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Doesn't it sometimes seem as if cute trendy baby girl clothes are the only things you can find for your daughter or niece or your friend's little girl these days? Take a look around the baby clothes part of the next store you go into and see if you agree. But isn't price or practicality even more important a lot of the time?

All little girls love to dress up in their beautiful dresses and pretty shoes and socks. However having seen a picture of a celebrity's toddler dressed in a trendy designer dress and cardigan with a caption saying she was going for a play day with another celebrity's sons reminded me that parents don't always choose the appropriate kids clothes for the occasion.

Some years ago I owned and ran a preschool that included an outdoor play area which meant that the children could enjoy physical activities and let off a bit of steam from time to time. But this was inhibited by the type of clothes that many of the girls wore for playschool, despite my pleas to the parents. Climbing frames and bikes were frequently a risk which lead to restrictions for girls with unsuitable shoes and long dresses.

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.

But it goes far beyond preschool. Even if they are not quite so fancy or fashionable, unisex clothing such as shorts or pants are far more suitable for that trip to the park or the fairground inflatable ride or even your Disney World exploration. All of these include physical activities such as running, jumping and climbing - and in this age of equality, doesn't everyone agree that girls get just as much out of this type of fun as boys do?

Another reason for not putting trendy dresses on your child for these activities is the wear and tear factor. Imagine how upset she will be if she is wearing one of her favorite dresses to preschool and they are doing arts and crafts that day and she accidentally gets paint on her dress. Or if she is playing outdoors and her dress gets ripped.

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.

So buy her some outfits that are less costly and a lot more practical in addition to the cool trendy baby girl clothes you like the best. Save the cute kids clothes for parties and other less strenuous activities when you know they are the most appropriate.