Kids and Halloween Costumes
I am on the fence about Halloween. When Gigi was born, I vowed not to even expose it to her. In the end, she ended up figuring out all about Halloween from other family members, school, friends and the TV. So, I do allow her to pick a princess character to dress as each year and we go to one of the big, local celebrations so she can collect candy. I let her have one night where she can ingest as much sugar as she likes, even if it does make her almost literally bounce off the walls.
Gigi wore an Ariel the Little Mermaid costume this past weekend. Her little seashell bikini top was actually quite a demure undertaking, since her entire top half was neck to wrist fabric in a flesh tone. She did not have a shoulder or belly button in sight. I cannot say the same for some of the other kids her age I spotted on Saturday night.
I saw a sexy witch and some belly-ringed “rock stars”. There were belly dancers and nurses in high heels. The odd part is that not one of the costumes I just named was on a little girl over the age of 6. I kid you not.
I saw pre-teens in French maid outfits and at least one girl who was barely in puberty, dressed in a Playboy bunny outfit. There were latex-looking dresses and other “sexy” stuff.
I was listening to an article on one of the cable news stations and the designers and retailers in the Halloween costume industry are BLAMING the parents, say we drive the sales, we buy them for own children and actually demand the styles.
Huh?
I’m a parent and I would never demand a sexy costume for my daughter. Once she turns 18, it will be her choice, but I won’t be walking into a store and shouting that I want a sexy costume for my girl.
Yikes. Who ARE these parents they are talking about??
Oh, naive one…there are plenty of parents out there who are helping to sexualize children. Our little girls are dressing much much older than we ever did. Good luck trying to find an undershirt for your kid.
How many of your daughter’s peers actually wear undershirts?
How easy is it for you to find age appropriate clothing or shoes for your kid?
It’s getting harder and harder to find SHOES for little girls that aren’t just smaller knockoffs of adult fare.
The manufacturers aren’t entirely to blame. It IS the parents. They’re allowing their kids to idolize folks like Britney, Mariah and the like.
That’s my perspective. I’ve been watching this trend over the last ten years or so and I see it every day here in NYC and in the suburbs.
It’s not just the companies, man. It’s the parents.
I overheard one soccer mom in my hometown refer to her seven year old daughter’s outfit as ‘hot’.
What does that tell you?
Thus ends my rant.
You are correct, my friend.
Just last week I threw up my hands in disgust and went to the fabric store to buy patterns and fabric, because now that Gigi is into that middle ground of size 4T vs. size 4, I am seeing that the days of cute, demure toddler clothing is gone. Instead, I have to pick through t-shirts that are too tight and pants that ride low. The fabrics are mature looking and I pretty much keep her in sneakers and sandals to avoid the high heels other moms put their daughters in for church and stuff.
Of course, undershirts are another issue. I see them in the stores, but it gets so hot here I do not require her to wear one most of the year. I am careful about her fabrics not being too gauzy, though.