Teaching Kids to Be Independent

A few days ago, I was attending my Spanish lecture. While educating us about the cultures and the norms of her native country Colombia, she pointed out how young adults above the age of 18 living with their parents were considered good-for-nothing. Hearing about adults in India living with their parents beyond the age of 18 is nothing out of the ordinary. My parents, grandparents, and I live in the same house, and so do 95% of the people around me.

While many may defend this as a practice that keeps families together, there's no denying the repercussions on the psyche of an adult child in India. While growing up without the concept of personal space, they also feel increased dependence on their parents or elders to assist them with making the smallest decisions - from what to wear, to even what to say.  This only results in incompetence in making bigger choices, where more factors would need to be analysed before taking a final call. While there are a burgeoning number of nuclear families by the day, the bonds within the family stay strong. So how to inculcate the ability to make decisions independently while implementing drastic changes? Simply:

Involve the child in decision making

I remember when I was young, my mother and grandmother once took me shopping to a kids ethnic wear store. They saw a salwar suit and immediately decided that it is the perfect dress for me on my birthday. And I hated the look right from the start, and the experience of wearing it was even worse. So, on the biggest occasion of the year for me, I was screaming on the inside, feeling extremely conscious every time someone looked at me. Engaging with kids to make their own choices gives them confidence in their decision-making skills.

Aim to be reliable but not interfering 

Children often look up to their parents for the right advice. The guidance they provide is almost biblical. But parents often end up deciding rather than guiding.  Make your kids aware of the possible dangers and make them pay attention to details. Tell them that it's unsafe to go to the deeper end of the pool. But if trained well, she can try.

Let them solve their own problems

Shielding kids from any danger or a problem is an instinct every parent has. But give them the freedom to solve their problems. If you see your little ones struggling to walk, support them but don't handhold them all the time. Sometimes kids take time to zip up their clothes or struggle to fit into their kids' sherwani - let them try again and again.

Wardrobe Staples for Youngsters

It may sound like a lot of work to manage your wardrobe, but nothing beats the hard work put into assembling an essential set of clothes for the little ones. You need to keep up with their ever changing wardrobe as they grow in size and fashion sense by the year.

The transition from visiting stores to shopping online suits some, while others still like going around in market places and malls to find the right type of clothes for every season. While the ladies comfortably sport one-piece dresses in winters for functions, the little girls may catch a cold if not dressed appropriately. Similarly, the little lads will not care for the creases in linen suits while running around. The idea is to shop smartly along with ensuring comfort; otherwise, you’ll find your child walking back home one day without the expensive pullover you bought last week.

Kids need durable and comfortable shoes for school time. They need to be strong enough to withstand rough use like running and kicking just about anything that comes their way. Another thing you need to consider is that they have delicate feet and the shoes must be comfortable enough. Sneakers, slip-ons or gym shoes are a perfect choice for them.

Little Misses

Girls like dressing up and take good care of their clothes. Well, most of them do. Girls need their basic tees and button down shirts with their pleated skirts. They also have the option of comfy blouses for the summers. Tank tops are comfortable, and stylish and work wonders as a layer under jackets. Pair them with denim pants and shorts. On the other hand, dresses are an indispensable form of clothing. They can be worn on their own, and as a top for capris and leggings. Stripped or printed dresses look stunning. For the bottoms, buy a couple of denim pants and shorts that go with just about anything. Kids festival dresses are a must have – add elegant ethnic wear to your girls’ wardrobe to complete it.

Young Masters

The key is to know what boys are inclined to indulge in. They will, as a matter of fact, go out to play and get their clothes dirty and hence, they need highly tear-resistant clothes. Get solid colored polo tees that are comfortable and go well with jeans and khaki pants. Jogger pants and shorts are comfy options for the little masters. They need a couple of button down shirts and long sleeved tees to save them from the harsh sun. Ethnic wear in your kids wardrobe is just as important. Boys would love to sport their special kid's sherwani on occasions like Diwali, family events etc. Hoodies can take the rough wear and tear and can add a layer in the winters. Boys love their favorite superhero tees so make sure they accompany you while you get them the basic tees.

Choosing the right kind of fabric for every season is important because kids clothing is more about utility. Children need more than a pair for the day. Shopping for the entire season will save time and money, and prioritizing them as per occasion will help you shop smart.

Dress Up Your Baby Girl For Eid!

For a mother, I don’t think that there is anything more fun as dressing up your little one! The glee can’t be compared to anything when we see our kiddo all dressed up! Treating them like dolls, this activity that we indulge in dolling up is purely enthralling, especially when they are getting ready for the festive season!

But it is also is a daunting task when it comes to choosing baby girl party dresses. Keeping every possible facto in mind- the dress material, dress silhouette, its style and how easily does the fabric fall on the kid; all of it really makes a difference!

For a savory experience, let us look at the aspects we can make sure we buy the crème de la crème for our kids this Eid!
Designer pieces: I personally urge you to get designer dresses for your young girl if possibly! Agreed, more often than not, we can’t afford that, but imagine the things that come along with such dresses? Once you get it, you would automatically be getting the latest trend, the right fit and an eccentric design, unlike other cheap rip-offs that just ruin the entire look otherwise. Authenticity will be unmatched, completely!

To suggest you, scour through stores wisely! Kidology.in is one great website that offers a selection of exquisitely amazing Eid dresses collection online that is going to stupefy everyone over, once worn by your child! What more? You also get festive discounts that help you attain a good designer dress at a reasonable price. From Gauri & Nainika to Gaurav Gupta and Namrata Joshipura; cull up your favorites and dress your little queen!

Also, don’t forget to dab a little pink blush on her cheek and pink lipstick on her lips for a prettier look! So what are you waiting for? Dress your baby girl in this festive splendor.