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Show Teen-age mutant styles are normal peer groups. Kids may want you to dress more modem, not dress just like one of them. 7) Set guidelines for yourself early ear-ly so you don't start the habit of having to have all the designer names for your kids and the expensive expen-sive clothing expectations of society- 8) If, like most people, you can't afford designer wardrobes, allow your kids to have at least one item with a popular designer brand name or logo. This gives them the peer credibility for which they are striving. striv-ing. Young says there is a time and a place for clothing conformity, and school is the place and the early teen years is the time. If their behavior doesn't change immediately, im-mediately, roll with it; they will listen to you again scon. By DENNIS HINKAMP Consumer Information Writer Utah State University If you are a normal adult, sooner or later you are going to notice a group of teen-agers walk by. You will be alarmed by their clothing, and you will mutter to yourself, "Kids these days!" It is at this point in time you officially become middle-aged. If you are the parents of one of these teen-age mutant dressers, you have problems that go well beyond being middle-aged. You have to learn how to survive your children's adventures in peer pressure. This can be a costly and frustrating trip. According to Louise Young, Extension Ex-tension clothing specialist in the Utah State University College of Family Life, you need to relax and understand this is a normal part of growing upfor you and the child. Young says fads may actually be safe turf for setting the stage for independence. in-dependence. If choices are not too deviant, parents may be wise not to over react. She suggests asking questions in a non-threatening manner to keep lines of communications open for when they are ready to verbalize their mixed feelings. She suggests these guidelines: 1) Start early by letting children in on clothing choices and decisions. deci-sions. Allow choice while guiding the selections you can afford or feel comfortable about. ?.) Ask their opinion and allow them to express themselves without making fun or putting down. They may like a color combination that you think is silly. They will learn soon enough if their friends think it's silly. 3) Help them feel good about their bodiessize, color of hair, freckles, etc. If they express discontent discon-tent with being too this or that, let them talk it out. 4) If they have clothing tastes different from yoursand of course they will go through magazines, catalogs and shops with them to educate yourself on their opinions. 5) Guide their choices by using good buying practices. Let them earn money for extras that you choose not to purchase for them. They will take responsibility to earn money to buy it or decide it isn't worth the effort. 6) Take opportunities to talk about their likes, dislikes, pressures from peers while at the same time communicating your preferences. Kids often don't realize that parents have similar feelings about appearance ap-pearance and acceptance in adult |