shopping for children

[fliptheswitch]

My child is ten he needs some new clothes and so I've said I'll get them tonight online which I am doing at this present time.
I am a bit stuck at the moment as what I like and what he likes are two completely different things. He likes skater clothes and I like him to dress smart and usually choose things like straight jeans or trousers and jumpers or smart shirts with blazers.
I want to keep him happy but at the same time I also don't want him to look a scruff.
Should I stop now and take him shopping on the weekend and let him choose for himself. Or should I carry on and just get what I think is best?

[anneasquith]

i dont do grammar !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hi mamy :)

[fliptheswitch]

Anneasquith, I usually shop at Jl or M&S so not desinger if that's what you think. I also get a lot of clothes second hand off ebay.
halifaxmum, I am not posh at all. I just like my son to look nice as I did as a child. My grammar is not really relevant on here, surely. However, just for you, I will make more of an effort. Is that better. How rude.

[Halifaxmum]

Excusez-moi! I can't pick you up on your grammar, but you want to make your 10 year old wear 'slacks' !!!

lolol pmsl lmfao - maybe ask your son what they mean!

[Buenchico]

Grammar? Doesn't she live with Grampa? ;-)

Take a look through here, Fliptheswitch, and see if there's anything that you and your son both like:
http://www.next.co.uk/boys

[fliptheswitch]

Lets not be pedantic here, Halifaxmum. You should maybe check through your comments, before pulling others up on their grammar. Hmmm?
This site is not what I thought it was. Goodbye.

[Halifaxmum]

it wasn't directed to you anne!

[anneasquith]

flip, dont go, im sure no one meant to be rude to you, my advice let him have a say in casual clothes.

[Halifaxmum]

where is my grammar incorrect flip - please do enlighten me!

[annie0000]

I have 10 year old and 9 year old boys. To be fair, they aren't fussy what they wear but I do give them an element of choice. We don't do many formal occasions, but i do like them to have at least one "smart" outfit. usually a shirt or jumper and trousers/smarter jeans. Other than that I like them to look fairly trendy without going down the designer route. They do have some things with skulls and things, but hopefully on the tasteful side! They like the really bright (neon) polo shirts with jeans or shorts which can look reasonablly smart too. When just out with friends it is usually more casual jeans/combats or shorts with t-shirts and sweat tops or zipper tops. Next is good as is H&M or La Redoute. I don't particularly like them wearing sports wear unless they are actually doing sports, luckily they are happy enough with that.

I think that if he is wanting to try to fit in with his friends, you should try to accommodate that to an extent. If he stands out too much, it makes him a target for bullying.

[pink-kittens]

I think you want people ot think you're a step up from them.

Dressing your 10 year old boy in slacks and blazers is pretentious at best and a bit daft for a skateboard loving 10 yr old boy

Send ihm to where I work for an hour in his slacks and blazer - you'll never put ihm in them again 'cos he'll come home filthy dirty and dusty just as a 10 yr old should

Lighten up, loosen your apron strings and let hm choose - and just be thankful he isn't a girl!

[pink-kittens]

grrr, can we have an edit button pls?

him, him, him

[milly143]

Halifaxmum - you're being a bit mean for some reason I can't work out why. And, no your grammar is not up to scratch so you might want to hold off picking others up on theirs.

Anyway, at 10 your child probably wants to fit in with what his friends are wearing. Which will most be jeans and t-shirts. Let him chose some of the things he wants to wear, with your final say obviously and just make sure he has some nice smart clothes for visits to Granny, etc.

[cazzz1975]

essentially unless they are going somewhere special kids dress for comfort, I think its quite a shame that he spends his evening dressed uncomfortably and probably fearful that he may dirty his clothes if he wants to play like boys tend to play.

how about you think about your sons wants and needs instead of your own?

[fairycakes69]

My sons went through the 'skater dude' phase, never did them any harm. To be honest I understand you want him to look smart, but kids do pick on kids that stand out from the crowd, and if thats what he wants to wear why not let him, he maybe wants to fit in, the dress code is a way to show your part of a group . At 10 he should be picking what clothes to wear himself ,not you laying them on the bed, there are things he can do for himself.

[boxtops]

I've read all this thread with some dismay - why are you dressing your lad like a mini grownup - and a fairly stuffy one at that? 10 year old boys need to spend their casual time in jeans and t-shirts. He's too old for you to be laying his clothes out for him. He must stick out a mile. I understand if he goes to a school (which sounds like a private school if they wear boaters) where uniform is important, all the more reason not to make him change into your own version of uniform in the evenings. I feel sorry for the lad.

[sherrardk]

My 10, 7 and 5 year olds choose their own out-of-school clothes. Even one of the three year olds can be stroppy about what she wears. I wouldn't even know where to buy 'slacks' and a blazer from.

[boxtops]

I;ve just reread "checked shirts and slacks" - he sounds like a mini version of a country gent. I don't mean to be rude, but this isn't how your average 10 year old would want to spend his time, dressed like a squire.

[sherrardk]

I have a friend who's 7 year old loves wearing a shirt, waistcoat and bow tie - as long as he's happy she doesn't mind (although she does think it is a bit odd). The clothes we wear say something about us, I just think this is a bit sad. Makes me think of Perfect Peter in Horrid Henry.

[boxtops]

I'm sad that this lad doesn't get to play out with any friends either, 10 is way old enough to be out playing footie or skateboarding with friends his own age. How will he learn to socialise outside school, if he only goes out with family members?

[sherrardk]

I'm starting to panic now - I've said my 10 (nearly 11) year old can catch the bus to town tomorrow with his friends (this post is making me feel that I shouldn't be letting him out of the house on his own). He is very sensible and has been to town with a friend before (with the friend's mam being in town too). This is the first time he has gone on the bus though.