She spoke out after Conservative leader David Cameron vowed to introduce laws to stop firms targeting children with provocative clothes.
Mrs Spelman said: “Children are encouraged to dress as adults in clothing which can be seen as provocative: it is not wise or responsible.”
She said: “Young girls, in particular, are targeted to dress like women.
“They often dress to impress each other, not realising that they can also send out signals to paedophiles.
“Parents need to band together, agreeing that they will all prevent their daughters from wearing inappropriate clothing and that will help to reduce peer pressure.”
In a press release, she said: “With young children you have to be firm and say: ‘No, those clothes, or shoes, are too old for you.’
“With older children and young teens, parents need to be honest with them about the dangers of attracting the wrong sort of attention.”
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