School Clothes Supply Suggestions

[lisadoll93]

What would be a good amount to have??? DD is starting K and have no idea what to buy. Any ideas would be great.

 

[jetprincess]

I think it depends on your child. I know my DD gets hot easily so I am not buying her any sweaters or thick tights b/c I know they will come off within the first 1/2 hour of school. I stick with pants, cotton long sleeve shirts, dresses with light tights, skorts (love these...so glad they made a comeback!) Dresses are great too b/c they are easy potty access.

For outside play, I make sure she has a big coat, with hat and gloves. Most schools won't let kids with flips flops on play on the equipment either.

HTH!

 

[lisadoll93]

Thanks. We are headed out shopping today.

 

[LisaZoe]

My DD starts kindergarten this year, too. I know she'll have more clothes than she'll need. I make a lot of hers plus I have trouble passing up good deals. LOL

I'm loving the skirts with attached shorts. My DD is very active and I don't want her to have to worry about panties showing. While the weather is nice, she'll go bare legged but we'll get some cute tights to wear under them as days cool off. I really prefer short or 3/4 length sleeved shirts for her because she almost always gets the cuff of long sleeved shirts in something or they don't get pushed up during hand washing. I'm stocking up on short sleeve tees now while they are being clearanced from many stores.

My DD doesn't really like jeans but I did but a couple pair. Mostly I'm going to make her some gauchos and pants she can just pull up. She can work zippers and buttons, of course, but she doesn't always remember so pull-on pants just work best.

For shoes, I'll probably focus on a few pair of simple sneakers. I love the Ked's style sneaks so I look for those in fun colors. She's already got several hoodie sweaters and lightweight jackets but we need to get a coat since she's outgrown her others.

One thing I'm having problems finding is a cute backpack that isn't huge! I also want to avoid the ones that are too plastic looking and character themed ones. We checked several stores yesterday without luck. She does have one we used for daycare but I think it's too small for school. I don't think she'll need one that can hold binders and lots of school books so I just can't see buying the ones that we've seen so far. Any suggestions on that?

 

[Jenn Lynn]

LisaZoe-Have you tried Landsend.com for backpacks? My sister ordered the Ergo Jr. for my Nephew who is entering K. She said they love it and it is adjustable to fit their size. I am ordering one for DD this weekend for K. Here is a link: http://www.landsend.com/pp/ErgoPackJunior-61822_128690_-1.html?CM_MERCH=PAGE_53020

 

[Elmo888]

The amount of clothes that she needs depends on how much you do laundry!

Seriously, I do laundry once a week, so I figure that DD7 needs at least 8-10 outfits (including weekend dressing) to allow for some overlap (I try to do laundry on Mondays, but sometimes, it drags to Wednesday).

The skorts with the shorts underneath are great. DD7 was told in kindergarten that they have to wear shorts underneath dresses. I bought bike shorts from Academy ($6 or $7). A lot of girls seem to change what they like when they start school, so you might want to start small. They seem to go from lots of dresses to hardly wearing them at all (I wish that she would wear them more often). And she likes jeans, too, but some kids don't.

And a good pair of comfortable tennis shoes are a must. DD7 has to wear them 3 days a week (the days that they have PE). And I don't allow her to wear shoes with open backs at all because of the playground (easier to lose a shoe or for her to get hurt if someone steps on it). So, in my opinion, if you want something other than tennis shoes, go for closed back shoes. I just bought DD7 some cute ballet-style flats and she usually likes a pair of boots in the winter. I bought her some Keens on sale for next spring - they are sandals that can act like tennis shoes. They are so practical as well as appeal to her fondness for sandals (although she prefers thongs), so I hope that she loves them.

And I want to second the suggestion for a LE backpack - also look at LL Bean. DD7 has used the LL Bean back pack for 2 years of preschool and 2 years of elem., and it is still going strong!

I hope that helps!

 

[lisadoll93]

We picked up a couple of shorts and tops today. Still on the hunt for shoes. My goal today is to get her dresser and closet cleaned out and see exactly what we got going on.

Thanks for the tip about the backpack. I agree they all look huge or cheap.

I am not ready for her to start

 

[Tikicampers]

As a Kindergarten teacher, I just wanted to remind you to have a "test run" with her new clothes before she wears them to school to be sure she can get them off to use the restroom. I've had so many kids frantically waving to me from the bathroom because they couldn't work the buttons or snaps on new outfits. Obviously, it's not a problem to help them, but they always seem so shy about it.

I also like the idea of the skirts with attached shorts. That's another problem I run into often.

 

[kinntj]

The most important would be a comfortable pair of shoes for gym days. We are also buying a pair of Mary Janes for other days. I already bought tons of socks and underwear for them stashed in the closet.

I'm going through their closets and dressers today for inventory. They will use their summer clothes the first week or two. Then they will still wear their summer tops, but we'll add in long pants and dresses or skorts with knee high socks. She usually doesn't like dresses because they are hard to play in outside.

I also have a DD5 who gets hot fast, so she'll mainly wear short sleeve shirts or light cotton long sleeve shirts. I'll pack a light sweater in her backpack just in case.

I take her shopping to try on clothing, because she's hard to fit and she's very picky. Last year I bought a few things she never wore because she didn't like them. At least this year I can tell her that if she picked them out, she can wear them.

I try to make sure she has 8-10 outfits at a time, but I don't buy them at one time. I stagger shopping, as she grows out of things and as the seasons change.

I do buy some clothing from Lands End that we love and they last so long that my younger DD eventually wears them. They are very comfortable.

Good luck shopping.

 

[mericletwins]

Our public school has uniforms, so we are not exactly in the same boat. My kids have way too many clothes it seems, but I buy school uniform clothes for about 10 days. That way, if something should happen that I don't get to the laundry, or all the laundry on a weekend then I know I am covered. Same for underwear and socks. Actually, for socks, you need to have about three weeks worth of socks because they never seem to come out of the washer with a matching pair.

Since we have school uniforms, we have accumulated about 30 shirts per kid. .I buy big and usually from Gap, Lands End or LL Kids. They really last from these three places. At least, they do for our family. We seem to have shirts from three years ago that still fit and are in great shape.

As far as the back pack, as a former K teacher (now middle school), make sure whatever you buy can fit a folder without folding it in half. We got the LL Bean Little Critter back packs. I think they are called something else now. We bought them as the kids entered pre-k and just got new ones this year as they are entering third grade. The book bags are still in terriffic condition, but the kids asked for a new one and we thought we had gotten our money's worth out of the old ones. The new ones are again from LL Bean and we expect them to last for 3 or 4 years.

 

[Minnie_me]

Another Kindergarten teacher here!

I totally second the notion of having clothing that your child can easily button, zip, etc. But don't worry if you have a couple of outfits that are tricky - -- Kindie teachers are very happy to help!

Buy a few pairs of bike shorts to wear under dresses. And skorts are AWESOME for girls who want to wear skirts, but don't want their undies to show.

Comfy shoes!

Dress her in layers. My classroom is chilly in the morning, and hot as an oven in the afternoon.

Above all, don't send her in her best party clothes and shoes. She will get messy. She'll get paint on her clothes, even when she has her art shirt on; she'll get lunch stains, grass stains, and more. Her clothes need to be wash & wear. And please don't send her to school in her fancy dress shoes. They look adorable, but are a hazard on the slippery floors. You can find lots of nice "dress" shoes with rubber soles, if she wants to dress up a bit.

 

[jenrein]

I do laundry every day, but I still buy a LOT of school clothes. I dont want my kids to wear the same thing over and over. I have 3 kids- they each get about 12 t-shirts
8 long sleeves
2 sweatshirts (We did more when we lived in NY)
8 jeans
4 skirts for the girls
couple of dresses
3 or 4 khakis

 

[Stephres]

As a Kindergarten teacher, I just wanted to remind you to have a "test run" with her new clothes before she wears them to school to be sure she can get them off to use the restroom. I've had so many kids frantically waving to me from the bathroom because they couldn't work the buttons or snaps on new outfits. Obviously, it's not a problem to help them, but they always seem so shy about it.

I also like the idea of the skirts with attached shorts. That's another problem I run into often.

What you buy now will depend on where you live and the dress code for your school (no sandals or sleeveless shirts for us), but I second (or third) the notion that they should be able to get everything on and off themselves. Buttons and snaps are sometimes hard to manage when you waited too long to go to the bathroom and you're shy about asking for help! I also put my son in velcro sneakers until he learned to tie his shoes. Any way you can make them self sufficient will help them out in the long run. My baby is going to kindergarten this year too.

 

[campingcorgi]

Don't forget a complete change of clothes, including socks, in a labeled ziploc bag to keep at the bottom of the backpack (and tell your child it is in there if needed). Our nurse tries to keep extra clothes, but if she runs out the parent gets a call. And accidents can happen any time--lunch, recess, bathroom, wherever!

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

I usually have 2 weeks worth of outfits.That way if i can't do laundry one weekend, I have the next weekend to do it.

 

[brandip22]

Great ideas! My son's public school also has uniforms. DS is going into Kindergarden as well, but is pretty small. So far, I been able to get 6 shirts, but only one pair of shorts and one pair of pants that are too big for now. We live in South Louisiana, so shorts will work for a while, it's just hard to find for him. DS's school is very strict on the color and type of clothes he can wear and I just can't find much in his size. I have to try things on him, too. I'm going to try to look online and use his measurements. Target tuns HUGE, though. Thanks for the tips, all!

 

[mericletwins]

Great ideas! My son's public school also has uniforms. DS is going into Kindergarden as well, but is pretty small. So far, I been able to get 6 shirts, but only one pair of shorts and one pair of pants that are too big for now. We live in South Louisiana, so shorts will work for a while, it's just hard to find for him. DS's school is very strict on the color and type of clothes he can wear and I just can't find much in his size. I have to try things on him, too. I'm going to try to look online and use his measurements. Target tuns HUGE, though. Thanks for the tips, all!

We had the same problem. Our public school starts at age 4 with pre-school, so finding uniform items was hard. We have to have certain colors, styles, lengths,no emblems, no outside pockets, etc. Look at Lands End (can be returned to s Sears store) and LL Bean Kids for shorts and pants. They usually have khaki pants and shorts in the toddler sizes, if that is what you need. My boys are very skinny and the adjustable waist clothes from these places and Gap are great. We also outgrow in length light years before we outgrow in the waist, so I take the old pants and have them cut off into shorts. We now have a TON of shorts.

 

[mericletwins]

Great ideas! My son's public school also has uniforms. DS is going into Kindergarden as well, but is pretty small. So far, I been able to get 6 shirts, but only one pair of shorts and one pair of pants that are too big for now. We live in South Louisiana, so shorts will work for a while, it's just hard to find for him. DS's school is very strict on the color and type of clothes he can wear and I just can't find much in his size. I have to try things on him, too. I'm going to try to look online and use his measurements. Target tuns HUGE, though. Thanks for the tips, all!

We had the same problem. Our public school starts at age 4 with pre-school, so finding uniform items was hard. We have to have certain colors, styles, lengths,no emblems, no outside pockets, etc. Look at Lands End (can be returned to s Sears store) and LL Bean Kids for shorts and pants. They usually have khaki pants and shorts in the toddler sizes, if that is what you need. My boys are very skinny and the adjustable waist clothes from these places and Gap are great. We also outgrow in length light years before we outgrow in the waist, so I take the old pants and have them cut off into shorts. We now have a TON of shorts.

 

[Girly_Qs]

Just thought I'd share a couple of my own faves:

For under dresses/skirts:
Underdresses
Francie Pants
Monkeybar Buddies

And, my FAVE lifesaver, self-sufficient belts:
Myself Belts

HTH someone!

 

[WildGrits]

When mine where in K and 1st, I went to Macy's and bought the store. What a mistake. By the time Christmas came around, they had out grown the $600 worth of clothes I had bought.

I learned my lesson after that. I usually do three shopping trips throughout the year.

Out of all the clothes, my girls loved their overalls.