atmosphere of solemnity or formality.

We will not talk today about such lofty matters as secular dress codes like “white tie”, “black tie” or types of business dress codes like “business best”, “business traditional”.

In this article, we will look at appearance in terms of relevance and introduce this concept to a child . Children need to understand that the same clothing may be perfect for one situation and absolutely not suitable for another.

First of all, parents will have to start with themselves, because children follow an example from adults. Therefore, moms and dads need to honestly answer the question: "Do I always look appropriate myself?"

In each situation, the problem was that the person did not answer a number of questions before putting on the clothes. I did not think about the appropriateness of my outfit at this or that event. 

So how do you learn to choose the right clothes and educate your child about it?

Technique "Three Questions", or how to quickly choose the right clothes

When going anywhere, keep these simple questions in mind and be sure to involve your child in this preparation. 

Question 1. Where are you going?

Question 2. What will you do there?

Question 3. Who else will be there?

Now let's analyze the technique in more detail

For example, you and your child are going to the theater. First, study your wardrobe together, and then answer the same three questions in turn.

1. Where are we going? - We go to the ballet in the classical theater. The interiors of the theater are armchairs upholstered in velvet, stucco and gilding, crystal chandeliers.

2. What are we going to do there? “Together with other connoisseurs of art, we will listen to wonderful music composed by the composer several hundred years ago. We will watch the ballet, sitting in the comfortable chairs of the plush auditorium.

3. Who else will be there? - Spectators for whom a visit to the theater is an important event. Many of them will dress up. There will also be orchestra musicians and ballet dancers.

In the process, say out loud why one clothing is appropriate in this case, and the other is not. You can even play with your words in some interesting way. Children have great imagination, so they better learn the power of the dress code.

Here's an example of a wardrobe analysis that would fit our situation:

“Jeans and a sweater will not suit us: they are not smart enough. A tracksuit and sneakers are absolutely inappropriate here. Lush ball gowns and tailcoats are too much. So we need "moderate festive" clothing. What could it be? Skirt, blouse, dress, elegant trouser suit - for girls, trousers and shirt, trousers-shirt-tie (bow tie) or classic suit - for boys. " 

If a child asks why he needs to dress up, if no one even pays attention to it, then you can answer something like this:

“Yes, other people will not appreciate our outfit, but think about this. Hundreds of people were preparing for this performance. The director staged the play, the musicians and artists rehearsed, the dressers came up with and sewed costumes, the scenery was created, the light was adjusted. And these are months of work! All this time these people have been working to make you enjoy the performance. They were getting ready! So why shouldn't we, the audience, be prepared from our side? All we have to do is dress up, arrive on time and observe some simple rules of theatrical etiquette. "

Of course, the dress code for some occasions can be somewhat unusual and even funny.

For example, your child is invited to a friend's / friend's for a pajama party or birthday, where all guests must be wearing a kigurumi. Or maybe he goes to a New Year's performance for children, where the audience is expected to be in the costumes of fairy-tale characters, or to a holiday for which a certain color of clothing is declared - for example, yellow. From this all follows another rule of dignified behavior. If there is a clear request from the organizers of the event about the dress code, you should not ignore or violate it.

When to start talking to your child about appropriate clothing

You can talk with your child about the importance of the dress code from an older preschool age (5-6 years). In elementary grades, these conversations will become even more relevant, because parents need to explain why we do not go to school in the same clothes as for a walk, why we need a uniform, etc. 

But, of course, do not forget that the general culture of the family is an important factor in instilling good manners. We talked about the example given by parents earlier. Often our behavior, personality and how we raise our children are rooted in certain attitudes from our own childhood: “it was accepted in our family”, “dad always said,” “mom taught me,” “we had a ".

For example, if a mother dresses up her baby from the cradle for the holidays, if the parents themselves choose smart clothes when visiting or receiving guests, then it will be easier for the baby to perceive all these rules of relevance over time. It will become natural and normal for him that we choose different clothes for different situations.

A game that will help the child better understand what a dress code is

A simple game for your child that will teach him how to draw a parallel between the event and the selection of clothes for it.