Do You Think It's OK to Require Your Children to be Dressed Up Almost Every Weekend?

Why would anyone require their children to dress up? People, it seems to me, need to dress in a culturally and situationally appropriate way. Dressing up just for the sake of dressing up does not seem to me to meet those criteria.

We need good reasons to dress, no matter how we dress. We may not consciously be aware of those reasons in daily life. However, for a question like this, making explicit the reasons for dressing, no matter how one dresses, is important. Without explicit discussion of the reasons for dressing one way or another, there can be no meaningful answers.

I say, there’s not enough kids dressing up these days!

Kids dressed up because they followed the example of their parents.

Are you talking about for church or what? Need more details please.

If you’re dressed in workplace-appropriate business casual, it’s appropriate to expect your children to dress in school-appropriate clothing. If you’re not, well, don’t you think it’s a bit ridiculous to hold your children to a higher standard than you hold yourself?

i think everyone should look like a slob all the time.

Yep, it depends on the purpose.

My sisters grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. I have seen pictures of weekend & vacation time and they weren’t dressed up! They dressed up for church on Sunday, to visit relatives (and only sometimes with that) or to go out for a restaurant meal. Otherwise, weekends were spent in casual clothes.

IMHO, everyone should dress in a manner that is appropriate for the specific situation or venue.

I’ve never known anyone who required children to dress up on weekends unless they were going somewhere special.

Usually weekends are for dressing down. Do you know someone who does this? Have you asked them why they do this?

To answer your question, I don’t think it would be damaging to a child to make him/her dress up on the weekends. It would probably be a lot more fuss than it’s worth, and people would probably wonder where you’re going or where you’ve been. But I wouldn’t say it makes a parent bad, necessarily. Weird, and a little inconsiderate to the kids, but not “bad.”

For Church, if they go, but not for the whole weekend!

Ya know, there was a time that it was not “dressing up” we just did it.
I was never told to wear ties, it was part of the attire. I like them, sport jackets too.

I get kids that show up for job interviews with flip-flops and shorts on.
From my first job interview at the age of 15 I dressed for success. And, that was for a dish washer job.
And sorry, tongue piercing, neck tattoos and tits hanging out will not get you a job.
At least in my place. Unless you are that good.

I encourage my daughter to look decent at the weekends, For example tidy hair, clothes etc.. but I encourage that throughout the week too! It’s not about types of clothes but more about looking clean and presentable. If we are going to church I prefer her to dress up a little more, but if she wants to wear her football shirt I’m not going to complain to much as at least she is going to church.
We had Sunday best and clothes that were just for special occassions, only prblem was sometimes we out grew it before we had, had the chance to wear them more than 10 times :)

I wouldn’t/don’t do it, but if it is a family ritual and everyone does it, I have no objections. What other people do in their own home is none of my business.

This has not just with church to do (if they go there at all), but the entire weekend.

If you’re going to see someone important (Business meeting, interview, place of worship), you better do it.
If you’re just hanging around the house, or with some friends? Fuck that. I’m not wearing a button-up shirt and a tie to go play Super Smash Bros or to get a burrito from a local taqueria.

I was a teen-ager in the late forties and early fifties – we bought Levis (they were made for boys and men only. They were stiff and too big at the waist.) Who dressed up? No one I knew. Unless there was a social reason.

well i don’t think it’s necessary whatsoever. as much as i love when little kids are all dressed up (ohmygosh little bowties! how cute), i think kids should be kids for as long as they can without worrying about what looks nice or not. as long as they’re wearing ‘appropriate’ clothes, i think they’re fine.

@Anonymoususer maybe the parents are big on first impressions? My father always said “You never get a second chance to give a good first impression.” I wonder if they being over vigilant thinking that dressing casually will ruin some type of chance for their children.

My own personal opinion is that they are being a bit too strict on this matter, but it’s hard to say for sure not knowing why they do this. Are they very strict with their children in other areas also?

@scamp: People who base their first impression entirely on clothing are not the people I care to impress.

Sakura, what do you requrie her to wear? Blouse and skirt?

@Anonymoususer I’m guessing you mean at church… no way would I make her wear a blouse and skirt, I couldn’t… seeing as I wear jeans and a t shirt! (smart ones of course!)

As long as her clothes look neat and clean I’m not too fussed like I said, if she wants to wear her football shirt to church I’m not bothered as long as its clean and not creased!

Anonymoususer, as I said here before, I say it again: -This has not just with church to do (if they go there at all), but the entire weekend.,

no way would I make her wear a blouse and skirt at the weekend, even I don’t wear them!!

The reason would probably be the parents wanting their children to look good. Since it probably wouldn’t be considered fair to to it every day, they would probably chose weekends.