Raise Your Children to Be Preppy
Once you're over the prime preppiness of your youth, it is time to sit back and watch your children follow in your (Docksider-soled) footsteps. You are partially there just by reading this article!
Contents
Steps
- Give them preppy names. Choose a preppy first name (this should be more feminine/masculine than any of the other names), preppy middle name(perhaps the name of a college many people in your family have attended), second preppy middle name (hopefully a family name), a third if you wish, and of course their surname.Go directly to http://www.allnewbabynames.com/ivyleaguenames.html is a good list of preppy names. Be careful not to pick a trendy name, if it is too trendy, it may become overused , out of style and no longer preppy.
- Educate them well. A true prep attends prep school. End of story. Make sure you look into several schools, and take your child's opinion into account, too. You may want to consider sending them to boarding school for high school, or even junior high. In some states, such as Minnesota, you can consider sending your child into college early with the Post Secondary Enrollment Option, which gives them a head start for more advanced college at a younger age or you may consider taking college classes in high school. It's a wonderful experience, and will prepare them for college nicely. Outside of school, teach them useful languages such as French, Latin, and Spanish from an early age(about seven years old, the younger the better). Always make sure they do their homework, but don't hover over them. It will be a catalyst for a child and his or her rebellion.
- Dress your children in classy clothes. Understated clothing make the biggest mark. Polo shirts, oxfords, khaki anything, and lots of grosgrain ribbons. Don't lay out their outfits for them past age, but suggest these things, and take them shopping in stores such as Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Brooks Brothers, Vera Bradley, J.Crew, Martha LeWren, etc.
- Teach them good grooming habits. If your child wants to develop his or her own style, allow them to pick a few items from the store of their choice.
- Don't let them get superficial. Teach them to wash their faces and brush their teeth at least twice a day, shower every morning, and keep their hair nice. It really is important, and developing these skills early on will save both you and your children a lot of trouble later on. Do not make fun of brand names lesser than the items you purchase usually, you want to be an example for your child.
- Teach proper manners from a young age. Make sure they are always polite, always say 'please' and 'thank you', always have good table manners, etc. In addition to the proper manners... Teach your children how to be friendly, outgoing, and bubbly. Make sure they socialize with other children, and make lots of friends. However, even if someone is not in their inner circle, teach them to respect them anyway.
- Vacation! Choose places such as Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod,The Hamptons, and Sun Valley. Take lots of pictures, and try out lots of activities while you are there. Preppy childhood memories are essential.
- Sign them up for a sport. Try to sign your children up for at least one of the following sports per season; Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Golf, Tennis, Soccer, Swim, Crew, etc. The Ivy Leagues love well-rounders, and they need to stay healthy and fit.
- Extracurricular activities , the fun part. In addition to sports, sign your children up for some other extra curricular activity, anything they are interested in. Instruments , Debate Teams, Recycling clubs, The Arts , anything that will make them a well rounded child in the future. Let your child develop skills on their own time, leave a piano or a violin in the house with music notes, have art supplies stacked into the house but do not push them toward it. Your child will more than likely gravitate to this pieces from curiosity. The more well-rounded, the better, and they can make lots of friends by doing things after school.
- Responsibilities. Having preppy children, does not mean having spoiled children who depend on their parents for everything , money , clothing etc. Have your child get a job to enforce the meaning of responsibility and good work aesthetics. Clothing stores , cafes , tutoring for both males and females are great places for a teenager to get a job.
Tips
- Let them have items in moderation, saying "no" is okay. Children should learn that not everything in the world is for free.
- Teach them good habits, such as not spending too much time on the computer or watching TV. A little is okay, but don't let their brains turn to mush.
- Let them know about world issues, even from a young age, but don't traumatize them; let them keep a little of their innocence.
- Do all this from a very young age, birth if possible, so that it's really in their wiring. Adapt these things to adult life, and follow them yourself. Children learn by example.
- Set up lots of fun activities for them and their friends. Learn when to let go of your child and give them a little freedom to develop their sense of self away from home; children contrary to belief are more themselves when around friends. That doesn't mean leaving your teen in the house for a month; that means allowing your child to go to the movies, visit friends just as long as they notify you.
- Don't fully mold them. Preps are not cookie-cutter, and they do have their own personalities. Let your child make mistakes, and pull them out of sports if it's not to their liking.
- Listen to what they have to say. It is important for children to develop opinions and personalities.
Warnings
- Don't attempt to mold them past age 13. By then, either they will be sufficiently preppy or the whole thing will be wasted on them. Either way, there is nothing you can do.
- Do not be overly domineering, your child may act rebellious in return.
