For most parents, getting their kids dressed is either a fun opportunity for self-expression or the bane of their daily existence – there’s no in-between. But with summer right around the corner here in Australia, ensuring that your kids are dressed comfortably is an absolute must – especially if you’re planning to travel at all during the school holidays.
So how can you make sure that your kids have all the comfortable summer attire they need to help them stay active and carefree all through the merry season? We’ll be answering this question today by sharing our top tips for creating a basic summer holiday wardrobe for kids of all ages.
Start with your basics
The first thing you’ll want to do is grab lightweight, breathable basics that’ll have your kids feeling comfortable all summer. The best way to do this is by buying clothes that are fully cotton or made of other natural origin fibres. We recommend doing this at dedicated kids fashion retailers like Minihaha, as you’ll be more likely to find a wider range of comfy kids basics here.
Dressing your kids up in organic fibres like cotton or wool is also beneficial as you won’t have to wash these garments as frequently. This is because organic fibres are less likely to track bacteria molecules after a single wear. The last thing you want is to dress your little ones up in polyester clothing all summer long and find yourself with piles of laundry at the end of every week.
Grabbing your basics first will also help ensure that you always have garments to fill in the gaps on any days where dressing your kids feels particularly more challenging. For example, if your kids don’t want to wear anything too dressy, you can still guarantee that they look clean and presentable in some plain tees and pants. From there, all it takes is accessories to go from casual to formal.
Plan ahead by sizing up
It’s no secret that kids can grow pretty quickly. In fact, your kids may rocket up even sooner than you expect them to, which can result in plenty of brand new clothing going unworn. This is a frustration that many parents have undoubtedly felt over the course of raising up a family, so do take comfort in knowing that you’re definitely not alone in this.
But how do you reduce your risks of buying clothes that your kids won’t even have a chance to fit into? Well for starters, you could size up a few garments on all your kids clothing runs. That way, you can guarantee that you’ll have some attire they can wear as they navigate any growing pains.
Attend community clothing swaps
So what do you do with all the old clothes that your kids don’t fit into anymore? Yes, donating them would definitely help other families with younger kids, but it’s fair to feel like a waste of your family’s own resources.
Thankfully, family networks and other community groups across Australia have a great solution for parents in this predicament: kids clothing swaps. Parents can save up all of their kids’ old clothes with the intention of trading them in for more age-appropriate attire as their kids continue to grow. Simply put, these clothing swaps are a great opportunity for parents and families to connect, and to ensure that you’re receiving plenty of new clothing in return for giving to other families. It’s a win-win!
Head to your local op shop
If you don’t have any clothing swaps happening in your area anytime soon, you still have the option of taking your kids out with you for a day of op shopping. You’d be surprised by just how many quality kids garments you can find in op shops, mainly because parents who’ve been in your exact same situation felt compelled to donate all the excess kidswear they had cluttering up their closets at home.
So start sorting through racks to see what you can find! And once again, if your kids are really getting into picking out their own clothing outside of wearing their school uniform, then get them involved too. It could end up being a lot of fun for both you and your little fashion gurus as well.
Put kids summer clothing on your Christmas wishlist
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that shopping for kids at any age can typically be a costly endeavour. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just baby shopping that’s best done on a budget. Even so, your kids do deserve to have new and comfy clothing wherever possible – especially if they’re the second or third child and are no strangers to hand-me-downs as it is.
Thankfully, anybody who’s been a parent knows just how valuable a little extra support can be. So why not just ask your parents, in-laws, and other friends and loved ones for kids summer clothing this Christmas season? Adding kids' clothing to your family’s Christmas wishlist can help ensure you get a good injection of new summer attire without having to cut into your holiday budget at all.
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With a little strategic thinking, preparing a basic summer holiday wardrobe for your kids can be done – and not even at the cost of your sanity. Just remember to get your kids involved wherever you can. That way, your summer holiday clothes shopping becomes a shared task, providing your kids with a greater sense of independence and also ensuring that they can take pride in dressing coolly and comfortably all throughout the hot season.
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