To draw dots on an old T-shirt

[ForeverBubblegum]

DS has to wear something spotty for children in need, and we don't have anything. So the choice is a dash to the shop (he's nursery pm class) or fabric pens on an old T-shirts. We've been avoiding shopping as much as possible, and tend to do a big shop every week or two, so I'm reluctant to take the kids to a supermarket for a non essential T-shirt. But will a homemade attempt just make him stand out and look a bit crap.

You're overthinking this. Just do the pen dots. He'll look fine, even great. It's for 3 hours and he's 3 years old or so. Can he help do the dots?

If he's in nursery I cant imagine anybody really caring. Get him to draw dots on his old shirt, something to do and he'll be proud of it.

Are clothes shops even open where you are?

Buying clothes you don't actually need for one day is really wasteful - I hate the modern trend of schools and nurseries encouraging/expecting this.

Dots on a T-shirt will be fine. Do you have different colour pens?

Yes just do that...no point going out wasting time and money, they might not even have anything suitable anyway. It's a t shirt to wear for a couple of hours...no one will give a dam.

The best ever CIN t shirt I've ever seen was a home made one done with fabric pens. Trumped all of them!

It’ll be fine, lots of people do this.

That's fine. If you have any Crayola washable pens you can even wash it out afterwards!

It is totally wasteful, our school did dots or bright colours, I think we as parents should push back on the throw away/ it's for charity culture which is pushed onto our kids so they feel left out if we don't waste the planets resources on stuff used for one day because it can't be used twice as they grow so quick.......

I'd absolutely draw on an old one, let him help. As a veteran of many many dress down/dress up charity days I'm always amazed at the irony of people who rush out to spend £££ on something new to fit a theme just so their kids can Chuck a quid in a bucket. If it makes you feel better draw on the t-shirt and donate the price of a new one. Children in Needs & the environment get the benefit. You get less stress and your son learns to plough his own furrow.

I agree , draw dots on a old t-shirt but though I like the idea getting DS to help you may find that next week he has helped by drawing dots on his uniform / your expensive blouse / DH work shirt etc .

Once it is not needed any more , buy some fabric dye ( dylon is good ) to match the coulour of the dots and dye the tshirt , you will probably still be able to see them a bit but it will just look like a cool new tshirt .

We did this in previous years but I can't believe nursery haven't scrapped it this year! The bloody clothes shops aren't open and why should you irrevocably damage another piece of clothing for the sake of one day.

This is the kind of thing school would expect.

Absolutely draw dots. I hate the wastefulness of people buying onesies, christmas jumpers, red nose day t shirts or spotty clothes just for a school thing. Donate the cost if you want but we shouldn't be buying stuff for a one off. Fine if you need it but not for one off dress up days.

Yes, draw on an old t shirt, lots of people do that here. My 9yr old has never had a proper spotty top. This year the school has explicitly said it's a mufti day and they don't care what the kids wear as long as you give a donation. I couldn't find any £1 coins to send ( the usual donation here ) so my child may have gone in with a bag of 5p pieces, but probably about £5 worth

I used coloured stickers on my sons uniform, gave a good effect and hasn’t ruined anything (a lot cheaper too)

I was going to say the same thing, GameSetMatch :)

You could just use round stickers as long as they're sticky enough!

Fabric pens all the way. Buying a spotty shirt is so wasteful. At 3 years old, he won't be in the age bracket where kids take the piss out of each others clothes.

My sympathies. I've been dashing around finding pennies for Pudsey this morning and trying to find my older one something 'bright' to wear, despite him seemingly only owning black and navy clothes at his age.

Every year children come to school in old tops with hand drawn felt too dots, or cut out circles fastened on.

It's the norm here.

Get him to do it! My DC did their own last year, looked great.

The only reason to buy new is if you’re buying the official merchandise because you want an extra donation to go to CIN. Even then, they’ll get more money if you chucked an extra quid or two in the bucket.

I remember the first time I was at the dress rehearsal for a Christmas production - the class I was with were stars, and there was a full range of costumes - Tesco ready-done outfits, beautifully sown ones, stars pinned to a t-shirt, etc. What was clear was that every single child was really proud of their costume!

It would be good if schools/nurseries could make sure that there is a minimal-cost minimal-hassle option for dress-up days. I'm delighted that our current school doesn't do "christmas jumper day" - they have "wear something Christmassy" - which can be a jumper, but can also just be some tinsel or a santa hat.

It would be good if schools/nurseries could make sure that there is a minimal-cost minimal-hassle option for dress-up days. I'm delighted that our current school doesn't do "christmas jumper day" - they have "wear something Christmassy" - which can be a jumper, but can also just be some tinsel or a santa hat.

This in spades. Our school did Xmas pyjamas last year ffs

That exactly what we did, DD has very happily gone into school today wearing a T-shirt covered in sharpie spots in multiple colours.

Our school do Christmas Jumper day...but we also do "bring a plain jumper and make it christmassy" workshops the week before.