Back-to-School Shopping Tips for Parents of Tweens

Kristen Taylor, owner of Juvieshop.com, offers tips for back-to-school shopping for parents of "tweens," or older kids ages 6-12. "Older kids are very, very particular," Taylor said. "They want to express their own style, but they are also aware of what their peers are wearing and they want to fit in."

In order to minimize battles, Taylor suggests giving your child a list that has the numbers of each type of garment you will purchase, then shopping together to find selections that you both approve. "Shopping online with your child is a great way to get what you both want while minimizing the drama," she said.

1. Get the hardest part over with first: Go through last year's clothes and sort them into three piles: Give away, throw away, and keep.
2. Now that you're armed with a better sense of your child's current wardrobe, you can make a list of items that will be needed for each child. How many bottoms? How many tops? Denim is usually first on the list. Most kids will make it through a week with three pairs of jeans. Skinny jeans are the top of the list for boys and girls this year.
3. Think about layers as a way to extend summer clothes into the fall. Tank tops work on top of or under t-shirts. Leggings are a great way to extend wearing shorts and skirts into winter.
4. Hoodies are still what everyone is wearing for an extra outer layer in class and on the playground. Two - three per child should be enough to rotate through the week.
5. Girls are wearing dresses more and more for every day. The ease of one-piece dressing can't be beat on those early mornings.
6. Older kids aren't growing nearly as fast as when they were younger, and sizing is more generous (e.g., 7/8, 10, 12), so your selections will probably last for the entire school year. Look for high quality garments that will stand up to frequent washing and wear.
7. Boys love graphics that express their interests, whether it's surfing, skating, basketball, or music. Look for t-shirts, twofers, and sweatshirts with fun styling.
8. When it comes to getting dressed in the morning, boys are all about comfort and ease. Look for athletic-style pants with elastic waists and pullover tops.
9. When shopping for backpacks, ask your child whether they want one that rolls or not. Kids who switch classrooms frequently or who have lockers usually don't want a rolling backpack. If your kid has to bring home the entire contents of her desk every day, wheels are the way to go.
10. Don't feel pressured to get absolutely everything before the first day of school. Your child may have a better idea of what they want after they've been back in school for a few weeks.