Help with Inappropriate dressing style

[fourgrtkidos]

Hi,
I have a soon to be 5 yr old little girl who likes to dress like the many trendy pop stars of today.... very inappropriate for her age. She pulls everything down around her hips and likes for her tummy to show.
The most confusing part of this is we do not watch much TV. My kids consider themselves lucky if they get to watch half an hour of PBS. We do not listen to anything accept classical and christain music. We don't visit the malls. Our friends pretty much have the same lifestyles and even if she was exposed to say a Britney Spears Mtv video at someone else's house it would have been infrequent!
I want her to be a little girl! Not trying to look like a teenager already! or worse, what if she's dressing like this for the attention it gets her? Could she already be buying into the popular social ideal that her sexuallity is (a woman's) her worth?


Help! This is exactly what I was trying to avoid by homeschooling, keeping them away from TV/Advertising and etc.

Mama Michelle of four great kidos

[chellemarie]

My daughter did this...she still does sometimes...but mostly, she outgrew it. Indulge the fantasy at play time, maybe, with dress up clothes if you feel like it. Otherwise, just praise praise praise the appropriate outfits. "You look fantastic today. I love that top."

Some might have issue with that, but really, when someone compliments my new shoes, shirt, pants, I like it. Makes me feel good.

[LunaMom]

Since she does not see this sort of thing on television, I wonder what exactly she is imitating?

My DD is also five and would probably want to imitate this style of dress, too, if she were exposed to it - she idolizes older girls as many girls her age do. But she has no older siblings, she doesn't watch TV or movies that show this type of style, she doesn't play with dolls like Bratz (I hate those!!!)...so it hasn't occurred to her.

I am very curious as to what has influenced your daughter's clothing preferences. It's really terrible that she can find this type of clothing in her size, isn't it? You say she pushes her pants down low, so I guess the strategy of not purchasing these kinds of clothes isn't working.

I wouldn't make it into too much of a power struggle if she is just at home, but set limits on how she can dress outside the home. And surrpund her with positive female messages that do not focus on sexiness and beauty!

[fourgrtkidos]

Hey,
That last post turned on a light bulb. Her older cousin has Bratz dolls!!!! My kids ask me for them after every visit. Besides that; I know as much as I shield them at home, my girls my girls are seeing things out in public and unfortunately at my sisters house (although that visit is rare.... I usually bring her girls over here.)
Anyway, the praising thing has worked in just two days (beats 2 mos of focusing on the negative) DUH!!!! My daughter spent the entire day yesterday pulling her pants up! yeah. Which also turned on another lightbulb. Her shape is such that I have to buy pants to fit her thighs and butt, that are too big then around her waist. She needs a belt. Another DUH!!!!
So much for thinking I'm a super attentive mom!

Back from lunch......... Michelle

[LunaMom]

AHA!!!!!!!


I KNEW those Bratz dolls were bad news!!!!

[ekblad9]

It sounds like you've figured it out but I wanted you to know that you're not alone! My 7 year old dd is the same way. We also only allow PBS, Christian music and classical. I also homeschool. It's amazing how they see something one time and latch on like that, isn't it? Good luck!