I guess I’ve reached that age where you start to remember your past and the “way it used to be.” I have no problem with moving forward in life at all, but I do have fond memories of my mom pulling together new (or newly remodeled) Easter outfits for us five kids every year. How proud she was of her brood as we walked down the street after church, on our way home to a fun day of Easter egg hunts, lots of candy and feasting with the family. I appreciate that this is a religious holiday and that not everyone will have shared the experience of dressing up for that special day. These days in our “casual world,” moms and dads struggle to get their kids to dress up for anything, let alone the first big holiday of spring! However, in reality, children should have at least one “dressed up” look in their wardrobe, no matter what their age or gender. Dressing for these special occasions is a sign of respect to society, parents and to the children themselves. That’s where the Goodwill Store & Donation Center can come in handy. You can pick up great children’s clothing at a fraction of the cost of retail! And, if you look and choose carefully, you’ll be able to hand down some of these treasures to younger family members as the older grow out of them. Since these are not everyday wear, keeping them in nearly new condition shouldn’t be a problem. So, what should you be looking for?

For boys and young men a pair of dress slacks (nice khaki’s will do), button-down shirt, neck tie, blazer (if you can find a nice one) and dress shoes should be high on your list of “must haves” for his attire. A complete suit is not necessary to bring out the best of your little gentlemen, so separates are the way to go for most families. Engage your child and have him help you make some decisions if possible. This will encourage him to get excited about certain occasions that require him to wear something more appropriate than just a t-shirt and jeans. Neckties are often a problem for young men, given that I do not see a lot of children’s neckties for sale when I’m out shopping.  You can, however, alter an adult men’s necktie quite easily. Look for a tie that is on the narrow end of the tie spectrum. You’ll simply be cutting off the back of the tie to a length to suit your young man once it is tied. With silk ties, you can tuck the ends back inside the tie, and since the front covers the back, it won’t show anyway. Problem solved right?

Girls are certainly a little easier, in that every mom loves to see her little girl dolled up in a pretty dress at least once or twice throughout the year. The sky is the limit when it comes to what your little lady will have to choose from at the Goodwill store near you! You can go for a frilly frock, or something more tailored and colorful to usher in the hopefully warmer weather to come. A cardigan sweater could also help ward off the chill of early spring, so keep that in mind as a layering piece. For accessories, my sisters always had a little handbag that they carried with a hanky and maybe some gum in it. I remember them being so proud of their “purse.” They also always had some type of fancy new shoes to coordinate ever so carefully with their “new to you” dresses that mom would pick up at thrift stores, or remake from other dresses she already had on hand. I’m a little sad that Easter bonnets have fallen out of favor, but it is still fun to see a little girl wearing a cute hat once in a while!

Now is the time parents, while your kids are still young, to encourage and foster the knowledge that dressing up isn’t going to hurt them and that there is a time and place for everything in our lives, so why not enjoy it? Goodwill is a great way to ensure that you and your children will look fantastic this Easter, and for any and all holidays that require a style upgrade from day-to-day school and play clothes. Now you can have your own “Easter Parade,” for a lot less than retail by shopping at your favorite store!