Preschool Clothing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate seeing little boys in cartoon t-shirts and sweatpants. So ugly and cheap-looking. A nice solid colored t or polo and jeans or elastic waist pants look so much better and are just as easy to get on and off for potty training.

I'm the OP. I didn't say cartoon t-shirts. Just plain t-shirts.

What sort of elastic pants that aren't jeans or sweatpants are you talking about?

I guess this is the sort of annoying mom I'm talking about. Thinking a two year old looks "cheap."

Seriously, did you think every mother in your school would approve of every choice you made?

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Good reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:preschool teacher here!

There is a huge variety of clothes that the kids wear. Luckily, their Peers don't care about fashion, so what you should be worried about is:

--weather appropriate
--washable (please don't send them in their best dresses)
--Velcro shoes (laces only when they can tie their own shoes)
--pants that are easy up/easy down in the bathroom.

another preschool teacher here (and also mom). I second everything here. Please, please, please do not send your child in things that they can't do or undo themselves. I cannot tell you how much time I spend unbuckling and buckling belts, buttoning pants, etc. -- time I'd rather be spending teaching and learning with your child!

And like others have said, your child will get messy. Assume everything will have juice and paint on it at the end of the day.

Totally OT but do preschools still serve juice?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate seeing little boys in cartoon t-shirts and sweatpants. So ugly and cheap-looking. A nice solid colored t or polo and jeans or elastic waist pants look so much better and are just as easy to get on and off for potty training.

I'm the OP. I didn't say cartoon t-shirts. Just plain t-shirts.

What sort of elastic pants that aren't jeans or sweatpants are you talking about?

I guess this is the sort of annoying mom I'm talking about. Thinking a two year old looks "cheap."

Seriously, did you think every mother in your school would approve of every choice you made?

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Good reading comprehension.

Thank you. Then you are in for a bumpy ride through your son's school-years, OP.

[Anonymous]

This is the very first PP from page 1. I think to summarize, we can say don't put your kid in something they can't handle themselves. Every kid is different so for some it might be real pants with a snap or button and for others it would have to be some kind of pull on pant, including sweatpants (which are FINE). I still believe comfy is key, as is the washability that all the teachers have mentioned.

I really cringe to see people talking about tacky and cheap clothes on kids, when it just doesn't seem that important. That said, I'm probably being dishonest with myself, because I love putting my kid in cute clothes (and to be truthful, I hate cartoon shirts too). I buy used on Totspot so that I can get cute stuff but not worry about how much it cost when it comes home wrecked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the very first PP from page 1. I think to summarize, we can say don't put your kid in something they can't handle themselves. Every kid is different so for some it might be real pants with a snap or button and for others it would have to be some kind of pull on pant, including sweatpants (which are FINE). I still believe comfy is key, as is the washability that all the teachers have mentioned.

I really cringe to see people talking about tacky and cheap clothes on kids, when it just doesn't seem that important. That said, I'm probably being dishonest with myself, because I love putting my kid in cute clothes (and to be truthful, I hate cartoon shirts too). I buy used on Totspot so that I can get cute stuff but not worry about how much it cost when it comes home wrecked.

I like to find cute clothes for my kid, too, and I don't think that is in any way in tension with not liking it when people describe kids' clothing as tacky or cheap. It just screams uptight and judgmental. They are kids, for crying out loud. As long as they are dressed appropriately for the weather and their clothes are in good repair, who really cares? Some days my daughter wears the cute outfit I picked out, other days she wants to wear the too-big t-shirt with the Superman logo on it. Ditto for most of her classmates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the very first PP from page 1. I think to summarize, we can say don't put your kid in something they can't handle themselves. Every kid is different so for some it might be real pants with a snap or button and for others it would have to be some kind of pull on pant, including sweatpants (which are FINE). I still believe comfy is key, as is the washability that all the teachers have mentioned.

I really cringe to see people talking about tacky and cheap clothes on kids, when it just doesn't seem that important. That said, I'm probably being dishonest with myself, because I love putting my kid in cute clothes (and to be truthful, I hate cartoon shirts too). I buy used on Totspot so that I can get cute stuff but not worry about how much it cost when it comes home wrecked.

I like to find cute clothes for my kid, too, and I don't think that is in any way in tension with not liking it when people describe kids' clothing as tacky or cheap. It just screams uptight and judgmental. They are kids, for crying out loud. As long as they are dressed appropriately for the weather and their clothes are in good repair, who really cares? Some days my daughter wears the cute outfit I picked out, other days she wants to wear the too-big t-shirt with the Superman logo on it. Ditto for most of her classmates.

While I don't disagree in principle, PP, I hate the "they are kids, for crying out loud" response to anything. Yes - they are kids but we parents are NOT. Parents buy the clothing for the most part and can easily choose better for their children - especially preschool boys. Now if the gift from grandma was the beloved spiderman shirt, we, as parents, are out of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the very first PP from page 1. I think to summarize, we can say don't put your kid in something they can't handle themselves. Every kid is different so for some it might be real pants with a snap or button and for others it would have to be some kind of pull on pant, including sweatpants (which are FINE). I still believe comfy is key, as is the washability that all the teachers have mentioned.

I really cringe to see people talking about tacky and cheap clothes on kids, when it just doesn't seem that important. That said, I'm probably being dishonest with myself, because I love putting my kid in cute clothes (and to be truthful, I hate cartoon shirts too). I buy used on Totspot so that I can get cute stuff but not worry about how much it cost when it comes home wrecked.

This is the other former preschool teacher here. For a non-potty-trained child, it's just not that important that they can handle snaps and buttons themselves. You hardly expect them to take off and put their own pants back on while they're lying on the table. Yes, elastic-waisted pants are a little easier, but snaps and zippers take a few extra seconds, jeesh! I will say I was not fond of buttons.

[Anonymous]

My son wore jeans and khakis to school in the fall/winter (nice shorts in summer/spring) with a nice t-shirt or colored shirt. He is now five but when he was potty-training in his twos he had no issue unsnapping his own pants and pulling them down.

Add my vote to the hate-sweatpants/athletic pants outside of the athletic field or home. And I do judge the mother who lets her son wear them. You asked - and that is the truth. I would never say it to anyone but I do think less of mothers who let their kids go to school looking sloppy.

[Anonymous]

At that age, my kids generally wore pull on jeans and khakis, with a weather appropriate shirt. Some days, it was a polo shirt, others a shirt with a character on it. For warmer months, we did sneakers with no-show socks, or sneaker style sandals (think Keen or the sandals from Stride-Rite).

I don't care what anyone else dresses their kid in - OP, you need to get there, too. You have a few years before your son has some interest in what he is wearing, so put him in whatever you want.

I have never had a teacher complain about my kids' pants/shorts, but their jeans have the hooks and not snaps/buttons. And most shorts at that age are just elastic waist anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wore jeans and khakis to school in the fall/winter (nice shorts in summer/spring) with a nice t-shirt or colored shirt. He is now five but when he was potty-training in his twos he had no issue unsnapping his own pants and pulling them down.

Add my vote to the hate-sweatpants/athletic pants outside of the athletic field or home. And I do judge the mother who lets her son wear them. You asked - and that is the truth. I would never say it to anyone but I do think less of mothers who let their kids go to school looking sloppy.

Knock yourself out. Hope that judging makes you happy.

Although I wonder why you don't judge the fathers who let their sons wear athletic pants. And why, precisely, do you "think less of mothers" who let their kids wear sweatpants? Why are they bad mothers because they don't care if their kid wears athletic clothes, or have decided that this is not the hill they want to die on?

It used to be the case that mothers who let their kids wear jeans to school were looked down on. When my mom was in high school, jeans were not even allowed. To the extent I think about it, I find it amusing that people assign moral value to fashion trends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please send your children to school in clothing that fits correctly, is weather appropriate, and can be put in the washer. Please have your child wear shoes that will allow for safe climbing and running. Please do not have your child wear the following; suspenders, belts, flip flops, crocs, button and zipper pants, tutus, onsies, tights, and party shoes. Thank you!

Signed, a Preschool teacher

What is the deal with the crocs? My kids run/play fine in them at home. What are they doing at school that they cant wear them?

Signed, Irritated Parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son wore jeans and khakis to school in the fall/winter (nice shorts in summer/spring) with a nice t-shirt or colored shirt. He is now five but when he was potty-training in his twos he had no issue unsnapping his own pants and pulling them down.

Add my vote to the hate-sweatpants/athletic pants outside of the athletic field or home. And I do judge the mother who lets her son wear them. You asked - and that is the truth. I would never say it to anyone but I do think less of mothers who let their kids go to school looking sloppy.

Knock yourself out. Hope that judging makes you happy.

Although I wonder why you don't judge the fathers who let their sons wear athletic pants. And why, precisely, do you "think less of mothers" who let their kids wear sweatpants? Why are they bad mothers because they don't care if their kid wears athletic clothes, or have decided that this is not the hill they want to die on?

It used to be the case that mothers who let their kids wear jeans to school were looked down on. When my mom was in high school, jeans were not even allowed. To the extent I think about it, I find it amusing that people assign moral value to fashion trends.

PP #1 was being honest and I assume OP wanted honest answers to her questions. We all judge - positively or negatively - in the blink of an eye. We like and don't like instantly and all have beliefs that follow our likes and dislikes.

You sound very defensive, PP.

For the record, I have girls and their clothing issues are a completely different kettle of fish!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you think making a kid wear jeans for three years to avoid a week of "I don't want to wear 'hard pants'" when kindergarten starts is a bit of overkill? Preschool teacher's 'easy up/easy down' point makes a lot of sense and (I think) casts another vote for stretchy stuff without buttons and zips.

Both my boys were able to navigate the snap/zipper or jeans at the age of two.

I hate seeing little boys in basically pajamas (sweatpants) at school. Looks so sloppy.

I am very skeptical but if it is true, very impressed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son wore jeans and khakis to school in the fall/winter (nice shorts in summer/spring) with a nice t-shirt or colored shirt. He is now five but when he was potty-training in his twos he had no issue unsnapping his own pants and pulling them down.

Add my vote to the hate-sweatpants/athletic pants outside of the athletic field or home. And I do judge the mother who lets her son wear them. You asked - and that is the truth. I would never say it to anyone but I do think less of mothers who let their kids go to school looking sloppy.

Aw...it's sweet that you think that we would care what you think about our children's clothing choices. Feel free to voice your opinion! It doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please send your children to school in clothing that fits correctly, is weather appropriate, and can be put in the washer. Please have your child wear shoes that will allow for safe climbing and running. Please do not have your child wear the following; suspenders, belts, flip flops, crocs, button and zipper pants, tutus, onsies, tights, and party shoes. Thank you!

Signed, a Preschool teacher

What is the deal with the crocs? My kids run/play fine in them at home. What are they doing at school that they cant wear them?

Signed, Irritated Parent

Fall off on climbing equipment and teacher has to run around picking them up and getting them on the correct feet.