School Clothes

[Anonymous]

What does your kiddo wear to school?

DD just turned 2 and will start Montessori in the Fall. What should she wear to school? In my home country kids wear uniforms (sweats during winter, bermuda shorts during the summer and a short sleeve Tshirt) from daycare all the way to high school so I'm at a loss. Should she wear play clothes or fancy ones? Pants or skirts/dresses? What kind of shoes?

Thanks for your suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Nothing that you would mind if it got covered in mud, finger paint or anything else. If there's a picture day, you can dress her in something nicer, otherwise play clothes are the way to go. My daughter's daycare and now preschool outfits were primarily a mix of Carters, Osh Kosh, Baby Gap, BT Kids and on-sale Hanna Andersson.

Closed-toe shoes are a requirement at many preschools to avoid stubbed toes on the playground.

If your DD likes dresses, make sure she has on tights or bloomers or something.

Plan to send a spare change of clothes to keep in her cubby at school.

[Anonymous]

Something comfortable, and something easily removed by her for potty training and/or going to the bathroom on her own. I have a boy, so I don't know what girls generally wear. But my son just wore 100% cotton clothes with elastic waists. Could be t-shirts or polos, cargo pants or shorts. Always sneakers.

[Anonymous]

I'm not familiar with some of the brands mentioned but DD has a ton of Gymboree stuff that she wears when we go out but I'd not call them fancy.

I guess it's good enough then? And do you do a special shopping trip for school clothes or whatever you buy for the season is enough to wear at home and at school? DD usually wears one outfit all day that goes in the hamper when we shower right before dinner. I guess she'll be wearing 2 outfits a day then...

And thanks for the tips on shoes. I was wondering about that too...

[Anonymous]

Anything really. My kids go to Montessori school and i will say they discourage character type clothing (spiderman, snow white, star wars, etc).

[Anonymous]

She won't necessarily be wearing 2 outfits a day. It depends on how messy her school clothes get. My kids wear the same clothes to school that they wear on the weekends. It's really no big deal. She should just wear what she has with a few new pieces to celebrate back-to-school.

[Anonymous]

Hm.. I was thinking 2 outfits because she'll take a nap after school and I didn't want to put her to sleep in the clothes she has been wearing outside of the house..

It's just half day school so I thought she'd get home, eat lunch, wear some comfy at home clothes and go for a nap. Them she could have the 2nd outfit until it's time for a shower and PJs.

I know I sound silly, I wish they would just do uniforms LOL.

[Anonymous]

This is 9:13. OP, only you can decide whether your child needs clean clothes midday when she returns home from preschool. That's a personal choice separate from what she should wear to school.

The key thing is that her clothes for preschool are comfy and conducive to active and potentially messy play.

DD is not attending a Montessori, but the one we visited did say that they don't want commercial characters or slogans on kids' clothing.

Gymboree is just fine. Things you might define as church clothes or going out to dinner clothes would be too much.

[Anonymous]

If she's anything like my DD, don't send her in anything you would hate to have ruined. My kid comes home looking like she's been swimming in a vat of mud, paint, and tomato sauce. I will not be able to save any of her summer clothes except the nicer things she doesn't wear to school.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot ladies!