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?!

The others probably dont seem as bad because they are a bit more particular when painting. Some don’t get dirty at all, which is a shame as they’ve learnt that at home, some don’t like the sensory feel of paint etc on them, some might get a bit of paint over them and some like your son, paint with absolute abandon and get absolutely covered.

And I for one completely disagree with that decision (which seems to boil down to “it’s harder work”)

Thats your interpretation, I certainly don't agree, but as already stated it is a question of priorities and what's important to you as a parent.

Send in an apron or over large t shirt and ask them to put it on him.

But you are prioritising clothes over a learning and expressive and group activity?

Would you restrict your child from playing in the woods/rivers/mud etc because you couldn't get a particular stain out??

I've had mud and random green stains on my lads clothes that never came out.... Did that mean I never let him play in the mud etc? No, because playing isnmore important than clothes.

You could do this (I wouldn't be bothered about it) or make him a "paint coat" (even if it's an oversized tee-shirt) and ask them to put it on him.

FBH I'm surprised they are using paints that stain - we never gave kids anything that wouldn't wash out.

No, I guess you’re right, thought you’d come up with something like that. Though of course all those things can be learned without painting. Just thought it a bit much asking a PP to do a quick Google.

The nursery won't have time to do this. I used to manage nurseries and any type of "changing clothes" outside of an accident would have been a no from me. If we said yes to one we would have to say yes to all and then there would be no time to do anything else. Do they not have smocks? Maybe DC is refusing to wear one? Otherwise just put him in the stained clothed for nursery - you don't need to chuck them. Keep the good stuff for when with you

Though of course all those things can be learned without painting.

Well yes, but painting has been a popular activity among preschoolers for generations and for good reason.

The nursery should have asked for painting shirts anyway - usually one of dads old ones cut down, just to protect the clothes. It's ridiculous they are getting clothes so messy. Send him in with an old cut down cover-all shirt.

It's about the free flow of activities, the apron thing. Stopping them to put an apron on, then take it off, then put it back on interrupts the flow of their play. At our nursery at least children are free to guide their own play so although there are some set activities taking place they can come and go.

I sympathise as all DD's nursery clothes are stained to buggery but I just send her in them!

YABU to expect them to change him. Just let him wear the paint stained clothes. Nobody will think any the less of you OP.

Haven't read everything but surely they need to use washable paint. How would primary schools manage with school uniforms if they weren't using washable paint. I paint with gc and it's all washable. I wouldn't send her home in destroyed clothes although we do pop a t-shirt on over everything.
Definitely send in a large t-shirt which is so much easier to pop on than changing.

You can get paint aprons with long sleeves. Speak to the staff and ask if it can be kept in DC drawer and used when painting. My DC is in school now and every year a teacher asks us to provide a painting apron to save their uniform.

DS's preschool used paint that all washed out, though some of the pen needed a couple of washes or vanish. Low volume in the machine helps and type of clothes can help too; airtex T-shirts wash out stains more easily. I would ask them about the paint used. Paint isn't expensive compared with buying new clothes and shoes, I'd consider giving them extra money to buy the higher quality washable paint for your son's room. Then you can just chuck clothes in the machine.

Also I found very densely patterned stuff doesn't show the stains. Very dark, dense floral patterns hide all manner of sins!

Maybe other parents DC get paint on their clothes but they also think they can't send DC in with stains on their clothing.
Send them in in the stained clothes you never know by the end of the week they'll be more than just your DC in stained clothes and parents will be thanking you.

I really don't understand why they're not putting them in aprons. It's been a long time since mine were that age but I'm sure we provided them with an old adult shirt that was worn over their clothes. It's not difficult

Dye the clothes a dark colour?

Seriously though what nursery doesn't put aprons on? All of my children's nurseries did? Free flow my arse it should be a planned activity

It will never change I can remember parents having the same moan when my eldest child was at nursery, shes now 25 years old.

Nursery staff friends of mine say this complaint is the bane of their lives, they actively wish that the children would be sent in wearing old stained clothes. Its nursery, all the activities are set up for the developmental benefit of the children and. Laundry effectiveness and parental image should not even be a consideration. Dress your child each day on the assumption they're going to come home happy, stimulated and stained.

Most nurseries are set up with multiple activities that the children can move to and from at will, so one minute they may be doing water play, then take themselves off to the paints, then pop over to the car track. I can see how it would be impractical for staff to be even bothering to try to put on and take off aprons, particularly if the children are under 3 and less independent.

I work in a school and when reception start it's like trying to herd cats at free play time, and they're 4!

I agree. It’s no more difficult for a child to put on an apron than to put on coat and shoes to go outside. It’s all part of teaching them to be independent and to take care of themselves.

They should be washable. Tell them they're not.

And aprons but that goes without saying really.

Avoid light colours, patterns are better. Stains are fine. ds would get the occasional really bad one when we would bin, but his nursery clothes were all supermarket cheap t-shirts/tops.

Just as a warning to prepare yourself. This doesn't stop when they get to school so get used to it. ds's school uniform was regularly stained/marked too for for the first few years. Usually by whiteboard markers that are really difficult to remove!

Ebay 2nd hand bundles are great for nursery clothes, and a few stains is nothing to worry about. My DDs nursery do make them take shoes off before going into the room (they have their own pegs for bags etc.) Or else they use shoe covers. The trouble is the paint that is used is washable......if the items are soaked immediately and not allowed to dry and set which obviously they are because the staff don't have the time or facilities to change every child after an activity. Would cheap apron that your child can out on himself help? But that's only if he would remember which is a huge ask of such a young child.

I work in a nursery, some things to consider -

We're really happy if you send them in old clothes, it's less stressful for us, we're not judging you.

We have aprons, we encourage children to wear them but don't insist because stopping a small child to put on an apron distracts their attention and stops their creative flow, the moment is lost, they don't do the painting.

Some children will not wear an apron (sensory issues) If we insist one is worn they will never paint.

Nursery should be using child friendly paint that washes out. Soak really bad stains in cold water and salt before washing, it usually comes out.