OT: Painting at Preschool??

[rt2dz]

Ah... and see? I think white is better. At least I can put bleach on the stains on white clothes. Pink and yellow? Forget it.

Lol. That was my thought too! I LOVE white. It's bleachable. Having boys, I wouldn't know anything about pink, but off white is worst, imo.

As far as the poster who doesn't keep stained clothes, me neither. I try up to 5 times to get out stains, and am usually pretty successful, but I don't have time to check things out every day. I'm a grab and go when it comes to getting the kids dressed. And really, they pick out their clothes anyhow, so I need to remove unacceptable options.

 

[lutherlovr]

IMHO, I don't think it's very considerate to say "We don't care about your kids clothes." I used to run a home daycare and I took every precaution to make sure the kids weren't filthy dirty when they left. There is a difference between playing outside and smearing mud all over yourself. While it may be fun, I think it is also important to respect other people's possessions. There's a whole other lesson involved in that...

And, to the OP, I used to get so upset when my son was a baby and he would come home and his clothes were filthy full of food. I did ask them several times to use a bib, but who knows. That's one of the reasons I stayed home with him. I guess you have to weigh how important the issue is to you....for me it was important enough to look elsewhere.

 

[CCCNSmom]

I always sent my boys in inexpensive play clothes. But I do remember my oldest coming home with a paint stain on a new shirt that did not come off and being really irritated. About a week later my mother's day gift came home, a flower pot that he painted and he was so proud. It was my first homemade gift and I loved it, it was worth the $7.00 ruined shirt. I still have the flower pot, and I still have the shirt even though he did not wear it again!

 

[Ali]

All I have to add is this - I begged, BEGGED one of my pre-k parents to stop sending in her child wearing Polo, Tommy H, and every other high end name brand you could think of because this child was a mess every day and I hated to see the clothing getting messy.

I was told that "these are the clothes he has and if he doesn't wear them to school he will outgrow them without being able to wear them. Don't worry about them getting messy. I can buy more" So... wearing my walmart just my size shirt (to prevent my good clothing from being ruined by the kids) I said "OK, if that's what you want" (but inside I was steaming mad and honestly jealous of the ability to have that attitude). Today I have on my white $5 tennis shoes from Walmart with a big glob of green fabric paint from when we did christmad t-shirts and the kids flung paint at us. Did anyone care? NO.

So I haven't worried a bit. Each parent is told, told, and told over and over about enjoying the creative process and not expecting perfect works of art and doing our best to keep the kids from wiping their hands on themselves under the smocks, but we can't perform miracles.

Kids need comfortable clothing they can pull up and down and put on by themselves - parents need the adoration of the label conscious and teachers just need a break from people who get upset about messy children.

Oh - as for the comments about the child being dirty when they were picked up I know I am teaching life skills, how to wipe your face, wash your hands, ect. and I work on it all day and offer wipes, mirrors, and many paper towels and still I have kids walk out of here dirty. I am not about to crush the developing self esteem of a child who did her best at cleaning but missed a few specks. Parents need to allow kids to clean themselves so they have more practice. OH NO - massive vent prohibited so.....

Happy Day everyone!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

All I have to add is this - I begged, BEGGED one of my pre-k parents to stop sending in her child wearing Polo, Tommy H, and every other high end name brand you could think of because this child was a mess every day and I hated to see the clothing getting messy.

I was told that "these are the clothes he has and if he doesn't wear them to school he will outgrow them without being able to wear them. Don't worry about them getting messy. I can buy more" So... wearing my walmart just my size shirt (to prevent my good clothing from being ruined by the kids) I said "OK, if that's what you want" (but inside I was steaming mad and honestly jealous of the ability to have that attitude). Today I have on my white $5 tennis shoes from Walmart with a big glob of green fabric paint from when we did christmad t-shirts and the kids flung paint at us. Did anyone care? NO.

So I haven't worried a bit. Each parent is told, told, and told over and over about enjoying the creative process and not expecting perfect works of art and doing our best to keep the kids from wiping their hands on themselves under the smocks, but we can't perform miracles.

Kids need comfortable clothing they can pull up and down and put on by themselves - parents need the adoration of the label conscious and teachers just need a break from people who get upset about messy children.

Oh - as for the comments about the child being dirty when they were picked up I know I am teaching life skills, how to wipe your face, wash your hands, ect. and I work on it all day and offer wipes, mirrors, and many paper towels and still I have kids walk out of here dirty. I am not about to crush the developing self esteem of a child who did her best at cleaning but missed a few specks. Parents need to allow kids to clean themselves so they have more practice. OH NO - massive vent prohibited so.....

Happy Day everyone!

Why weer you mad? My kids dress very well. I am a good shopper. I buy clothes that they like. Those clothes included shirts and ties in pre-school. Yes, my son wore one every day because he wanted to. Trust me, ironing is not my forte but I had to learn to do it well so I could iron his shirts every day. My DD loves to wear fancy dresses everyday. So she does. If the clothes get dirty I wash them. If I can't get the stains out then oh well. They are kids. I don't care how dirty their clothes get at school. They are kids. But I am not going to buy them clothes specifically that aren't a "label" just to please a teacher nor am I only going to buy them "label" clothing because I am trying to impress someone. I buy what I like. I dressed very well as a child. I loved to wear fancy dresses. That was what I liked. One teacher when I was 6 decided to berate me for it. I never forgot that. She was a nasty shrew and she made me cry. I never even told my Mom until I was an adult. So, if you really are annoyed at the parents for how they chose to dress their children I only hope that you don't let it spill out onto the child. It's not like they buy their own clothes.
If the parents don't care about the dirt then why would it bother anyone else? As for the labels, well the kids don't know what a label is. You are the one who noticed it. So why treat those kids any different? Sometimes Walmart clothing is all a family can afford and it is just as important to them that the clothes stay clean as it is to the Ralph Lauren family.
I am not trying to flame you but I was the unfortunate victim of a teacher who was annoyed at my clothing and took it out on me as a child. I guess it just hits a spot with me. So I am sorry if I am coming across as rude. I am just trying to get you to see if from both angles.

 

[Briar_Rose]

Sorry, my daughter is 3 and I have never seen anyone in her preschool come home noticeably covered in paint, and they do art projects every day. The little bit of paint she has got on her clothes, came out. If she occasionally got a stain I wouldn't be upset, but if she frequently came home covered in paint I would be. Who can afford to constantly buy new clothes at any price? While accidents happen, being that messy is not something I encourage, especially if I found out she purposely got paint on someone else. Kids are messy but I try to teach my children to try to be neat. I would never send my kids out in public with seriously stained clothes unless it was a special messy occasion. I have always loved art myself but I don't think you have to be that messy to be creative. I would ask about washable paints and smocks if it continues, and talk to your child about trying to be a bit neater if you come to the conclusion that is purposely painting his body on a regular basis despite the teacher's best efforts. Now playground dirt I fully expect.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Sorry, my daughter is 3 and I have never seen anyone in her preschool come home noticeably covered in paint, and they do art projects every day. The little bit of paint she has got on her clothes, came out. If she occasionally got a stain I wouldn't be upset, but if she frequently came home covered in paint I would be. Who can afford to constantly buy new clothes at any price? While accidents happen, being that messy is not something I encourage, especially if I found out she purposely got paint on someone else. Kids are messy but I try to teach my children to try to be neat. I would never send my kids out in public with seriously stained clothes unless it was a special messy occasion. I have always loved art myself but I don't think you have to be that messy to be creative. I would ask about washable paints and smocks if it continues, and talk to your child about trying to be a bit neater if you come to the conclusion that is purposely painting his body on a regular basis despite the teacher's best efforts. Now playground dirt I fully expect.

This is what I was thinking too.

 

[WantToGoNow]

To the person earlier that commented she didn't understand why I wouldn't let my children wear previously stained clothes. Because I do not wish to send them anywhere in stained clothes. We don't have "good clothes" and "play clothes" - we have clothes. I don't wear my clothes with stains and I wouldn't expect them to either - my dd just turned 5 and is very particular about her clothing. Probably because my older dd (20 years older) always insisted they look nice at all times. My ds7 doesn't care what he looks like - the shirt he wore today was an off-white thermal top - I swear there's a little bit of everything he did today on that shirt. The items will be treated and then washed - if they don't come clean, then we don't wear them.

I also don't let my children wear sweat pants except to sleep - I think they are just too sloppy and that is not how I want them to dress. I've been criticized for this as well, but in the end, they are my children and I get to choose what they wear - atleast for a few more years.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

At the beginning of the year we were told that it is preschool, they will get messy (they do use smocks, but not all kids keep them on), do not send them in their best clothes. From all the research I have done, hands-on and getting messy are what preschools should be like!

Well said. Preschool director here, a few comments:
1) We buy washable paints, but we try to stretch the budget -- and some washable paints are better than others...
2) We use smocks and roll up sleeves, but they don't cover everything...
3) Expect your child to get messy. Dress accordingly.
4) If they aren't getting messy they are not being given enough opportunity to explore and be creative!

Hope that helps!

 

[RMulieri]

To the person earlier that commented she didn't understand why I wouldn't let my children wear previously stained clothes. Because I do not wish to send them anywhere in stained clothes. We don't have "good clothes" and "play clothes" - we have clothes. I don't wear my clothes with stains and I wouldn't expect them to either - my dd just turned 5 and is very particular about her clothing. Probably because my older dd (20 years older) always insisted they look nice at all times. My ds7 doesn't care what he looks like - the shirt he wore today was an off-white thermal top - I swear there's a little bit of everything he did today on that shirt. The items will be treated and then washed - if they don't come clean, then we don't wear them.

I also don't let my children wear sweat pants except to sleep - I think they are just too sloppy and that is not how I want them to dress. I've been criticized for this as well, but in the end, they are my children and I get to choose what they wear - atleast for a few more years.

There are no rights and wrongs here... different strokes for different folks.If you choose to send your child in nice clothing , then you also choose to accept that regardless of precautions your child may get dirty and the clothes stained.I personally, don't have a lot of money so I have good clothes and play clothes.They are not some stained ripped awful clothes.Just clothes that I bought on sale or clearence that I accept will get dirty, and gasp...she wears some things with stains on them ( not obvious nasty stains but discolorations) I have no problems with sweats, jeans or tshirts on my DD.She doesn't like fancy dresses and I don't force her to wear them.She wears playclothes at home if is she is going to be doing messy activites like paint or sandbox or outside play( grass stains are awful).Otherwise she wears gymboree, target,Kohls,walmart,Osh Kosh and Carters..It isn't a fashion show, and I get really sick thinking other parents are judging my kid because she happens to be in sweats instead of a dress.

 

[dfarner]

At the beginning of the year we were told that it is preschool, they will get messy (they do use smocks, but not all kids keep them on), do not send them in their best clothes. From all the research I have done, hands-on and getting messy are what preschools should be like!

Yep! The dirtier they are, the more they are learning

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm in the "preschool is messy" camp. - I always sent DS in playclothes.

But it's certainly fine to ask if they need you send in art smocks.