What exactly does the phrase hand me downs mean? Well, it refers to all those objects that have been owned by another individual, normally the elder sibling, before it is passed on to the child. Anybody who has a elder brother or sister would have had their share of hand me downs in life.
Of course, it is not necessary for the sibling to be a blood relative. If you live in the same city as all your cousins, you probably must have exchanged clothes, furniture and other such stuff. Until a certain age, parents take care of the actual exchange and keep track of who gets to wear and use what. However, as teenage approaches, kids themselves are encouraged to check out clothes that no longer fit the elder sibling or relative.
The biggest advantage of hand me downs is that it helps you save money. Considering the number of clothes that each and every child owns today, there is no way each and every piece of cloth is worn down before it becomes a misfit. Sometimes, kids face a growth spurt and grow in height so quickly that all old clothes are rendered useless.
In such a scenario, handing over the clothes to a sibling is a much better option than dumping it in the garbage bin. Another advantage of hand me downs is that it inculcates a sense of responsibility in each and every child. Those who are forced to wear second hand clothes are invariably upset about it.
As one grows older, one finds it more and more difficult to adjust to such a move. Well, money is not something that can be spent in an irresponsible manner. Hand me downs help kids learn and understand this on a practical basis. Not having sufficient money in hand may compel you to make certain compromises that you are not happy with.
Wearing something that has been worn by the sibling should not be treated as a major negative factor. As time goes by, children understand sharing is the best way for all to live a comfortable life.