To think pre-school uniform is a bit sad?

[CulturalBear]

It's that time of year, the FB full of cute pics of kids off to school for the first time.

This year though I noticed a huge number of those heading to pre-school are in full-on actual primary school uniform.

They're barely 3 years old some of them! AIBU to think this is a bit OTT and frankly, sad, trying to force kids into conforming and growing up at earlier and earlier ages?

I could understand taster days in the last few weeks before summer (possibly) but for a whole year? Seems a bit much...

Mine once went to nursery in three skirts and a dress on top! I like little kids to have the opportunity to be silly like that. And to learn what is (and is not) a practical outfit for going to the loo, playing, different types of weather.

But all her clothes are (at least) secondhand, so I've always let her choose whatever combination she wants for pretty much any activity (as long as it's safe and at least vaguely weather appropriate) as I really don't care what happens to the clothes. So I am perhaps more laissez faire than average.

YANBU. I don't know of any pre-schools round here which have a uniform, so I would find it v odd to see a very small child in uniform.
But luckily most of the primary schools here are non-uniform too.

It's ridiculous and yet another example of how we like to quash individuality and force kids into regimentation .
Dd has worn her bee pyjamas all day - with a spotty vest over the top. She frequently wears odd socks and odd slippers .
She's little and clothes are part of her playing - as everything should be when little.

DS1's nursery school has an (optional) uniform - I'd say about 80% of the kids wore it. I'm a big fan, practical, comfortable, doesn't matter too much if it gets stained and ruined.

yes, me too, and I haven't found that difficult to achieve in a non-uniform setting.

DD adores her (optional) preschool T-shirt and sweater. I wuoldn't make her wear it if she didn't want to though

YANBU.

My DS's preschool/nursery has an optional sweatshirt and polo shirt but very few kids wear them. He loves choosing what t shirt to wear in the morning and I'm sad about him having to start wearing uniform when he starts school this week. I wouldn't have sent him to a preschool that insisted 2 and 3 yr olds wear uniform.

YADNBU.

But quite honestly, seeing pics of 4-year olds heading off to school in uniforms (including ties?!) seems ridiculous to me. How do they play, and be comfortable?!

As for pre-schoolers in set clothes... what is the difference between buying sweatshirts/uniforms to mess up, or regular clothes to mess up? [confusued]

I'm not in the UK, and we don't have uniforms at all until high school.

Thinking about this some more, stuffy uniforms on small children seems so dated - even antiquated. It can't be the best way to learn, let alone play.

And I'd have thought it would be far more cost effective to buy a job lot of trackpants, leggings, top and fleeces for pre-schoolers, which can be doubled up for use outside pre-school, if they don't get that messy. The uniform, on the other hand, can only be worn in one setting. Not cost effective.

Certainly works for us.

DS1 has just started pre-school he has a sweatshirt and t-shirt and has been desperate to get his hands on them all summer. He loves it and loves wearing the same as all his new friends. I've found it quite handy in an identifying other children he might know around the neighbourhood.

I don 't like uniforms at all. I understand all the arguments in favour of them but I hate the way they make the children all look the same. I've worked in the same fantastic school for many years and we've never had a uniform. We have barely any issues with this. The vast majority of the children come in comfortable, practical clothes.

I'm so glad my DC don't have to wear a uniform!

So many people have to wear a uniform, or adhere to a strict dress code, for their whole working lives, it seems a shame to start at age 3. Plenty of time for a grey suit and white shirt when you're an adult imo.

I don't really understand the "doesn't matter if it gets ruined" argument. Why does a uniform matter less than any other clothes? You still have to buy a replacement.

I agree totally. Was quite peed off when HT decided to bring in uniform for nursery. The reason is that once parents have bought the uniform they won't change school for primary, thus keeping numbers up.

YANBU, my DD (3) is going to a private nursery not preschool next week and she'll be wearing what she likes. I don't know any preschools around here that have a uniform anyway but I wouldn't like it as I think she is too young. I'm lucky in that she's been given a lot of high quality clothes from her older cousin but I also really enjoy buying her clothes that are comfortable but age appropriate - a uniform seems too old a look for a 3 year old. She has no 'best' clothes in the way that an adult would, in fact that lack of concern about prim and properness is surely the best thing about being 3??

I know that my dds nursery school and primary school brought it in for financial reasons. It's all well and good thinking oh most people would just run to Adsa and buy leggings/jeans/tops/cheap trainers but they don't, not why I live and certainly not where I grew up.

People spent money they didn't have on clothes for a 3 or 4 year old so that no one would think they were struggling, or for show, or to make themselves feel better and the ones that didn't to it felt crap because their kids were in older, tattier, worn out clothes. I buy jogging bottoms for three pounds, 3 pack of airtexes for 4.50 and the school jumper is a fiver or an extra can be found by the nursery school if needs be.

Yanbu. I hate to see uniform on such tiny children.

DS wore a uniform to pre-school last year. Comfy and practical and made the kids feel part of the school.

Dd2 starts nursery school next week, it is part of the primary school her sister goes to. They have never had a uniform until this year. It is a yellow polo shirt and navy joggers and sweatshirt. At first I wasn't keen but seeing the state of her after 2 taster sessions I have warmed to the idea. The nursery have also said it enables children to be more independent going to the toilet as joggers are easy to get up and down compared to jeans or tights etc.

YANBU. I don't mind uniforms if they're comfortable and practical, but DS starts reception next week and has to wear a shirt and tie. He's just four and it's ridiculous. And the fabric is mostly revolting: I don't see why I should have to dress him in stuff I would never consider putting near my own skin.

Yes the "saves messing up their own clothes" argument makes no sense really, unless they choose their own clothes and in e absence of uniform would choose their best clothes

They can be independent going to the toilet in their own clothes - that's why I don't send DD in in clothes that she needs a hand getting up and down, like jeans, etc.

Still don't really follow the 'it's OK to mess up the uniform' argument. You still have to pay for, clean, and replace the uniform, and again it can only be worn in that setting.

Dds nursery has an optional tshirt/cardi/sweatshirt uniform. To be worn with only trousers/skirt etc. dd found her elder sisters old school skirt that fits her so wears that. So yes, she looks like she is wearing a full uniform, but she wants to wear it so she is like her elder sister.

I don't care if you think she is to young for a uniform, she is happy to wear it and I am happy that dd1s old school clothes are getting extra wear out of them as they won't fit dd2 by the time she starts reception.

The one mine went too didn't have uniform, I much preferred them. They aren't at school yet, let them be little for longer!