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.

Dressing Your Child Appropriately For the Summer Heat

Be it winters or summers, there is nothing worse than being dressed inappropriately for the season. For instance, wearing polyester and nylon on a hot day is definitely not a good idea. While children can’t choose for themselves and are dependent on you, they too feel the heat. If dressed inappropriately, they will never enjoy playing outdoors. Hence, follow the tips to dress your child right this season:

1. Opt for 100% cotton clothes

Opt for loose-fitting cotton clothes for your child. Lightweight cotton helps the skin to breathe and helps in evaporation of sweat, thereby preventing irritation and rashes. And there is no need to compromise on style; cotton clothes come in different styles and vibrant colours and will ensure your child looks nothing but stylish.

2. Reduce those layers

While you should always carry something warm if you are travelling with your child, lose those extra layers during the daytime. Choose those light and breezy summer dresses for your daughter from little girl clothing stores and a colourful cotton vest and pull-on shorts for your son.

3. Include a cap/hat

Caps and hats not only protect your child’s head from direct sunlight, but also look incredibly cute. Lending protecting and adding style, they have multiple benefits. What more could you ask for?

4. Include sunglasses

Sunglasses from a good brand- these are a must for your child during summers. Just like hats, they lend protection and add style. Sunglasses complement everything- from your kids’ dresses and dungarees to shorts and tees.

5. Pick nice and comfy sandals

Your child’s summer look is incomplete without those nice and comfy sandals which not only help their feet to breathe but also allow them complete freedom to play to their heart’s content.

You can also check out websites like kidology.in that offer a vast range of clothing and accessories for your child’s fashion needs. Dress light, dress trendy, dress happy!

Why Comfort Is Important When Buying Designer Clothing For Infants?

Buying clothes for a baby or an infant is perhaps the cutest thing ever, what with the itty- bitty clothing and vast amounts of options that are available in today’s market. The fashion industry has grown massively in the kids department, with almost any international or domestic brand carrying a separate child section. Many designers too have whole collections dedicated to fashion for young kids and with even retail stores having an impressive stock of clothes for children, it has become quite an ease to shop for one’s child. However, as sweet the process of shopping for young kids might sound, it is also easy for parents to neglect some important points.

There is a recent trend of buying infant or baby designer clothes for one’s child, and while that is fine, one element should be kept in mind is the fabric or material of the dress. Babies and young kids are still adapting to voicing or speaking out their discomfort. Their go-to creation is to scream and cry and more often than not, this happens due to discomfort. That is why, it is vital, that when clothing, especially that of the designer kind, the parents should give attention to what kind of fabric is the dress more than the style and cut of it.

The skin of young kids and babies is extremely soft and sensitive, thus putting them in clothing that is made from scratchy or uncomfortable fabric can be harmful to them. It can cause rashes and itchiness, which can make for an irritable child, causing them to cry out.

Every parent wants their kids to look pretty and dapper, which is why many are buying designer dress for boys and girls. But, more than the look the first thing that should be considered is the comfort of the child. If the child him/herself is uneasy, then the whole point is moot.