Age-appropriate clothing for kids
As a mom of a 3-year-old girl, I read every word of a recent Associated Press story, "Parents, doctors debate youngsters wearing heels."
My little girl loves twirly skirts, flowy dresses, glittery tiaras and other shimmery accessories. And yes, she loves pretty shoes in pink and purple and other colors besides black or brown. If she had her way, she would certainly wear heels. (I still don't know why she's such a girly-girl, by the way. I'm a practical mom -- nearly all my shoes are flat with non-marking rubber soles.)
When she's at home playing dress up, she'll put on a pair of plastic, one-inch heels and teeter around the house. Every time I hear the "click, click, click" of those costume heels, I can't help but think she's on the verge of falling.
The AP story compelled me to get online to check out 3 1/2-year-old Suri Cruise's heels. I discovered they were nothing like my daughter's. I'm almost positive the pair at my house is from the Dollar Store or was once part of a princess costume. Little Suri's shoes looked like something out of her mom's closet, only shrunk down to her size.
"As images of 3 1/2 -year-old Suri Cruise out and about in blingy heels
recently hit magazines and the Internet, reactions to the grown-up look
for not-so-old kids have ranged from cries of inappropriate to defense
of a little girl’s right to be girlie," wrote the AP.
Which leads me to ask... Would you allow your little girls to wear heels -- even just for fun? What would you consider age-appropriate clothing for a preschooler?