Choosing A Better Career Path

What should your child wear to preschool? Your child's choice of clothing can make it easier or more difficult to learn—depending on their comfort level and the pre-kindergarten program's daily activities. If this is your first experience with childcare services, take a look at the do's and don'ts of dressing your child for school.

Do Prepare for Messy Activities

Preschool can get messy. While reading, writing, and math aren't likely to stain your child's clothing, art activities, science experiments, and outdoor play might. To prepare for the possibility of a messy day, you should avoid putting them nicer clothes. For example, will a major paint splatter on a favorite t-shirt, dress, or pair of pants leave your child sad or angry? Reduce the risk of ruining a beloved piece of clothing and save these items for out-of-school wear.

You should choose washable fabrics for your child's clothes. Read the care instructions on your child's clothing. Select the items that are the easiest to wash and dry at home. Stick to darker colors. The dirt, paint, markers, pudding, and everything else your child gets on their clothes at daycare won't show up as much on a navy shirt as they will on a yellow one.

If you dress your child for the possibility of a mess, they won't need to worry if they get dirt, paint, or food on their clothing. This may help them to feel more comfortable with messy activities and give them the freedom they need to explore, experiment, and make discoveries at daycare.

Don't Forget about the Weather

Your child should be dressed for a messy day of art-making and outdoor explorations. But will they feel warm in the winter or cool in the summer? Regardless of season, you should dress your child in weather-appropriate clothing. If you're not sure whether the day will start out cold and get warmer (or the opposite), layers can help your child to feel comfortable as the temperature changes.

Do Foster Independence with Clothing Choice

Can your child put on their own coat or button their pants without help? Skip complicated clothing. Overly complex items that are hard to put on or take off won't help your child to feel independent. Instead, choose clothing that your child can manage with minimal assistance.

Don't Get in the Way of Creativity

Does your child want to wear part of their Halloween costumer with their jeans? Provided their clothing choice isn't a hazard and will keep them warm/cool, give your child the chance to get creative with their wardrobe.

For more information, contact a program like Learning Tree Schools.