To ask nursery to do this?

[Nurserypainting]

Whenever my child paints at nursery his clothes come home absolutely covered in paint, understandably as he's only little!

But it never washes off so it basically ruins those clothes. He does have cheap nursery clothes but it still adds up when I have to replace those because they are getting paint over them at least once a week.

I'm thinking of putting some of these paint covered ones (washed and clean obviously but still stained) into his bag and asking nursery if they are painting can they change him into those first.

Is that reasonable? I know they are really busy but I can't keep replacing clothes because of paint. Is there not some sort of washable paint they can use?!

Just send him to nursery in the paint clothes. Why are you replacing them? If they’re washed then they’re clean, just stained. You don’t need to bin stained clothes.

I would definitely use them as spares, but I would also use them as clothes for the day.

I don't know, it just seems 'frowned upon' I guess to send him in stain covered clothes. I've never seen any of the other kids in them. If it was small amounts I'd not be bothered but it's massive very obvious stains. Last time it was brown paint!

We just send our daughter in the clothes with paint, so does everybody else. Massively wasteful otherwise!

I don't think nursery would have time to do this.

Can't you just send him in the stained clothes every day? As long as the clothes are clean each morning I think this would be a better strategy?

I’d send your child in the paint stained clothes. As an EYP, my clothes today have green paint from June that I can’t get out of them.
Some paint colours wash off, some don’t and I do pop some washing up liquid when I make up the paint.
We’ve not always got a member of staff to allow us to be off the floor changing children. keep the paint stained clothes to wear to nursery.

Do they not use aprons? My DD used to get a bit of paint on her clothes where the aprons hadn’t covered like her sleeve or trousers but as it was a little bit I didn’t mind sending her in them again.
i think the paint they use doenst come out as they buy the cheaper ones.
I think if they aren’t using aprons then that’s fine to do or send a large apron for him

It's also all over his shoes which I do just send him in in still because I'm obviously not buying new shoes every time he paints in them but why not just take them off if painting inside?!

Ah, I hear you. Some people do judge and think a child is not "well turned out" if they're not in clean clothes. I think they're wrong, but it's not always easy to shrug them off.

Unfortunately I'm afraid I do think it's unfair to ask the nursery this, and also unfair on your very young child to be taught to worry so much about making a mess when his focus should be on learning and exploring...

Nope never seen him use an apron (I get pictures through the day)

Seems like it's the norm then to just send them in the paint clothes! I'll just do that then. It just seems like no one else does 😂

Yep, we have a drawer full of completely paint stained nursery clothes, that's what they always get sent in to nursery each day in. Bonkers to buy new stuff just to get covered again!

Editing to add - I've just seen they don't use aprons, wtf? My comment about not confusing or stressing your child def doesn't apply to the basic step of using an apron! But to the excessive anxiety of changing his entire outfit.

Aprons aren't foolproof - mine often seemed to get a bit of paint on the bum or the ankle or yes shoes - but without aprons that must be pretty bad!

Because it's not particularly safe to have children without shoes in nursery - they could stand on any number of things or need to evacuate if there's a fire alarm. Plus there's also the issue if all the children painting take their shoes off of getting the correct shoes back to each child & not having a load of shoes lying about causing a trip hazard.
Unfortunately paint or other stains on clothes are part & parcel of nursery life.

YABU

Just be satisfied your child is being well looked after & having a nice fun time at nursery. Imagine if every parent made that request before an activity? The poor staff would spend more time getting everyone in and out of spare clothes and fretting over petty parents wingeing at them. Taking the fun out & feeling like its not worth them doing anything.

You have 2 options:

Send your kid in clothes you don't mind getting dirty/ stained & have a word with yourself at the same time.

Or

you can be "that parent"

I know which choice i would make!!

This frustrates me about our nursery. They don’t use aprons from the looks of things so the clothes get absolutely covered in paint. I soak when we get home, put stain remover in the wash but it still doesn’t come out. I understand they might not have time to put aprons on loads of kids, in which case I wish they just didn’t do painting with the kids. There are so many other activities they can do that don’t ruin children’s clothes.

Oh yes they are covered some times. Not just a few stains on the sleeves or where the apron has missed. But everywhere.

Oh I always just sent them to nursery in paint covered clothes 😵‍💫 I wouldn’t class them as ruined! I bought cheap clothes to be the designated ‘nursery clothes’ in the first place so that when they get stained it’s no problem.

Just send them in the paint stained clothes. They don't have time to be changing all the children like this.

I am happy that he's having a nice fun time. I like his nursery and all the staff there. It doesn't mean I have to like every single aspect of every single thing they do and just be grateful. I'm paying a hell of a lot of money for it at the end of the day, if I have an issue I don't think it's terribly unreasonable to mention it (which I've not even done hence asking on here first!).

I'm not whinging or being petty either. It was a simple question.

Let me guess, you're a nursery worker? You seem very offended by a simple question.

I had to send a painting cover all to nursery (included sleeves) is this an option?

Makes sense thank you. Going in the paint stained clothes it is then, thanks all.

Yes I could do this. Is that a reasonable request then do you think to ask them to put his own apron on beforehand?

I understand they might not have time to put aprons on loads of kids, in which case I wish they just didn’t do painting with the kids.

Why would you prioritise immaculate clothes over kids doing a fun activity that they learn lots out of? I find your priorities very odd.

My son goes to nursery in old, stained and faded clothes (mostly his older brothers old clothes) on a daily basis. When he started we were told not to send in wearing anything we would mind getting ruined. Not only is there paint, there is glue, glitter, felt pens, mud, sand, water...... I don't think that other kids give a toss what he wears!

This is my sisters argument especially during covid they had all the doors open so the kids had to Lee their coats on and DN just got a new coat and they let it get covered in glue and paint that wouldn't come off. It was all over the coat so clearly didn't wear an apron.

My DS has to wear a nursery uniform so I'm hoping when he starts in September they will be a bit more careful with cover ups etc as the uniform is expensive!