Kids dress in church
 

Why do some dress there kids in a suit and tie to go to church.. I have only noticed this in the upc church also. In my opinion kids grow to fast for suits I know I have 2 kids myself and always by the end of sunday school the tie is off and the shirt is untucked so why even bother dressing them up... TGIF everyone.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

To make the parents look good. It has nothing to do with the children, it's all about making sure little Johnny looks like a polished penny so nobody has anything bad to say about how mom and dad send him to church in rags. And believe me, people DO talk about how other parents dress their children. Been there. Shamefully, I've even participated in such nonsense.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I know of an assembly where, for men, a suit and tie is expected EVERY service, and even the young kids wear them. Sometimes some of the men will just go in a shirt, tie and dress pants, but the ideal for this assembly, for the men, is a suit and tie. It's a cultural thing, that I don't see anything wrong with, unless they look down on others who don't keep the same custom. They would say that the value they put on the gathering of the saints shows, in part, by coming in their "Sunday best."

As for me, I rarely wear a tie to services anymore, and I only wear my suit jacket when I go to a convention or an assembly the brothers wear suits. I've gotten a bit more relaxed with how I dress for service, just a pair of dress pants and a button down shirt. I do wonder if there is a sense of spiritual pride with some of the ways people dress for service. Does a brother really NEED to wear a tie? What does the tie do but offer a decoration. Is a suit jacket really needed? I guess if you want to wear those things it's fine, but I find it sort of pretentious.

-Bro. Alex

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I don't know about it just being UPC...most parents dress their kids up as much the kids will tolerate--because it's cute! :D

Most couples who only bring their kids on Easter always have them in little suits and frilly dresses. I see a lot of kids in suits in PAW/Independent churches.

Lots of churches are taking the casual approach, and I think that's okay, but there's nothing wrong with dressing up--and teaching children to wear nice things when they go to worship. I can easily understand both sides of this coin.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Wow. This is kind of a judgmental post, don't you think? I make my children brush their teeth till they sparkle, and fix their hair every morning--not just for their sake, but also so the entire family as a whole will look presentable to the general public. LOL!!!!!

Around here we can all hang out in our PJ's all day on Saturday if we want to, but if we go out of the house and go to the mall, everyone is going to have on presentable attire!!!! Including Dad and Mom!!! The whole family will look nice--not just the kids. :coffee2

I'm not sure your post makes a lot of sense. Furthermore, my kids like to dress up. Especially my 6 year old son. He loves to wear a shirt and tie just like his Daddy does, and he fixes his own hair.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I see it in other churches as well, I think some bias is showing here. It's the parents choice how they dress their kids. Sunday mornings are usually kind of dressy to me.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Wow, so you assign motives to other people, because you did it? Good grief. Unless they told you personally how do you know why they dress their kids up?

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Shoot my kids are lucky to be dressed by the time we get to church. But we do not overdress our kids because we wouldn't want other children to feel out of place at church. I still wear a tie to Sunday morning service but only because I am required.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Good point... this is NOT just a UPC or a OP thing. It's all over.

Points well taken! :thumbsup

Perhaps it was somewhat judgmental, and I'm sorry for any offense I may have caused, but we can only speak from our own experiences, right? I was part of a large (approx. 1000) UPCI church that was very much like this. It was a weekly thing to see whose kids could out-dress the other, and who would send their kids to Sunday School with high-water pants or dirty ruffle dresses. I didn't participate in it for long because the Lord convicted me of it. But it still goes on today.

My experience has been that, in general, once children get past infant stage and no longer want to be held, the boys usually don't appreciate being forced to wear fancy clothes that are uncomfortable. And really, as long as they are presentable (clean clothes that fit and look nice), why force the issue of the neck tie and little suit? Kids clothes are REALLY expensive for as long as they are able to wear them.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Jaamez that is too funny LOL I myself really do not care what the other church members think of me or my family and if I think the pastor or someone would not say something I would wear shorts and a button up shirt tucked in to church but I know someone would say something and then I would I would probley have a real good reason to go and repent...

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I know some can't afford to dress up much, but if they are neat and clean that should be all that matters.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

From my personal experience, the only time church members have been ridiculously over dressed (kids, but especially adults) it has been at the camp services. I've always compared evening services to a Hollywood red carpet movie premier. While the women appeared like they were going to some formal pentecostal ball (except with lots and lots of poofs), the men also went all out and would typically put the "Fab 5" (Queer Eye) to shame.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I dressed up when I was a kid. Through about half of my teens, in fact. That was AofG, 35+ years ago. How far behind is the UPC? :winkgrin

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Of course neat, clean and clothes that fit is most important! LOL!!! We apply that to all clothes, both dressy and casual. There are times when dressy is appropriate, like weddings, funerals, business meetings, and some church services. There are times when it's okay to be casual, ultra casual, or maybe just business casual. Children need to learn how to be appropriate for any occasion. That's just as important as teaching them to be courteous and use proper etiquette at the dinner table, IMO.

Not everything children learn should be just about their immediate comfort. Many things need to be about teaching them to interact successfully in society and in their culture.

Also, I think we SHOULD care what others think of our appearance, to some extent. Men look on the outward appearance--that's just human nature--and first impressions are lasting impressions. Our attire should be inoffensive. We should be neat and clean. If we put someone off with our appearance, they're probably not going to give us a chance to form a friendship with them. (talking about unbelievers here)

Look at the people in the polygamist sect...their appearance is very off putting to the general public. I doubt they get many opportunities to witness to the average unbeliever. To some extent, we need to fit in. And dressing sloppy or TOO casual is not always the way to do that.

I don't want my children to feel that it doesn't matter how others perceive them, or that they can dress however they want anywhere they want, because it DOES matter how others perceive them, and it is offensive and selfish to always do things "my way."

Re: Kids dress in church
 

:thumbsup

Re: Kids dress in church
 

:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I dress up for funerals and formal dinner night on cruises. Now my funeral, that's another story. Don't care what the 'guests' wear, but I will be in a tee shirt (maybe the Cancun one), shorts, and sandals. And sunglasses. I'm insisting. :lol

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Oh wait, not a tee shirt! That would just be tacky.

Gotta be something like this:

http://www.izzys-party-shop.com/images/26072.jpg

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Was this your perception, or was it stated somehow that there was a dress competition? When my girls were little, they had some of the frilliest little dresses imaginable, mostly gifts from grandparents. I wasn't dressing them in those beautiful clothes to compete with other parents. They looked pretty, and I was trying to get use out of the clothes. Most of them they only wore once or twice.

I'm just wondering why you have the idea that the parents were deliberately trying to outdress other parents' kids. Do you know that for a fact, or did you just think it was that way? Or were a few people doing that, and you applied it to the whole group?

My son is 6, and he likes to dress up. He also likes to wear his jeans and heelies. Given the chance, he would wear his superman costume to church, because that's his favorite. LOL!!!! My job is to teach him what is appropriate, when and where, and let him have as much fun as possible in the process. Which is why he has his own little container of hair gel, and gets to style his hair however he likes for church, even if it ends up in a faux-hawk! :coffee2

My middle daughter has ALWAYS liked to dress up--for everything, even playing outside. She had a tinkerbell dress with chiffon leaves for the skirt, and I did end up letting her wear it to church several times, simply because she wouldn't take it off, and I didn't pick that battle. :D

My oldest has never liked anything frilly. She shunned the color pink for years. She's FINALLY getting "girly" and trying to convince her Dad to let her buy heels, and I am personally breathing a sigh of relief.

Kids are all different. Some like to dress up, some don't. It doesn't really matter what any of our personal preferences are--the fact is, society has different rules for different occasions, and good parenting includes preparing your child to play by those rules. Or allowing your child to reap the consequences of burping loudly in a five star restaurant and wearing jeans to his first board meeting at his new job at the bank. :coffee2

Re: Kids dress in church
 

:toofunny

I think it's fair to wear whatever you want to your own funeral. :thumbsup

Re: Kids dress in church
 

You'd be surprised how many nice, name brand kids clothes are found at yard sales and thrift stores. (Not everyone would admit that they shop there though.. LOL ) I am proud to say that there are very few items in my son's closet that I paid more than $5 for... In fact, I found a suit for him at a thrift store recently for $8-- complete with the vest and matching tie. There isn't a pair of dress slacks or a dress shirt here that I paid more than $2 for. I bought my son 5 pair of Tommy Hilfiger jeans off craigslist for $3 a pair. People just have to know where to shop. Let someone pay the high prices-- I'll gladly buy things they donate to a thrift shop or put up for sale on craigslist. :D

:thumbsup

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I LOVE shopping at Goodwill. And we have a great consignment shop in Tulsa called Deja Vu that only sells name brand consignment. I have found some beautiful clothes in there for a fraction of the price! :)

The trick to shopping at consignment/thrift stores is to have a good eye for quality and brands, and to be willing to take the time to sift through everything. I usually spend a couple of hours at Goodwill when I go, walk out with a couple of bags full of clothes and shoes, and I have NEVER spent more than $80 in a single trip. :thumbsup

I also don't buy anything if it's not in mint condition, unless it's really worth it, and I know it can be easily repaired.

Last week, I went in and bought two pairs of casual shoes for $8, one pair of black casuals by Nine West, and one pair of cream/brown Steve Madden's. I call that a good day.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

because we can and because they look very nice when they are nicely dressed.


why do we feed them? they only poop it out the other end. good grief you have to go to this extreme to bash the UPCI?


I suppose any reason to blast the UPCI should not and will not be over looked. shame on you!

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Looks like somebody walked in the room with all their own personal baggage hung around their neck.

Re: Kids dress in church
 

Now Timmy... you know St. Pete aint letting you in in that get up!

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Uh oh! Thanks for the warning. Suit and tie it is!

And I better make sure they give me a shave, too! :lol

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I believe when you go to church you should dress your best. Whatever your "best" is. Some don't have as much as others so whatever you got, just where your best. And by all means make sure it is clean an pressed. Take a shower and brush your teeth.:gotcha

Re: Kids dress in church
 

I think its quite nice to see children dressed to the 9's. They are adorable.

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I aim for clean. We usually end up at least fully clothed. Seriously I consider it an accomplishment every time we make it to church at all. lol