“Can I wear my princess costume to the wedding.”

“I want to wear my Superman cape to school!”

“I won’t be cold in just this t-shirt in the snow.”

Kids’ sense of appropriate clothing doesn’t always match ours. Next time you need a quick comeback to a tricky clothing issue, try one of these.

• Say Yes. “Yes, I think your princess costume is perfect for today. Hang it on the front door so we remember to change right when we come home.”
• Bring in the Authority. “The doctor said you need to cover your arms and legs in the snow. But you can put your t-shirt back on when you’re done outside.”
• Be creative. “Keep that on underneath, but let’s put this on top. You can take it back off later.”
• Compromise. “You can wear that in the car as long as we change when we get there.”
• Be concrete. “We’ll write a note to remind us that you get to wear your cape later today. Draw a picture of it and we’ll hang it on the fridge.”
• Use peer pressure. “Mommy wears shoes outside. Daddy wears shoes outside. Put yours on and you can be like a grown-up, too.”
• Give In. Does it really matter if you’re in the grocery store with Cinderella and Batman? If it’s not unsafe or grossly inappropriate, roll with it!! Comment