How to explain Goth fashion to a 5-year old

You could be a Goth bringing up a child or one of your elder kids has turned into a Goth person and you have accepted them. However, younger children can put you in a tricky position to explain things, especially when it comes to explaining a different culture to them altogether. These tips might help you.

• Teach them tolerance (and not just for the Goth culture)

We live in a pretty stressful world where hate brews because we refuse to acknowledge differences so one important lesson is to make your kid understand that people can be different and still be like them. It’ll help to explain the Goth culture.

• History might confuse them, stories will help

One of the most creative ways to explain your child anything is to understand that narration matters and your kid might not be interested in bookish history but would definitely like to listen to the story. It keeps them engaged. Also, an emotional approach can be helpful where you can talk about how the person engaging in the culture feels deeply about it and thus, chooses to follow it.

• Tell them that they can be “cool”

Vocabulary matters. You can fill them up with all the intolerant ones talking about how different people are not so cool and vice versa.

• Let them form opinions

Acknowledge them being individuals capable of understanding the world around them and make decisions. They don’t have to necessarily like or dislike the culture for this. Maybe ask them to read.

• The pleasure of the forbidden fruit

We have noticed the more you ask your kid not to do something, the more they end up doing it. You may not personally appreciate the culture but refrain from saying something along the lines of, “I don’t want you to engage with the culture”. This may actually push them towards the thing in ways more often than not. Be the adult and make sure you follow the conversation with understanding. There are other ways to show discontent towards the culture.

• Respect, regardless of clothing

Well, this goes for everyone. You are not and particularly your children allowed disrespecting anyone on the basis of what ideologies they ascribe to. Remember the first point?

• Ask them to inform you before dabbling

Goth culture is not Satanism or withcraft. They are three different cultures and need not be confused for one another. Nevertheless, we also cannot deny that there are people out there who might take benefit from this information. So tell them to ask you before they think something is Gothic. We would want to repeat: the culture does not pose a threat to your child. A predator does.

• Be ready for questions

They will come. Parents dread it but its one way to establish dialogue. Do not dismiss your child. Let them be free and ask questions. They’ll learn more that way.

How did you come to know about the Goth culture? Let us know about it!