Pre-School PE class - what are your DC's asked to wear please?

[Sycamoretree]

DD starts a weekly PE class tomorrow at Nursery. Some of us parents asked what they would need to wear and were told just easy clothes to get in and out of as they encouraged to dress and undress themselves - all fair enough. We assumed therefore they would need some sort of PE clothes to get into but apparently no, they do it in their vest and pants and bare feet.

I wasn't alone in a slight raised eyebrow - I don't even think we did that when I was at school (am 34). I remember it being the curse of those who forgot their kit....it all feels vaguely 1950's to me.

Anyway, not that I'm hugely cross about it, but I am certainly not convinced it's necessary - can't they all just go to school in their tracksuit type stuff at this time of year and do it in that?

Can you tell me if this is also your experience of PE at state pre-school? Won't they be unnecessarily chilly? Why do they need to be in their underwear?

Or am I completely over reacting and this is just the norm?

Also - while we're on the subject - they are given birthday cake whenever it's anyone's birthday - the parents have never been consulted or told about this - we've just figured it out from the chocolate smeared faces when we turn up. Normally they get fruit and milk as a mid morning snack, but with a glut of birthdays recently they've been having cake every week.

[comma]

I think this has been on a thread before. its very odd.I would not condone it.
Ditto cake in a school that presumably has a Healthy Eating Policy.

[LoolaBoys]

We did this at school when I was little(am 31). However Ds's school asked us to take in shorts and t-shirt for them to wear. What would happen if a child wasn't wearing a vest? Would they wear just pants? I don't like it, hated it when I was a child and thought they wouldn't do it any more

[stealthsquiggle]

Exceptionally odd. DD does Leaps & Bounds every week with nursery - in whatever she happens to be wearing that day.

[comma]

No it is definitely odl fashioned and not the done thing. I'd ask the head and the governors.

[TheBlonde]

sounds odd
our private preschool they do PE in whatever they are wearing on the day

[stealthsquiggle]

...and FWIW my DC have never worn vests since they were tiny babies - so what would they do with them?

[nappyaddict]

I don't think they do a PE class at DS' preschool.

[Sycamoretree]

Oh cripes, I was REALLY hoping you'd all say shut up you're just being silly. But I am niggled and cross about it - both things really. Yes, the school does have a Healthy Eating Policy. Another local primary school, which is the one EVERYONE tries to get into have just this year banned birthday cake from junior school and the kids have to bring in healthy treats instead.

But my DD is barely 3 (August baby) and I just can't believe that they don't even mention that they'll be dishing out whatever cake a mother or father decides to bring in on a birthday. DD never eats her lunch when this happens. I'm being hypocritical in some ways because if I was being given the option to opt her out, I probably wouldn't because I'd hate her to feel left out, but on principal I think it's ridiculous we aren't even told our kids are being given it.

My mum is a retired teacher who has just called to say she's consulted a friend who is a head teacher at a state primary and apparently their nursery kids to PE in jogging bottoms and vest or t-shirt.

Grrrr.

[BibiThree]

Why is it odd? We did PE in our vests/pants in infant school (I'm 29). As long as they're not cold. DD's in nursery (4) and they wear a PE kit to school on PE day (uniform other days), which is tracksuit bottoms and a polo top and trainers as they sometimes go outside, Welsh weather permitting. This is suggested apparel but not enforced, they can do PE in whatever they're wearing within reason - cinderella costumes aren't welcomes

[Weegle]

DS' new preschool apparently is the same. I hadn't really thought about it and DS is still in nappies so even more bizarre in my mind! But even though PE is on every week he hasn't yet "done" it as far as I am aware. And there's no way he could do anything towards dressing/undressing yet so all a bit academic.

[ohdearwhatamess]

At the preschool ds1 is about to go to they just wear their normal clothes and change into special plimsolls that must only be worn for PE. Girls are asked to come in trousers rather than skirts and tights on PE days, apparently.

I had to sign a form saying whether or not I consented to him having birthday cake and birthday milkshakes, and was told that parents would be told in advance of birthdays that were imminent (it is a very small preschool and we know all the children anyway so it will be quite easy for us to keep track of that, but I know that wouldn't be the case for most). It is relevent for me because ds1 is dairy intolerant.

[Cupofteaplease]

At dd's preschool, most children wear uniform, so on a PE or dance day, girls are ased not to wear tights, so that they can remove and put on their own shoes and socks. So in theory, they do their physical activity in their school uniform- pinnafore, blouse and jumper/cardigan.

As for the birthday cake, I must admit you sound a little precious. Unless your child has a food intolerance, which the school should have been made aware of, a slice of birthday cake once a week max (and it would be rare to have a birthday every week, surely) is not going to harm any child. As part of a blanced diet, it is an appropriate treat, IMO. I'm sure the children are offered fruit, raw veg and water at all other times- if not, THEN you may have something to complain about.

I think it's lovely that they serve cake on a child's birthday- is the birthday or preschool providing it? Either way, I think it's a lovely gesture and will make the birthday child feel really special. My child also has a summer birthday, but I won't use that as a reason for her being any more precious than any other child in the preschool.

[misshardbroom]

My DS's preschool asks you to bring a proper PE kit (i.e. T-shirt, shorts, socks & plimsolls) as part of the point of it is so that they practise getting changed into and out of PE kit in readiness for school.

As for the cake.... surely not?? A slice of cake once a week, in celebration of someone's 4th birthday?? Horrifying stuff.....

[cazzybabs]

(1) it wouldn't bother me...they can't have separate clothes they would spend all their time changing. it is common in a number of schools I know of....they don't mind. They are innocent

(2) Cakes - where I work (I am a teacher) if a child brings them in (and they do for their birthdays) we share them out. It is not the school providing the cake but the parents.

[nappyaddict]

Cazzy - does it matter if the cakes are home-made?

[cazzybabs]

No