From being quite small most little girls love wearing pretty dresses and shoes that make them feel like a princess and the stores are full of these beautiful clothes. However, these outfits are not appropriate for every occasion. Inexpensive play outfits are far more practical for little girls when they are taking part in more physical activities.

Having seen a photo of Tom Cruise’s little girl in the newspaper recently when she was off to play with the Beckham boys, it seemed really odd to me that she was pictured in a trendy designer dress complete with a cardigan for what was describes as a “play day”. No doubt the beautiful looking clothes made the little girl feel very pretty, but it looked like a very odd outfit for what promised to be more of a rough and tumble day.

It always astonished me that parents would send their little girl to preschool in long dresses and unpractical shoes. Most preschools have outdoor play areas with climbers, swing sets, bikes and other outdoor toys. To enjoy these activities kids need clothes that give them freedom of movement and do not present a hazard.

There were many ways in which I saw accidents occur: a long dress or skirt would be trapped in a bike wheel and result in a fall. Other children found it difficult to avoid treading on long skirts or dresses. A girl’s enjoyment of the slide soon came to an end if her dress became entangled with part of the slide and caused an accident.

And even outside playschool, aren’t baby girls and young daughters entitled to just as much fun as boys are? Take them to the local park or the fairground or even a theme park such Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom and they need to run, climb, jump and exercise just like their little brothers and friends.

And isn’t that gorgeous pretty dress that is your daughter’s favorite really only suitable for special and calm occasions? If she does play out in the yard and rips it, she is likely to become really upset. Or if she is playing at home or at playschool and ruins it with paint or glue, what a disaster that will be.

When I ran a preschool I always advised moms (and dads!) to put their children in practical, inexpensive clothes so that their kids could enjoy all the activities without worrying about their clothes getting dirty or spoiled. Little girls should be able to enjoy the physical aspects of play with the same sense of freedom and adventure as little boys.

There are lots of occasions when your daughter can wear her pretty clothes such as birthday parties, visiting relatives or even when shopping. So remember when you are buying those cool trendy baby clothes and kids clothes to also get some inexpensive practical ones as well.