AIBU about permanent markers at nursery?

[raisinggirls]

Nursery lets DD1 (4) write and draw with a permanent pen. I send her in ordinary clothes, allocated for nursery, not expensive ones, but I still don't appreciate them being covered in pen that won't wash out .

I'd just like to be able to hand them on to DD2, that's all. I don't like sending my child out first thing in the morning with a top on that has pen marks down the front.

Mentioned it to them this morning and they just suggested sending her in "old clothes". Preschoolers don't really have "old clothes" do they? They grow out of their "old" clothes and hand them down to other children. At this rate, DD2 will have no tops! I am saving some of the less badly marked ones for when she starts nursery as I assume they will still be doing the same with the pens.

I don't expect children to be pristene all the time, but wtf gives a child a permanent pen? AIBU?

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I agree with you that they should be using washable pens. Nursery clothes do get marked though. I'd just send her to nursery in the marked tops and save her nice clothes for when she's out with you :)

[christinarossetti]

Most reception classes seem to use permanent marker on whiteboard for phonics these days, so you may have a while of this ahead of you!

I decided to differentiate between 'messy mess' eg food mess that needs to be washed out and 'clean mess' ie pen marks, and just sent my kids in in laundered tops which happened to have a few old pen marks on them.

Advantage of them being at school or nursery is that you don't have to look at it all day. Kids tops are incredibly cheap from supermarkets/e-bay - I'd keep decent stuff for dd2 and send the cheapest ones into nursery.

[zipzap]

Surely though the whole point if they are using White boards is that they don't use permanent markers but White board markers - it's not unreasonable to expect them to choose washable non-staining ones.

[raisinggirls]

All DD's stuff is either NCT sales or handmedowns, and even if it is cheap or free, it's not really disposable, as DD2 is fast coming up behind her!

I think the pens are whiteboard markers, so they wipe off a whiteboard but they don't wash out of clothes. Christina that sounds like I can look forward to school uniform being spoiled then, too! Great. I take your point about "clean" and "dirty" mess, but I think the nursery really ought to use washable pens instead. They use them on paper, not white boards anyway!

[alienbanana]

Is it a permanent marker, or is it just pen that doesn't wash out? (I know, i know.. but there is a difference)

Save a few pen-covered tops, or buy really cheap ones from Sainsbury's or similar for nursery.

If they're letting them run around with magic markers - that's a bit different.

[LemonsLimes]

Could you send in an apron and ask if they can make sure she puts it on if she is going to be using permanent markers?

[DeWe]

They're not going to use a permanent marker on a whiteboard. Not unless they don't want it to come off.

[Skelacia]

When the stain is dry spray it with hairspray until it is soaked through. Then spray it a bit more, then let it dry and chuck it in the wash as normal. Somehow the hairspray lifts out most stains (including grass and permanent hair dye) so I can't see that it wouldn't work on marker pen.

[raisinggirls]

Good tip about the hairspray, I'll try that.

They are markers that are permanent when applied to clothing, but I don't think they are actual permanent pens because when I mentioned it to the staff member the first time it happened, she said it should wash out as it was a whiteboard pen.

They use them to write the children's names on their artwork, but as DD can write her own name, they let her use the pen to do it. They also put out some pre-drawn pictures on the easels for the children to paint on, although sometimes DD brings home a painting where she has drawn the picture with the pen and then painted it. They do use aprons.