To think most dc don’t have a ready supply of old shoes

[Beforetheend]

School are planning a messy adventure trip next week and requested that the students bring old clothes and shoes. I don’t mind the clothes so much, but old shoes are a tall order. Ds has runners, school shoes, hiking boots and football boots. Even if I had the room to store old shoes, they’d probably be too small.

This request has come up about 5 times across my dc’s combined 20 years in school so far, and it always makes me wonder if I’m a bit odd for not having a supply of old stuff, or they’re a bit unrealistic to expect it.

A bit like the reason we ask parents to put them in clothes that can get messy at nursery. Some parents send them in beautiful expensive looking new clothes and shoes and ask us not to let them get wet, paint on them, sand/mud. It is impossible to keep children clean at nursery and still allow them to access the resources. Those will be the parents sending them on a muddy school trip in birthday Nikes!
Children need clothes and shoes that can get trashed without it being a disaster.

When mine went on one of the residential trips in primary they needed
wellies or walking boots,
old trainers that could get muddy,
a different pair of old shoes that could get wet but not flimsy beach shoes or wellies,
clean shoes for indoors and flip flops or sliders.

This used to annoy me so much because it was requested several times over the years for both kids. People don’t tend to have old shoes for kids just lying around as they are either worn out (so thrown away) or too small (so donated).

It is actually really good for your kids to be able to get as muddy and wet as they like without worrying about their clothes and shoes. Get some cheap ones you can keep for this purpose , cheaper than cost of a pizza for example. Or friends with older kids? Or accept trainers will need a wash?
It is to stop parents moaning about ruined things. In my opinion people spend too much on kids clothes and their pristine appearance, then the kids get anxious about looking after their clothes , let them be kids sometimes . At our school would always be worded as clothes you don't mind getting dirty

So the shoes get trashed, then what for the next time they’re requested? Ime it wasn’t just once through schooling old shoes were requested, it was several times. I used to end up going to the cheap stores to get a pair specifically, so they were in effect brand new.

I never minded the kids getting dirty I did mind the need for several pair of shoes - it’s not cheaper, mud washes off and they grow out of shoes so quickly it’s hard to keep up.

I always used to think this- if children have old clothes and shoes they don't fit them as they grow so quick- kids' clothes are always new.

As a teacher, I would ask for clothes and shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Just a warning not to turn up in your lovely, brand new, expensive white trainers or favourite party frock!

Just send them in wellies - they basically just mean shoes that you don't mind getting wet and muddy.

Yes, the hiking boots as they are most likely the ones to get muddy.

This explains why when my DS's old school ran SN trips, they included a letter detailing all the items to be brought with further explanations, eg "An older pair of trainers that can get wet/muddy" alongside "A pair of shoes such as trainers for wearing in the evenings". I never had any difficulty interpreting what they meant, they must have been used to having parents wanting clarification to the nth detail (also autistic so definitely appreciated the clear wording!)

I sent him with stuff that could be thrown in the washing machine afterwards.

I think you’re maybe taking a bit literally? They say ‘old clothes and shoes’ to mean ‘clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting covered in mud’. For some families, that will be an old pair of trainers they keep for doing mucky stuff like muddy walks etc - but your son (unlike the majority of kids) has a pair of hiking boots, so you can just send him in those.

But I think it means a bit more than normal muckiness. More like shoes you don’t mind them losing because they were wading through a river.

It doesn’t mean that.

I'd send the hiking boots.
They mean " don't send them in £100 nikes"

Teacher here, and yes, this is exactly what we mean.

If we didn’t say this, we’d get so many complaints from parents following the trip, blaming us for the fact their child’s brand new sparkly white trainers were ruined.

To say “wear old shoes as it will be muddy!” is the quickest/easiest way of wording it, and never had any issues from my own experience.

Rubber boots are highly inappropriate for many activities. They need trainers. Doesn't matter if they're second hand for the short duration they'll be needing them.

My DCs always have a pair of 'old' trainers in addition to their everyday/PE trainers. They aren't too small, just shoes whose best days are behind them. Mostly they are hand-me-downs, but occasionally I have picked up a pair at a nearly new sale for a couple of £ if we hadn't had anything in the right size passed on to us. Between forest school, Beavers/Cubs, and muddier family outings, they get quite a bit of use. I'm not precious about their regular trainers getting muddy either, but a spare pair dedicated to the purpose takes the stress away from needing to wash and dry them in a short time frame.
I also keep a couple of outfits per DC that are too tired-looking/a bit stained for normal wear (but the right size) for the same activities. I don't think this is particularly unusual, as we pass on a lot of clothes and shoes ourselves and the stuff I have separated out as 'only suitable for forest school' is usually also happily rehomed by friends.

Local FB groups can be a useful place to get hold of 'old' trainers for school trips. A post saying, 'I am after a pair of trainers in size 5 suitable for my child to wear on a school residential. They are going to get very muddy so I am looking for a pair that can get wrecked. If you are having a clear out and have a pair of size 5 trainers, please let me know.' is usually successful round here.

We always sent our DCs on such trips in brand new shoes.

They were the cheapest pairs we could get in our local market and they went straight in the bin on their return.

Job done.

I can’t believe this is a 3 page thread. Dear God.

They just mean shoes you wouldn't mind getting ruined. For us that means her every day trainers or walking boots.

It also serves as a warning. They will get mucky, muddy, wet so don't send £150 brand new nikes hi tops that you'll complain about being ruined or that your child will fear getting ruined so they don't join with 90% of the activities. Saves a lot of complaints. Well, parents will still complain, but when they do they can be redirected to the letter.

I do but I have multiple boys with trainers in various sizes. It didn't occur to me until a friend with 1dc said the same thing as her dc has 2 pairs shoes neither are suitable for wet/muddy. She brought a £10 pair from decathlon

Another reason I hate planning trips. Some parents will find any reason to complain.

I’ve had that with activities on holiday with my 10 yo - requests for old shoes I don’t mind binning. Any such shoes would be too small!

I agree.

If we DIDN’T send out a message about needing old shoes as it could be muddy on the trip, there’d be a post on mumsnet this time next week titled “Furious that I sent dc to school on a trip day in her brand new shoes and they’ve come home ruined.”

We can’t win!