to moan about dd's coat covered in paint and wont wash off

[bossyboop]

Last year I bought dd a winter coat, I usually get a cheap one from Asda or somewhere but I saw a lovely one in Next so paid the £18 for it on the basis that as I got her a bigger size it would do for last winter as well as this winter and maybe even some of winter next year.

Now dd's lovely red coat is covered in blue splodges of paint all over the front of the coat and it didnt come off with multi murpose stain remover or in the washing machine. So the coat to last 2 or 3 winters looks ready for the bin after 1 or more to the point after 1 month at nursery.

Now ive got 2 options, either I send her to nursery in september looking tatty and scruffy and like we are parents that dont care OR I buy a new coat which i probably will and tbh that annoys me. I wouldnt dream of letting her paint at home in her coat at all never mind without an apron on, and surely messy activities should be closely supervised to prevent children storming in unproperly dressed.

So wondered AIBU to moan at the teachers about this???

I know the school wont pay for a new one but is there any point to be annoyed about this or just to be expected of a 3 year old?

just expect it..

its expected.

Kids should be scruffy and covered in paint.

If my DD doesnt come home plastered in mess then I am disapointed.

Yes you should always send kids in to nursery that you don't mind getting permanent stains on.
I would have kept the nice coat for home and bought a cheap one for nursery.

If the paint really won't come off, why don't you get some fabric paint and turn it into a work of art? You could have fun and DD would look quite distinctive!!

buy a new coat and use the old one for nursery....

at DD1's nursery they do painting outside in the playground so do wear their coats.

YANBU
It's fair enough to expect normal clothes to get trashed at nursery, but who in their right mind would let a child do painting in their coat?

then you buy everything twice, already have to keep a pair of wellies at nursery and plimsolls 'just in case' and she hasnt even worn them yet and will probably outgrow them before shes even had them on her feet. Just seems like money in the bin all the time.

singsinthebath glad to see someone on my wavelength!

yabu.did she enjoy painting?

I enjoy painting but wouldnt do it in Armani jeans, shes 3 she has an excuse, but are grown ups not in charge? Like it how there are rules for the home corner e.g. have to wear a yellow band to play in there and no more than 5 children, yet painting - thats fine kids just paint your clothes...!

YANBU but OTOH I know my DD paints in her coat- they have a painting wall outside in the garden. We've had several newish tops spoiled by paint that won't come out- frustrating but part of nursery life.

Mine has wellies that stay at nursery and another pair for home. Coat-wise she wore a new one to nursery at the start of the winter and I was furious when it came home with the zip broken (the actual zipper bit that goes up and down was missing). Grandma kindly replaced the zip and I went to Asda and got her a bright pink padded coat for £7 that now goes to nursery, and a lined mac from Primark for when it pours with rain.

Frustrating when they go up a size and you have no choice but to send them in something new because you can guarantee that will be the outfit that comes home with stains that won't come out and not the half-mast trousers she's grown out of.

i'm sure they say in their application process to wear OLD clothes?

id ask them what sort of paint it is as its unusual for it not to wash out.

Why are the nursery using paint that wont wash off with 3 yr olds? You can get washable paint!

Any chance you could applique some flowers, spots or similar over the splodges?

I know what you are saying but I am a size 8-10and have been for 15 years so if i paint i find old clothes i havent worn for years and never will again, dd is 3 so is in the same size clothing for a few months at a time therefore the only old clothes are ones that dont fit any more.

But even so if I had sent her in the tattiest of coats I wouldnt expect her to be painting in it, no one at the schoool said this would be part of the activities ie painting outside in their coats so didnt know about this so wasnt able to prepare.

Is it also unreasonable for me to be annoyed that the wellies were sat there unworn while dd is jumping in muddy puddles in sandals therefore coming home with soaking feet...?

She is a child not a model.

the dc's playschool does tonnes of painting and arty stuff but other than a single dab of paint on her boot neither of my two have ever come home with paint on them in the combined 2.5 years they've attended. And my two are very messy painters, we've had clothes ruined at home by paint on several occasions.

It is possible for them to paint without detroying clothes, it's June fgs, if she'd had a painting apron on over clothes she wouldn't have needed a coat, she'd have been warm enough.

Now its washed the blue paint looks just brown and dirty, even DH was mortified the other day at the school gates, telling me her coat was dirty and I had to correct him and say it had just been washed but was just now stained. The moral of the story is try and get her a black coat next time.

that is a good point tho tulips, but this is the same nursery that DD has come home from wet 5 times having wet herself and no one notices...

see that would have me absolutely raging

Yes I'd be much more worried about the coming home wet five times.

YANBU. I could understand her getting paint on her trousers and top, but paint should d not be getting anywhere near her coat. MY DDS have Boden duffle coats for winter-I would ne furious if they got paint-stained!

do they walk past coats to wash hands?
wet paintings being carried home could brush against coats?

From a teacher's point of view, I'd say paint, mud etc are part of the curriculum, and it's inevitable that children will come home dirty. As a parent, I would also say that it can be irritating!
I think it is important never to send children to nursery (or school) in anything precious, or that does not wash easily. Painting outdoors is normal - children are supposed to access much of the curriculum outside. So on the whole I don't think you should complain too much. At least your child is having a good, creative, fun time, rather than being cooped up inside in a very non-messy environment (which does happen in some places, unfortunately).
I know the wetting is a different issue, not the main point of the post. Sometimes children don't say they have wet themselves, or don't even notice, if they are busy playing. And although I think I am pretty observant, sometimes I haven't noticed they are wet till someone else has pointed it out. Girls in dresses are particularly hard to spot! But I think you should mention this to the nursery (in a friendly way) as they can then be more aware of it and ask your daughter if she needs the toilet etc.
I know (as a parent) that it is hard to accept that your child will not be as closely supervised at nursery, in a large group, as she would be at home. This is the first step (the first tiny baby step) to independence, and all those steps can be hard as well as something to celebrate. But most Early Years staff love their work, love the children, and cherish them as much as they can, bearing in mind the numbers involved. So be honest with the staff, but remember their job is difficult, and please remember to say nice things too!