Sexy tween Halloween costumes: Four words that should never go together
Partygoers will tell you it's about looking your best and showing confidence, not to mention you can dress like a sleaze for a night without getting called one, like that scene from the Lindsay Lohan movie, Mean Girls.
Sure, I understand all that. I've actually succumbed to it. A few years ago I went to 13 Ugly Men's Halloween party wearing a tube top -- for a skirt!But I draw the line when it comes to young girls, particularly those who still have the figures of yardsticks.
Take Noah Cyrus, Miley's little sister who's 9. She recently was seen
Regardless, as the mother of a young daughter, I find it totally inappropriate. Those boots belong on strippers and that skirt begs for some leggings underneath. Talk about scary.
I'm no prude, but I don't think fourth-graders should go around looking like adults, even in the name of Halloween. It's bad enough these days that high school girls look like they're in college. Elementary students should never be described as sexy. I guess it's too much to expect the young daughter and sister of celebrities to dress as Tinker Bell or a cheerleader. Remember Miley's photo shoot for Vanity Fair or more recently in Elle?
Still, I would hope that regular moms think twice before allowing their tween to wear a costume that screams sex appeal. Dress kids as kids and, if they must, save the sexy stuff for themselves.
-- Susan Thurston, Times mom[Mean Girls from Paramount Pictures; Noah Cyrus from the Associated Press]
Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
Amy Hollyfield is a workaholic mother of two young
daughters, blessed to have a work-at-home husband who makes their life possible. She was born in Detroit and moved around a lot as a kid (read: Air Force brat). She has lived in Florida since the month after she
graduated from Northwestern University. She lives for the yelps, hugs and kisses that greet her on nights that she makes it home before bedtime.
Sherry Robinson was born in the Sunshine State but she feels more comfortable inside a mall than outside at the beach -- thank goodness her husband is the outdoorsy type. He takes their two sons on night hikes, beach runs and bug hunts while Sherry does her best to take care of the homestead -- and find out what is new on the store shelves. A graduate of the University of South Florida in 19noneofyourbusiness, Sherry has been at the Times for nearly 20 years. And with nearly 10 years of parenting experience, Sherry is eager to offer up some great dish on raising kids and keeping your sanity.
Guest blogger Tracey Henry, a.k.a. Suburban Diva, is a frantic, slightly frazzled mother of four. She is a freelance humor writer and author which is the only thing that parenting four children ages 12-1 trains you for, except perhaps court jester and professional bull rider. She and her husband have lived all over the country, but settled in Florida eight years ago because the beachcombing is so much better here than on the banks of the Mississippi. Their family time includes a lot of sport -- both watching and playing -- and fun in the sun and surf. Catch her in Whoa, Momma! and on her site, 
Sherri Day and her husband welcomed their daughter into the world in early 2008. So far, she describes parenthood as exciting, exhausting and exhilarating. A self-described Southern belle with small-town values and big-city idealism, Sherri was born in rural Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and her master's of journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Brandon bureau chief for the Times. Sherri moved to Tampa from Brooklyn four years ago.
I agree! Even some of the little girl costumes look too sexy to me. I saw some that went all the way down to a size 4-6. I think it is up to parents to teach their children that these types of costumes are inappropriate for children their age.
Posted by: heather | October 28, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Why is your 9 year old already a size 14? That should be more important to you than a costume.
You can have her wear tights and a leotard. Put a skirt over it and get flat shoes and she is a ballerina/dancer. (Goodwill has all of the above).
Posted by: Ellen | October 28, 2009 at 08:05 PM
My daughter is 9, but wears a 14. There are NO age appropriate costumes out there in her size (for some reason they stop at 10/12). All the 14/16 costumes and size 1/3 juniors look like stripper outfits. I mean, slutty Strawberry Shortcake for a 10 year old??? Really??? Pervs are running these costume companies. LOL
We had to "make" one--a hot pink cheetah with tights. She was not happy. Oh, the joy of motherhood...LOL
Posted by: Stacy | October 28, 2009 at 07:10 PM
My daughter is just 2 years younger than Noah Cyrus. That outfit would have been fine for playtime in my her bedroom but no further. Just hoping she'll stick with her Junie B. Jones costume for a few more years.
Posted by: Karen McAllister | October 28, 2009 at 01:23 PM
My thoughts exactly, Susan! Well said.
Posted by: SharonWynne | October 28, 2009 at 10:35 AM