First, this is a bit of a venting session, but I am curious about others opinions on the subject. My son will be three in August. He has always had an active imagination, that I have always encouraged. When he gets to playing make-believe games he refuses to answer to his own given name and insists you call him by the name he has given himself for each particular game. I always comply, because I feel like I get to be part of the fun.
Anyway, here is the issue. He has recently become enthralled with dressing up like super heros. It started with just a towel clipped to his shirt as a cape, but has since moved to dressing up in costumes. He has Buzz Lightyear, Batman, and Spiderman. They are the Halloween costumes made of lightweight material, so even though we're in the middle of summer, he's in little danger of overheating. This past weekend the family was planning an outing to the Science Center. He wanted to wear his Batman suit, complete with mask and cape. My husband refused. I didn't see any problem with it as long as he wore real clothes underneath in case he changed his "identity" while we were out. My husband said it would be embarrassing and weird. Now, I've taken him to the store in full Spiderman garb and nobody seems to care. Some people smile at him or call him Spiderman, but I never saw it as anything but fun. He has a very outgoing personality and doesn't do it to hide from people. And it isn't all the time. I usually do it when he is in the middle of playing and I need to run an errand.
What do you think? Is it "weird" if he goes out in public in costume?
Hi A.!
That is just so cute!!! I wish i still had a little one around. I miss those years...
Enjoy every momment you have with them while they are small because time flies by so fast. One day they are small the next time you blink and they are grown.
Enjoy and take care. L.
Hello!
I have occasionally taken our daughter (almost 3) dressed up as a ballerina or Tigger. I also think that there are more important things to worry about.
More often our daughter will pick a new name/personality and wants to be called that from anywhere between 5 min. to the entire day until something new comes up. The first time this happened the three of us were any one of the Wiggles at any given moment for about a week - kept us on our toes as the names changed around.
I think it is fun and seems to be a stage, given that all the answers so far seem to be dealing with kids around 3 years old : ) Sounds like they are trying to incorporate all this new stuff they are learning.
Soon enough they will be "too cool" for this sort of play, so let's enjoy it while we can and don't forget to take pictures!
D.
I have 4 kids. My three older kids (I use the term older loosley, they are 6 and two 4 year olds) all love to play dress up. I see no harm in letting them have an imagination when we go out of the house. Some times they like to dress up other times they pretend. My 4 year old daughter right now insists we call her Madona. Last week she was a puppy named rex and dressed in the tail, paws & ears. My 4 year old son likes to be shark boy & Dale Jr. My 6 year old is growing out of dressing up out of the home... :( It only lasts for such a short time. Tell your husband to enjoy it!! No one will riddicule him for being a bad parent, if any thing he will get praise for letting his kids express them selves.
Hi A.,
I've shopped with Bat man, Spider man, and now Star Wars Jedi. I also can be seen regularly in public with a daughter that refuses to match her socks to her outfit, my three year old in pjs and the various off season outfits. My personal favorite is the rubber rain boots, because Tucson is so rainy. I can always laugh when I see other Moms with children in outfits she didn't have any input to because yesterday and tomorrow I will be that Mom. Dressing is wonderful way for young children to begin to express themselves in a safe way. As a SAHM, homeschooler of three, I fully embrace "picking our battles". So it is not weird that your son goes out in public in costume. It is also normal for your husband to not "get it" and not appreciate the outfit selection. My husband is the same way!!! Just enjoy this very special and limited time with your little ones.
R.
Hi A.!
I don't think it's weird at all! In fact, I think it's awesome that he has such imagination at his age! Trying to take it away from him, even in public, might damage his little ego. I can understand your hubby's embarrassment, but I assure you and him, that as a parent, I love it when kids use their imaginations. Single people may think it's weird, but they don't count...LOL They don't have kids, so to me they have no say so. HA! I saw at Target that they had this batman costum with mask and cape and the little outfit just for 10 dollars! My son's eyes lit up when I showed it to him when I got home! He absolutely loves it! And not to mention, he will be wearing this for Halloween and instead of a costume costing me an arm and a leg, it only cost me a finger...LOL
Let him have fun in public with his costume. I just may encourage my son to do the same thing. Never know, they just may become real heros when they grow up! Encouraging a child to have fun, and be who they are, or use their imagination, no matter what anyone else thinks, is teaching them to be who they want to be without having the influence of others to discourage him. That may be something you can say to your hubby to help him understand that it is ok for your son to be his super hero for the day. :-)
I don't think so. My nieces and nephews all went thru that too. My 3 year old niece loves to go out in her ballerina outfit, and my 4 year old nephew would not answer to any name but the name of the day. It is all games and experiences that each child goes thru. But, at the same time, I know where you husband is coming from, because mine would say the same thing. Let your child do it! It will not hurt at all to have him in superhero garb, except he might get a little more attention while he is out.
I have seen lots of kids out in costume and I think it is quite cute. I think it shows that parents are allowing their children to be what they want and show their creativity. Kids need to be shown that their parents are going to be behind them no matter what they choose to be in life. If it makes your husband uncomfortable, maybe explain to your son that all super heroes have alter-egos. Clark Kent, Peter Paker, Bruce Wayne. Maybe he could try being one of them and wearing his costume underneath his clothes. At some point during the event (while walking to the car) he could rescue someone and change into his costume. Just a thought.
I have taken my three-year-old daughter to daycare every day for a week dressed as minnie mouse (ears included). We often go shopping in some costume, whether it be a princess, a witch or even a pirate, because she loves to dress up and it makes the shopping experience that much more fun for her. Tell your husband there are many other more important battles to fight!
I don't think it's weird-- your son has a great imagination! As long as he's not doing it to hide from his own identity (which you said he's not), it's fine. I'm sure that any other parent that sees him in costume when you're out can't help but smile. =) I think it's totally normal at his age to want to play pretend and it's great that you're giving him the confidence to do so. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks as long as he's happy and you're comfortable with it.
All my children have gone out in costumes. It is good for their immaginations. My 13 year old still thinks about the times he dressed up and went out. One time he went as a professor, I even put a marker mustach on him. He loved the attention and talks about the good old days when he sees his younger sister and brother doing the same. My younges dresses up as supperheroes all the time and I have to call him by their names. I feel this time is to short and I need to take it all in before it is too late. Good job with your little supperheroe!!!
I am a single Mom so I have no advise about the hubby? Good luck.
R.
My 2.5 year old daugher goes everywhere dressed up. Not always in full costume, sometimes it's just a tiara. Yesterday it was full ballerina! My husband says it's embarassing too. I tell him to stay home. I'm not going to have my daughter miss the fun or squash her spirit. He's gotten over it!
I think it is awesome they have enough imagination and self confindance to go out dressed as they wish. I don't have the nerve! I say your doing a great job as a momma!
