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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the paint schools use should be the sort that washes out.

26 replies

NigellaTheUndomesticGoddess · 15/06/2008 19:05

yes i know this is my second AIBU of the evening but am feeling pre-menstrual.

bloody school paint has now ruined the second lot of school shirts this year.
that is

8

yes

8

shirts now scruffy, stained and unwearable.

why do they not buy water soluable, washable type paint? i'm sure such a thing exists.
will be suggesting to the school they invest in some.

either that or

AIBU to expect DD to be able to paint without spreading it all over her body. she is after all 10 not 4. or is that too much to ask?

OP posts:
MingMingtheWonderPet · 15/06/2008 19:07

COuld they wear aprons?

Are shirts white? Perhaps they could be bleached.

MingMingtheWonderPet · 15/06/2008 19:08

btw you are not being unreasonable in any way ( I would never argue with a pre-menstrual woman!)

falcon · 15/06/2008 19:08

It'd make sense for them to have aprons/overalls for the children, 10 is still quite young and I'm sure aprons would be used while cooking so why not for the equally messy activity of painting?

Pruners · 15/06/2008 19:10

Message withdrawn

Minniethemoocher · 15/06/2008 19:22

At DDs school, they seem to have ink pens that are indelible and that is in Reception.

RustyBear · 15/06/2008 19:23

It depends what they are painting - Y 5/6 children would be doing more complicated art activities than just painting on paper with washable paints - if they're painting on fabric or glass, or modroc, they have to use suitable paints which may not be washable. Of course, they should wear aprons, but it's a rare Y5 who will actually do anything so juvenile....

With my two, as long as the shirt was actually clean, I never saw a problem with paint stains on a school shirt - as long as they have one decent one for photos/concerts etc

pinkteddy · 15/06/2008 19:34

YANBU, this is a real bug bear of mine. At dd's school nursery they had them outside painting in winter with their coats on. dd came home with her coat covered in paint. She had a brand new coat for winter but fortunately she was wearing her old one that day but it wouldn't come out, coat was ruined. Clothes are regularly trashed, I daren't put her in anything good but its difficult as she is growing so fast.

pointydog · 15/06/2008 19:35

Re the pens. Whiteboard markers are used a lot and unfortunately they do not wash out.

Would it help if you sent her in with short sleeves in the warm weather?

bergentulip · 15/06/2008 19:36

Got most irritated when DS1 came home from nursery with paint on his COAT once...

I can understand that it is sensible to send them to nursery in clothes that do not matter too much, but I do not expect them to get paint on a good, relatively dear (well, if they last for two years and are supposed to keep them warm, sometimes I do buy something that is not from Tesco!) duffle coat..

ggggrrr...... you are half BU and half NBU. Yes, there are looooaaaads of water soluble paints out there. I would have thought they were cheaper too!

UnderRated · 15/06/2008 19:37

Perhaps you could mention it to the school?

I totally agree with you btw but I have often found that even washable paint does not come out - as a teacher I lost many sets of clothes to art lessons

Original poster
NigellaTheUndomesticGoddess · 15/06/2008 19:38

we do do short sleeves. and they have interactive whiteboards so no pens. This is black paint - it is always black.

OP posts:
Original poster
NigellaTheUndomesticGoddess · 15/06/2008 19:38

and just asked DD - they don't seem to have aprons!

OP posts:
falcon · 15/06/2008 19:39

Perhaps I'm being a bit thick here but why would a child be wearing a duffel coat indoors, let alone when painting?

pointydog · 15/06/2008 19:41

I know most classrooms have intereatvie whiteboards but lots of schools use individual mini-whoteboards for specific activities. So each child wields a marker pen. Often erratically

pinkteddy · 15/06/2008 19:41

falcon they have them doing painting outside as well which is when they get paint on their coats! (see my post of 19:34)

falcon · 15/06/2008 19:43

If they don't have aprons, could you send in an old shirt, an adult's one for her to wear while painting?

I remember our school using a mixture of both old shirts and aprons when it was time to paint.

I find it rather odd that they don't have such things. It'd make much more sense to do such things, even ask the kids to bring in old shirts or aprons than to have understandably, irate parents.

maidamess · 15/06/2008 19:44

Nigella I would bring this up with the school...they should have aprons!

falcon · 15/06/2008 19:44

TY That makes sense Teddy, however it makes no sense for them to take the kids outside to paint and not have the means to protect their coats, which tend to be a rather expensive item of clothing.

LIZS · 15/06/2008 19:47

ds has got a blob of orange acrylic paint on the sleeve of a £20 jumper less than a term old

bergentulip · 15/06/2008 19:48

Falcon- They were apparently painting outdoors (!)

Which is why I was so annoyed really. I would not expect to have to worry about paint on a coat. "well, it was so lovely and sunny outside"..... bla bla.... still bloody irritating.

falcon · 15/06/2008 19:50

I'd be furious too Teddy, painting outdoors is a lovely idea but not making aprons available is incredibly foolish.

They should be used for both indoor and outdoor painting sessions.

missblythe · 15/06/2008 19:53

To be fair, lots of the darker colours just aren't washable-red/purple/blue/black all stain like mad, even if you buy from Early Learning. So clearly their clothes need to be covered.

Even at my secondary school we had overalls for all art activities-like lab coats, but blue (quite French-chic, now I think of it).

They should certainly be wearing something-Think at junior shoool, we used to bring in one of Daddy's/Grandad's old shirts, and wear that back to front. Remember my mum doing something very snazzy with the collar to make it less Harry Hill-like on an 8-year-old

Painting in a coat at nursery without a pinny is just plain foolish. A winter coat is expensive enough when you know you'll be lucky if it last the season, without you having to have one for best, and one for nursery.

My DD only has one 'set' of clothes, and they are all new (or new to her)so I don't want paint on any of them really. Painting at home or at nursery is done in an apron. Because she is a small child, and will paint her whole self form top to toe given the chance.

falcon · 15/06/2008 19:54

This thread is making me nostalgic for my childcare course days.

I miss working with kids.

Original poster
NigellaTheUndomesticGoddess · 15/06/2008 20:18

so would it be unreasonable to suggest to the school they only use white or pale yellow?
or do something nice and clean with wool?
problem is DD likes black - is a burgeoning emo.

OP posts:
mistressmiggins · 15/06/2008 20:23

my SIL as the same complaint about nursery. Sent her DD to nursery as usual and she came back covered in pain which wont wash out.

She is really annoyed.

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