| Is it Silver Creek MS? |
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My rising 6th grader, who will be new at a similar type of middle school, will definitely be decorating her locker. She loves that type of thing so we will get a couple things for first day and then she’ll probably want to get additional stuff for it, if she’s inspired.
Clothes: agree about vans/converse, Jansport backpacks. But that is school/location dependent. Get a few things to start her off, but then take her back shopping after she sees what others are wearing (if she cares about that). And tell her to find nice, fun kids who are like her! Don’t try to fit in popular girls. Be confident and happy w/ who you are. |
Agreed to all this |
My thoughts exactly! Ha! Where are my old scrunchies and Jansport backpacks? |
| This post is all the things that are wrong with how parents perpetuate the issues that happen in middle school. Seriously, this makes me very sad. |
Could you please elaborate what is it exactly that makes you sad? Not being snarky, my child is still in elementary and I'd appreciate an honest assessment of what happens in middle school these days. |
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One thing to be careful of is that certain clothes might be associated with certain cliques. So, for instance, I offered to buy my DD some clothes from a certain athleisure clothing store that I understood to be "popular." She was vehemently opposed and I came to understand that particular brand was, at her school, worn very commonly by a certain clique of girls that was not very nice to her. She did not want to look like she was a "wannabe." So there's some value in letting her find her place before trying to create an image for her through clothing.
I have heard that the kids are weirdly judgmental about shoes/sneakers and also technology. But I figure getting teased for having knock-off tech is probably at least a little character-building. Also, I think a safe bet is cute tee-shirts that have a phrase or something from something she's into. So, if she's into Hamilton, one of the T-shirts with a quote. Witty humor that signifies your interests seems "in," at least among some kids. Avoid anything too preppy that looks like you're trying too hard to look "nice," unless that's what she affirmatively wants in which case she should own it. But a better suggestion, rather than clothes, is joining groups. At these big MSs, it's really hard for the girls to make new friends. The friends my DD has made have all been through after-school clubs, which often attract kids with similar interest and personalities. |
+ 1 If PP is sad at the idea of kids following trends, then your have impossible expectations. Kids like to follow what’s popular. I did when I was a kid. I wore Keds and permed my hair (sadly), has acid wash jeans, and used scrunchies. |
Lol vans, Jansport, cut offs, surf-influenced stuff...I went to junior high in Los Angeles and this is how we all dressed. |
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PP here from Los Angeles (now living in DC!)
The funny thing is my friends' daughters think I am SO COOL because I never stopped wearing slip on sneakers and hoodies on the weekends. |
Was just going to post the same...I didn't live in LA in the 90s, but we still wore all of this. |
Haha - so true. My rising 5th grader just bought a bunch of scrunchies last weekend. I told her if only I had kept all mine from high school and college -- she would be set! |
| Trendy things you can buy in the store are nice, but it doesn't make people like you. I know you want to help her to fit in, but it sounds to me like your DD already has the "right stuff" on her own. She doesn't need to have the perfect pair of sneakers to find success. Being awkward at this age just makes her unique. Tell her to be herself...say hello to someone new...smile...be confident. Confidence looks great on everyone. Kids will see that she is special and want to be her friend for reasons that really matter. |
| So a Costco or target backpack is social suicide? And Skechers sneakers? |
Is hydro flask better than yeti? |