CLOTHES—AS CHILDREN SEE THEM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 11, 24 December 1925, Page 13

CLOTHES—AS CHILDREN SEE THEM.

Five-year-old Betty was being dressed for a birthday party when 1 called, but the little girl looked anything but festive as she reiuut uitly allowed her “fussy” frilly muslin frock to be fastened. “Here's someone efsc to toll you what a silly girl you are,” remarked her mother. “Do you know,” she went on, turning to me, doesn’t want . to wear her best frock to a party ! • She wanted to go in a check gingham! i How quickly some grown-ups iorgot I their own childish miseries! Betty ' obviously knew that she was going to i a romping party in a garden, when she ; would be happier in gingham than in i muslin frills. Too young to explain I properly, she was yet old enough Lu ! . experience that horrid feeling of being : “different” from the others who would, 1 she know, be wearing “comfy” frocks. ; “I don’t allow my little girl to have 1 any views on dress,” one often hoar* ; a mother say. “It tends to encourage ■ vanity and self-consciousness.” O| course, this is true in a way. But I • think that a child should be allowed to feel that she is corrocily - dressed like other children, in i: <t • To make her noticeable in any way may i cause her suffering that she will never ; quite forget. Those miniature copies • of “Mother” with their shingled hair, ' flesh silk stockings and “smart” frocks ; may look exquisite in their parent.-, ! eyes—but how I pity them! And equallv do I pity those who walk I abroad in their elders’ garments I clumsily “ent down.” Cut them down i if you must-—but do it skilluliy. so 1 that the keen eyes of other little childj ren may not see. ; To let a child be normally interested I in what is the right thing m wear, encourages not. vanity but- good taste ; pretty, simple clothes will give theii owner a pride that leads to neatness of person. Clothes do matter even when you are only five.