When you think of the look you want your child to convey, do you think classy or trendy? The thought was recently brought on by my own little six-month-old, fashionista-in-the-works, little Bella. I didn’t think this out much with my son. He kind of just took on the style his daddy favored. I’ve always liked and trusted my husband’s sense of style, so it worked well.

But for my daughter, the question of classic vs. trendy posed a dilemma for me. Do I want to dress her up with the cutest trends around or do I want to stick with modern classics? I always say that she will probably end up being at the opposite side of the spectrum and love denim and t-shirts! I am totally willing to accept whatever she chooses to become. But for these few precious unopinionated months or years of early childhood, I’ll have the privilege to set her looks.

I came up with the following conclusions:

1) Trendy clothes are super adorable on children as long as they are tasteful.

2) Classic styles and brands of clothes are nice to have for those formal times such as weddings, portraits, graduations, etc…

3) Trendy clothes in classic colors make for a great clean, modern look.

Whatever style or look you choose for your child, let it be a tasteful expression of who your child is!

As you may have already noticed, there is a huge surge in “mini me” clothing popping up all over. This “mini me” couture effect is basically a term used for parents wanting their children to look and dress like they do. With the vast amount of information on the Internet and the constant celebrity exposure, our children are growing up with a lot more options than we ever had. Designers are churning out pint size renditions of clothes that are on runways every season.

However, not every parent is jumping on this band wagon. In our family outings, I still see children dressed in p.j.’s or t-shirts that are witty yet sloppy. I always look to the parents to see how they are dressed. It’s usually the same. Most of the style stems from the parents. Children in more ways than one are a direct reflection of their mommy and daddy.

With this being said, I don’t think the “mini me” idea is so bad. We all know families that always look put together. Why not create that culture with your own children? I am not saying that appearance is the most important issue in a kid’s life. But appearance speaks for itself. What’s wrong with dressing the part? Your child will grow and learn to take pride in how they look and will in turn pass this to their children.

In the last month or so, I’ve been noticing that my 3 year old son has been learning and discovering things more regularly. It seems like his brain is expounding by the second. He has always been a very independent child and so sometimes trying to “teach” him something was challenging. His stubbornness was sometimes linked to him being so independent. He seemed to have a better way of doing anything his father and I wanted to show him.

Lately, I’ve seen more willingness to learn thru example. I think part of it is the fact that his little brain is maturing. But I think the main reason for this change in him is his understanding and receiving of praise. He loves praise! But who doesn’t? I am in my late 20’s and I still like it! The following are 7 definitive ways on how to praise your child:

1. Look your child in the eye.

2. Move close to your child and down to their eye level.

3. Smile.

4. Praise a specific behavior. “You did such a great job cleaning up your bedroom.”

5. Speak with feeling and sincerity.

6. Touch your child affectionately, maybe a pat on the back or stroke of an arm.

7. Praise immediately, as soon as you notice commendable behavior.

Tip:Your praise should be honest and specific. Don’t dilute the effectiveness of praise by overdoing it or being insincere. Older children especially will pick up on your exaggeration.