Back-to-School Clothes for Kids, 2010

It's that time of year again. Back to school means back to shopping. Here you'll find everything you need for that new fall wardrobe. Tips, advice, clothes for every size and style are all here. 

General Buying Tips

• Beat the crowd and buy online. By shopping online, you can also avoid your kids being tempted by other items (no more "Mom, can I have this video game " while you are trying to get him to shop for clothes).
• Buy easy-to-wash clothes. Kids will be kids, so don't buy anything for school that can't be easily rid of grass, ice cream, or paint stains.
• Watch out for clothes that have white and another colour. If your child insists on buying clothes with red and white stripes, invest in a bleach pen  that can target just the white areas.
• Don't buy expensive trendy items. These won't last long. Either they'll be out of style in a few months or your child will outgrow them.
• Look for clothes that can be layered, so one outfit can get them from recess to the classroom.
• Buy lots of jeans . They'll get the most use.
• Try to get clothes in colours and styles that can easily be mixed and matched.
• Always make sure your child has at least one pair of sneakers .
• Buy big, but not ridiculously big. Anyone who's ever had a mother that lived by the "buy big so they grow into it" motto knows the horrors of this concept. If your kid is on the cusp of two sizes, sure, go with the bigger size. However, don't embarrass your child by making him or her wear shoes or clothes that are three or four sizes too large.

Sticking to the Dress Code

Even if they don't have a uniform, in many school's handbooks they have outlined a dress code your child is expected to follow. These dress codes often involve not wearing shorts or skirts that fall above the knee, wearing shirts that show too much shoulder, or wearing tee-shirts that have inappropriate words or images on them. You won't know the specifics of your school dress code until you look it up, so before you buy your children's back to school clothes this year, make sure you're aware of the dress code and avoid purchasing clothes that violate it. Even if your kids love them, they spend most of their time in school and they'll want as many choices as possible each day. Don't limit your child's school wardrobe by buying clothes that fall outside the dress code.

If your school does have a strict dress code, you and your children can still have fun with their style. Try introducing different colours and patterns to their wardrobe and they'll feel excited about wearing the type of clothes their school may want.

Dressing Like The Big Kids

If dress code isn't an issue at your school, your little ones will be seeing lots of older kids wearing clothes that they might want to be wearing. The problem is, you might not want them wearing these things yet. If your little girl is wanting to mimic the miniskirt and strapless shirt look of her older peers and you don't want her too, try getting her interested in clothes that are more suitable for her age. This season, there are tons of cute styles for every age and with a little talking, it should be easy to convince her to dress her age and not like a twenty four year old. 

Back to School Clothes for Girls

Stay Cool at School with These Clothes
The Pants Flared jeans  and skinny leg  pants are back this fall. Leggings  are also a very popular and comfortable option for school, especially with a long shirt or casual dress on top.	The Shirts Flower tunics  are adorable and still in style! Invest in a hoodie : these are great for layering clothes and are comfortable and popular. Polo shirts  are academic yet not too stuffy. Plenty of t-shirts  are needed for mixing and matching.	The Dresses Look for dresses  will fun prints. Classic jersey dresses  in solid colours are look very sophisticated and can be easily dressed up or down. Make sure you have a light jacket  or cardigan  that matches the dress!	The Skirts Try a patterned skirt  to add some colour and flare to her outfit.  Ruffles are in! Look for skirts  that have a little bit of ruffle on the bottom.	The Shoes Invest in sneakers  for gym class. Converse  are very popular. Is your child begging for Converses but it's a bit out of your budget? There are many, many sneakers out there that closely resemble the designer sneaker, so look out for Converse knock-offs. Ballet flats  are still in, so grab a few pairs of ballet flats in colours that match well, like black ,grey /silver , or white . Mary janes  are perfect for dresses and skirts. Flip-flops  and sandals  are great for summer beaches, but make sure they are allowed in your child's school.

For Boys

Stay Smart with These Clothes
The Pants Start out with classic bootcut jeans . Corduroy pants  are great for autumn! Black slacks  are great for formal events.	The Shirt Polo shirts  are classic and sophisticated. Graphic tees  are great for boy's who like to wear their heart on their sleeves... or chest. A fleece jacket  is great for chilly days. Oxford shirts and plaid shirts  are classically back-to-school. Hoodies  are casual yet highly functional.	The Shoes Sneakers  are always in for boys! Slip on shoes  are easy to put on, no fuss.  Classic oxfords  are great for formal occasions.

Quick Picks

Check Cotton Sun Dress	Stripe Print Polo Shirt	Converse Double Tongue Hi Kids/Youth	Animal Boys Tadder Jeans	Teal Star Printed Cotton Jacket

Related Guides

• Back to School 2010
• Back-to-School Makeup
• Back-to-School Clothes for Teens
• School Supplies
• Back-to-School Gadgets