Parents should never choose clothes for teenagers alone

To buy clothes better together with the adolescents
Seeking out clothes for their adolescent children clothes can quickly lead to displeasure. Because at the age of about eleven or twelve, many children develop their own fashion taste. Especially larger purchases such as the new winter jacket or shoes should therefore be better bought together. In an interview with the news agency "dpa" gives an expert tips on what should be respected.

Children should develop a feeling for the costs
"Look, what I've brought you for a great jacket" - with a sentence like this mothers and fathers can quickly scare their children from a certain age. For what pleases the parents, rarely causes enthusiasm among the young people. Since many children or adolescents develop their own fashion tastes from the age of eleven or twelve at the latest, parents should no longer simply choose and bring clothes from there, recommends Ulric Ritzer-Sachs of the online consultation of the Federal Conference for Educational Counseling.

When shopping, children should be able to make their own decisions. (Image: rohappy / fotolia.com)

"If mothers or fathers see a plain T-shirt somewhere and there is a need, they can take it with them," the expert continues. But especially with larger purchases such as jackets, pants, shoes and sweaters restraint would make more sense. Because otherwise the young people could not develop a sense of what the things cost. In addition, the adolescents should take over the responsibility for their clothes with increasing age, advises Ritzer-Sachs. Therefore, it would be better if parents go shopping together with their children.

Set fixed budget before purchasing
In order to avoid conflicting choices, it is advisable that parents "do not fret over any fashion frills," the expert continues. With expensive branded clothing, on the other hand, it would normally depend on the budget. If the child wants to have something expensive, that should not be strictly prohibited. Instead, it could be a compromise if the parents pay as much as planned and the remainder is taken over by the young person himself. "It is always helpful to set a budget before you buy," says Ritzer-Sachs. This is also advisable if the son or daughter goes shopping alone for the first time. "You can try that out, for example, by giving a certain sum for a pair of pants."

Too much care can have negative consequences
However, it is not just on the subject of "clothing" that it is important for parents to "let go" at a certain age and to support the child on his way to becoming self-employed. Too much care can have a negative impact, as it later becomes more and more difficult for the offspring to handle tasks themselves. Parents should not take everything from their children, but promote the child in his independence. So it should be for a 14-year-old teenager, for example. be a matter of course, to take care of your own personal hygiene and to pay attention to clean clothing. Similarly, children of this age should be able to attend school matters such as Homeworking itself, according to the director of the online consultation of the Federal Conference on Educational Counseling, Maria Große Perdekamp. But "of course one should already begin to convey this," recommends the expert (nr)