When do kids start getting teased for their clothes?

[Anonymous]

My husband is a big spender and I'm pretty frugal. I ensure we spend money where it matters, but my kids don't have a ton of clothes and what I do buy is always on sale.

Now I would never have my kids going to school looking unkept but other kids in our circle... these elementary kids have ten pairs of new sneakers and closets overflowing with clothes.

When they get to middle school, I will certainly make sure they are hip lol (and yes, I will make sure that they know they're clothes do not find them as well). But to my husband's point, and what age do kids really start teasing with respect to clothing? At first I thought middle school, then I thought definitely fifth grade, now I'm questioning third?

If you do respond, can you say how you know? Did your kids start getting teased for their clothing?

[Anonymous]

Kids should pick clothes that are comfortable and they like and meet dress code. If they get bullied that's the bullies issue not your kids.

Please do not force your kid to wear clothes they don't like/aren't comfortable in.
Fitting in is overrated. They should be themselves.

[Anonymous]

Do not teach kids they need to change themselves for others.

[Anonymous]

It depends on where you live. Mine never have and I've never bought expensive things.

[Anonymous]

I was bullied for my clothes in 3rd grade. They were not cheap, just "kid" clothes instead of more mature clothes

[Anonymous]

Not in elementary school at all IME- maybe so if a kid is wearing something really really bizarre (which is usually on purpose). Used or inexpensive basic tees hoodies leggings shorts etc are all fine.

Sometimes kids will ask for stuff they see friends wearing but it is not usually brand specific at these ages. More like “a sequin tshirt like Larla’s” or “I only want to wear athletic pants like my friends, not jeans anymore”.

The one exception was sneakers. My older DS was asking for Nike by 4th grade or so, but did not care about anything else he wore.

[Anonymous]

I only have ES kids so haven’t dealt with any older kid/MS/teen stuff yet. But two things, I think by 4th grade you want to transition them to somewhat more mature styles. This is more of a change for girls, because they’re going to stop wearing dresses and skirts, colorful character shirts, and colorful or printed leggings, and start wearing more of the neutrals and “big kid” styles. I think boys clothes tend to be like that anyway so not a huge change for them. And the PP’s point about name brand sneakers is also a good one and that also starts about 4th grade. It’s usually Nike at that age too. It seems like the older kids have a more variety of brands that they like. Other than that I haven’t seen brands be a big deal in ES at all.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors kids are now in fourth grade and last year he told me they were obsessed with brands. So no bullying but they wanted the Stanley water bottle and were more particular about their clothes. He has twin girls.

[Anonymous]

My son is in 8th, decent ses and he lives in old navy. Doesn't want anything with brand names.

[Anonymous]

5th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on where you live. Mine never have and I've never bought expensive things.

Definitely depends where live, but if don’t want anything said about their clothes then have them blend in with middle school “uniform” of baggy sweatshirt and Nike socks.

[Anonymous]

4th or 5th for girls. Middle school for boys

[Anonymous]

I have a boy going into 6th and I would say brand awareness definitely started in 5th. That said I don’t think anyone has made fun of him for wearing old navy and target clothing. I got him a few nicer brand name things on sale, but overall he doesn’t seem to care. From what he tells me it seems to be more of a thing with girls: have to have a Stanley and lulu leggings. We are in N. Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is more a trope from tv and film rather than something that is a real issue. Once your kids get old enough they will start expressing their opinions on what they want to wear. If you have raised them right they won’t want expensive things just to fit in. And their friends won’t be the kind of people that bully them because of what they wear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is more a trope from tv and film rather than something that is a real issue. Once your kids get old enough they will start expressing their opinions on what they want to wear. If you have raised them right they won’t want expensive things just to fit in. And their friends won’t be the kind of people that bully them because of what they wear.

+1
This was definitely around when I was in middle school (and couldn't afford benneton or esprit) but clothes are so everywhere these days. They don't seem to be as precious or as statementy. My DCs are all about comfort. They have a few style aspirations (something something japanese) but they don't care where they acquire them. They like thrifting. They don't even care about ZITS or greasy hair. It's kind of wonderful how they all accept each other.