Wendy Williams' Back-to-School Shopping Tips
When I was a kid I had a slammin' wardrobe. The Official Preppy Handbook was out when I was young and I had every color of polo shirt. I was a big girl and a wallflower, but I had all the great clothes. My son Kevin is going to public middle school after spending elementary school in Catholic School, so we finally had to do back-to-school shopping this year. We made a date and went to the mall and it was a big success.
Here are my top 5 back-to-school shopping tips!
report abuseHere are my top 5 back-to-school shopping tips!
- Be positive! Don't criticize your kid when you're out back-to-school shopping (or any time). Be careful about the things you put in your kid's head, because they stay there for life. Don't comment on your kid's weight. Don't criticize his or her acne. Instead encourage your kid! Show him the proper way to wash his face. The proper way to eat and exercise. When I was a kid I hated shopping because my mom would come in the dressing room and criticize my weight. My parents used to say, "Wendy, you have such a pretty face if you'd just lose some weight." So I go into the dressing room with my son Kevin and encourage and support him.
- Spend what you've got! Don't be ashamed to bargain hunt. Sure, kids can be cruel regarding brands and everything, but don't spend more than you can afford. There's no shame in discount shopping. Even people who have a lot of money do it! We have to teach our kids the value of a dollar.
- Talk to your kid about your expectations before you enter the store! I give Kevin a stern lecture in the car prior to going into the store when we go back-to-school shopping. I don't like disciplining him in the store because people always have something to say and get all up in your Kool-Aid when you do that. I'm not just a mother, I can be a real mama. There's is a big difference between a mother and a mama! Kevin knows how I expect him to behave in public.
- Don't buy overly nice clothes for young kids! Kids lose things all the time, so don't send them to school with expensive clothes. For our back-to-school shopping this year I got Kevin a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts. Nothing too good.
- Help your kid keep track of his stuff! Once you've done your back-to-school shopping, make sure you teach your kids how to take care of their things and not lose them. I used a label maker in Kevin's clothes until 3rd grade. These days he thinks labels are for babies, so I sew a piece of colored thread in the collar so he knows which one is his. My son has always been very responsible because he knows if you waste my money, you're in for it!
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