“Laying out school uniform”

[museumum]

I’ve just realised that I’ve never actually considered the phrase “laying out school uniform” literally. Does anybody literally do this the night before? And if so, where? Have you all got massive “dressing” rooms? With space to lay out outfits?

We prep the school uniform, iron shirts and things. But it needs to stay in the wardrobes until it’s time to put it on.

AIBU to think laying it out isn’t really a literal thing?

My daughter can’t even reach the clothes in her wardrobe - she has fitted wardrobes in her room.

DD (10) has a chair in her room and I lay out her school uniform the night before (pants/vest/blouse/tights/skirt/cardigan etc.) — as she’s disorganised and a bit of a faffer, so this helps make mornings go a bit quicker. In the winter I might hang it over the radiator in her room to warm it up when it comes on in the morning.

I try to do any PE kit the night before, too, if I can, or DD will end up late faffing about finding it.

I’m really hoping that at secondary school she can do all this herself 😬

I don't have multiple things like football shirts that are needed for afterschool club, or swim kit. Basic trousers and shirts yes of course but certain items I like to make sure are ready.

@Newname221 that makes sense I guess. Of course people might be wrangling younger children into clothes in the living room. It was more about the older kids/teens/adults that I was wondering. If your going back to your room to get dressed I'm still not convinced it being in the living areas saves time but I guess it doesn't slow you down like I was imagining.

I've never understood the need for this, if there's a designated space for school uniform like a wardrobe, why does it need pulling out the night before? What benefit does that give?

Yep definitely. I’ve got 4, but only lay out for the younger two now, the older ones lay out for themselves. I just put it on the end of their beds then they get up, dressed, breakfast and teeth. In that order. School bags are sorted the night before with snacks, water, pe kit etc etc too. It would feel chaotic (to me) if I didn’t do this.

I don't really see the point of laying clothes out in the living room just to take them back upstairs. Seems odd.
All my kids uniforms are easily accessible in the wardrobe so no need to lay them out. I hang the trousers under shirts sometimes but that's it.

@Stressfordays wouldn't work here as no dryer so if you discover it the night before it isn't any more helpful than that morning!
I need specific clothes for work on a wed so I always have to make sure they are clean on a Monday as that's the last chance to get them clean and dry really.

Oh and we have a rule that DD has to get dressed first, before breakfast or anything else, b/c otherwise she’d never be ready on time ever 😩😩😩

My eldest is started to leave his actual uniform upstairs now at 10 so gets dressed in his room after he's done his teeth. Its still laid ready though. He brings down whatever sports kit etc. He needs and lays that downstairs. My younger 2 get dressed in the living room where I help with straightening them up/buttons while drinking my coffee. Its not as complicated as it sounds.

School uniform goes on the radiator the night before ready for the next day. So yes we literally lay it out.

@Stressfordays

The op was uniform?

When they were in primary their pe kit stayed at school.

They didn't do swimming at school until p7. I cant remember if we got the swim bags ready the night before

They're older now and completely responsible for getting ready for school including packed lunches etc

For something like a piece of football kit, a quick 30min wash and hung on a hanger on the back of a door would usually mean its dry by morning? Or on a radiator?

No laying out here, and I don't understand why others would do this either. DCs have chosen their own clothing each day since they were around 2yo, with the stipulation it must be weather and activity appropriate.
Uniform is put away in the wardrobe after washing just like all other clothing, and I call through whether it's uniform or PE kit to each DC in the morning (they usually give a withered reply of "I knoooowwwwwwww...").

Interesting! So, what age do you stop laying everything out?

Nah, my own clothes are definitely either outside the bathroom door or inside my wardrobe (but laid out on a hanger, including underwear)

My daughter hides behind the chair to get ready so I will probably be laying it in her room when she’s a little older as she’s already starting to want privacy.

I hang the uniform on the wardrobe door.
Same for my outfit for the next day, hanging up ready.

@Aturnipforthebooks yes we use the dining room but e don’t use the five chairs that have laundry on them we use different chairs at the other end of the table. If that makes sense. Obviously if I had people round for dinner I’d take the clothes upstairs but when it’s just us we just use the other end of the table.

Mine do various after school sports that require kit. And they're in primary school?

My DS is only 8 months and in nursery and I lay out his clothes for the week on the single bed in his room for the week so I know what he is wearing and can dress him quickly.

My top tip which I've just started doing for nursery - I put everything together as an outfit on a hanger as I'm putting laundry away.

So instead of folding leggings and t-shirts. I match a top and leggings together with a vest. Or if its a dress, I put tights to go with it etc etc. And put it all on one hanger.

I'm not generally an organised person but this is a game changer! In a morning just grab a hanger. No more DH yelling what do you want her to wear.....he knows this section of the wardrobe is all nursery - so just grab any hanger there's a full outfit on it.

Sorry, I'm too proud of my new system 😂

We have the opposite rule, because my dd can’t eat anything or brush her teeth without getting every item of clothing covered. It’s a skill, to be honest.

In my DD’s case it would mean drawers left open with items left half hanging out of them all over the floor, as she rooted around to find her “favourite” skirt or jumper or whatever, and left all the other discarded things trailing everywhere.

Plus it avoids shouts of “mummmm I can’t find X” while I should back three times “it’s in the DRAWER” (“I can’t find it” / “it’s on the top!” / “It’s not there, mum!” / “I put it there LAST NIGHT. Have you looked ON THE TOP????” / “oh yeah there it is”….repeat as infinitum).

DD is not naturally organised or tidy. It drives me potty 😱

@Stressfordays

No

Not sure what you mean about having room for it? We put our 5YO's on her radiator for her then she just gets it on herself in the morning. Often wanders into our room fully dressed. If I left it in her wardrobe she either would whine at us until we got it her or she'd empty half her wardrobe out getting to it. Far easier to just put it out the evening before. It's hardly difficult or making a mess