Elementary School Years (6–11 years)

Elementary School Years ( – years) As you read in the previous chapter this is the stage of middle childhood. It is a period of heightened physical activity, and both boys and girls are interested in sports. Clothing now plays an important role in their social and emotional development. F igure : S porty and comfortable dresses for – Y ears Comfortable clothing is essential at this age too. Boys now are very active and prefer wearing rugged clothes that can withstand their rough- and-tumble play. Girls may prefer ‘boyish’ clothes or may opt for feminine dresses. Most children can select what they want to wear, and resent suggestions from parents. Fitting is an important aspect to be considered while selecting clothing for school children. A poor fit dress is often discarded by the children. However, some children may select a dress on the basis of style even if it is not comfortable. They develop likes and dislikes for certain clothes to gain acceptance from their peers, and parents need to understand this developmental change. A sensitive child may experience humiliation and develop lack of confidence if her/his clothes appear very different from those of her/his peers. like younger children as has been discussed in the previous sections.