Do you think wedding dress-up is weird

Littlejen22

DH finds it weird, I am wondering if I should keep it for DD instead of giving it as part of a gift I bought it for.

FriskyPanda

A wedding dress dress-up dress? I'm not a fan. I try to discourage the wedding-themed play. I never had the fantasy wedding ideas that you hear "all" little girls have, and didn't get married until late 20's. I just don't want DD to see that as the end all be all - there's so much more to life than getting married and so much more to getting/being married than the wedding, kwim?

I'm sure I sound like a wet blanket, but that's my thing. Sorta like people who don't let their kids watch TV.

Littlejen22

I don't disagree with you about more to life than the wedding and I also never dreamed of the wedding growing up, actually when I was little I never did dress-up and did not play with dolls much either.  My kids are huge into dress-up, we have a lot of princess dress-up b/c it was hand-me-downs, mostly only the skirts get used, they have a ton of other stuff like doctors, chef, cowboy, pirates,etc but those don't get used much anymore.  I honestly bought the dress-up stuff on sale, it was a chest, just b/c it was a good deal even though it is not my thing, I think I will give it to DD and my kids can play with it.  I never lead their dress-up play at all and as of right now it is all about the clothes for them and besides playing with a doctor's kit they never actually pretend with it, they just like wearing the clothes...oh the damn plastic heels!

Mc_Newlywed

Meh - I don't have a problem with it.  

I mean, she's not going to be a stripper because she wears clear plastic heels.  And she's not going to be a bridezilla just because I let her wear a wedding dress.  And she's not really going to be a princess just because she tromps around the house in pjs and a tiara.   

It's all about fantasy play and being someone that you normally aren't.  Plus she acts out scenes in her favorite movies.  Nothing funnier than her in a wedding dress acting out the ending to Shrek when the dragon eats Lord Farquad.  (especially in 3 yr old speak when it sounds like "Lord F^ckwad").  

I say give it to her.  

ghm

I see no problem with it--it's not about fantasizing a wedding or marriage, it's about looking like a princess. I don't think I was ever into being a princess or bride in dress up, and I don't like weddings, so I really don't think being okay with wedding dress up is encouraging children to only dream of the wedding.

Children dream of a lot of extravagant and far-reaching things when they're children. The good news is that most children develop a good head on their shoulders and gain a sense of reality.  

jnicks19

My older DD was  bride for Halloween 2 yrs ago and my younger DD is being a bride this year.  I don't see the problem with it.  It's all dress up to me.  I wouldn't feel any different if she were dressing like a princess, doctor, astronaut or librarian!

Andrewsgal

FriskyPanda:

A wedding dress dress-up dress? I'm not a fan. I try to discourage the wedding-themed play. I never had the fantasy wedding ideas that you hear "all" little girls have, and didn't get married until late 20's. I just don't want DD to see that as the end all be all - there's so much more to life than getting married and so much more to getting/being married than the wedding, kwim?

I'm sure I sound like a wet blanket, but that's my thing. Sorta like people who don't let their kids watch TV.

Well crap DS is going to think the end all be all is jumping from building to building shooting webs from his hands. This could take years of therapy to correct when he is an adult. I think parents way over think things like this. But then again dd loves princesses and barbies so what do I know?

Littlejen22

Andrewsgal:

FriskyPanda:

A wedding dress dress-up dress? I'm not a fan. I try to discourage the wedding-themed play. I never had the fantasy wedding ideas that you hear "all" little girls have, and didn't get married until late 20's. I just don't want DD to see that as the end all be all - there's so much more to life than getting married and so much more to getting/being married than the wedding, kwim?

I'm sure I sound like a wet blanket, but that's my thing. Sorta like people who don't let their kids watch TV.

Well crap DS is going to think the end all be all is jumping from building to building shooting webs from his hands. This could take years of therapy to correct when he is an adult. I think parents way over think things like this. But then again dd loves princesses and barbies so what do I know?

I read in the blog from the Mom whose son dressed up as Daphnie for Halloween and the huge deal b/c it was a girl costume, she said that she was not worried that "your son will grow up to be a ninja", made me laugh.  Funny enough I bought the Batgirl costume for DS so obviously I am not one that overly worries, but just cannot figure out if I should give it as a gift.

So, should I give it as a gift or keep it for us?

camrude

I say give it a gift. Dress up is fun for most little kids - it gets their imaginations going.

DandRAgain

meh, overthinking it, I think.

My kids LOVE dress up...love it.  So what should we provide for them??  Suits to pretend to be the president or a business person?  or doctor's coats?  Or only things that we want them to be?

My kids also love playing kitchen..maybe my kids will be chefs?  Maybe stay at home parents?  I don't know. 

All I know is when they are playing house and dress up and wedding (Usually M. marries one of his sister's...how's that for awkward?? LOL), its using their creativity and they are playing/sharing/getting along/working out how to make it so everyone gets a part....whatever works.

Mominator

I think that you are for sure overthinking this. It's dress up, pretend play, it's healthy for kids. My kids like to dress up as superheros, and I'm pretty sure that they don't have expectations of having super powers when they grow up, so why is wedding play any different.

FriskyPanda

Andrewsgal:

FriskyPanda:

A wedding dress dress-up dress? I'm not a fan. I try to discourage the wedding-themed play. I never had the fantasy wedding ideas that you hear "all" little girls have, and didn't get married until late 20's. I just don't want DD to see that as the end all be all - there's so much more to life than getting married and so much more to getting/being married than the wedding, kwim?

I'm sure I sound like a wet blanket, but that's my thing. Sorta like people who don't let their kids watch TV.

Well crap DS is going to think the end all be all is jumping from building to building shooting webs from his hands. This could take years of therapy to correct when he is an adult. I think parents way over think things like this. But then again dd loves princesses and barbies so what do I know?

Like I said, that's just my "thing." I think we're all a little obssessive about something when it comes to our kids, this is just mine. DD has the princess dress up box and will be getting the shoes for Christmas, I don't like that either but don't have the same hang ups About that as I do about the wedding thing.

karen6784

I don't think so.  Dressing up is using your imagination.  If you pair playing dress up in a bridal dress with a full on wedding planning session, that is weird. 

CleoKitty

If wedding dress-up and pretend is wrong then my family is the epitome of dysfunctional.

Dd LOVES to put on her flower girl dress, walk down the aisle (ahem, the hallway) while humming the wedding march, where she joins her daddy and they get married by her brother the minister. Yep, she marries Daddy. It happens almost daily in our house.

Better start saving for the therapy fund now. ;-)

FWIW, I played wedding as a kid and by the time I was an adult knew that I never wanted a real wedding, LOL. Dh and I eloped.