Anonymous wrote:I would not care at all about name brand. It would not even occur to me to worry about fashion labels on a child's coat. And I would expect the coat to have some wear and tear because it's a kid, and/or may have been handed down by an older sibling or cousin.

Yeah, hand me downs are super common and people don't throw out good quality jackets due to some fading.

Your husband is insane. All teachers care about is that the kid HAS a coat for cold weather.

Nope. I’d just be happy your kid wore on so they don’t have to stay in from recess with me. Our social worker has coats but the sizes are hit or miss.

The only time I have ever noticed what a kid was wearing is if it's not appropriate for the weather. Like a kid wearing a t shirt and no coat in the winter. Or a kid at the park in thin pajamas in November. And I don't judge the kid in this situation, but I wonder if something is going on at home.

I don't think most teachers would bat an eye at a faded coat, as long as it is warm enough. And if it's not, most would try and help by calling the social worker or some other referral.

Since you asked, if it were me, I wouldn't worry about the name brand. I would just buy a non-faded coat that is washable at a reasonable price point.

Literally no one will care about your kid’s coat.

As a parent, I absolutely would not. But there are definitely parents who will. Many in my community do (I get judgment from friends and some family).

The teacher won't care, but some of us do have this anxiety like your husband does so I feel for him even if he sounds silly. I feel internal pressure to make sure my kid always looks super put together and hate sending them in stuff that doesn't look close to perfect. For me it stems from being a poor kid and feeling self-conscious about my hand me down clothes.

I would not care at all about name brand. It would not even occur to me to worry about fashion labels on a child's coat. And I would expect the coat to have some wear and tear because it's a kid, and/or may have been handed down by an older sibling or cousin.

Who cares?

Does your child know how to wait his turn? Settle disagreements that happen at recess? Include and be kind to other kids? Work at something difficult without making excuses or goofing off on video games? Take responsibility when an adult corrects him? Look at people in the eye and say please and thank you?

Teachers can tell which kids struggle with these skills due to special needs. So if your kid doesn't have special needs, these are the areas your teachers will judge you on. The jacket, not so much.

My kid won't even bring a coat to school. At all. I love his teacher, but I do not care what he thinks about this. He can ask my kid where his coat is and he will say "at home".

Teachers would not care at all. I have had students that show up without coats and have to be given one by the social worker. You are fine.

Anonymous wrote:No. I expect a first grader’s cost to be dirty most of the time.

Coat, not cost!

No. I expect a first grader’s cost to be dirty most of the time.

I found a great deal on a name brand jacket (Heavily discounted) but one of the issues it has is fading on the back and sleeve. He leaves his jackets in grass, mud, dirt so finding a deal is important to me. However- DH says this is the equivalent of wearing a ripped jacket and people will assume it’s dirty, and by that judge our 1st grader.

Would you as a teacher (or other parent) judge a kid in a faded jacket?