Well today the parents with the new non-functional mittens will arrive to find their son in my daughters pink mittens from last year...they are waterproof, have strings, and have velcro bands so they can be tightened on...exactly what I described to them before they went shopping last night! I do try to use positive reinforcement just like with the kids (I really rave about any atricle of clothing that is particularly great), but parents are much slower learners than kids! I also sent out a play by play (in my nightly email that I send to all the parents) of what it's like to get 6 toddlers and preschoolers ready for outside time (and on time to get my son to school)....explainin g that if 3 out of 6 of the kids have mittens with no strings or clips and I have to go searching for them because little Johnny decided to take off with one and hide it somewhere really clever...well, we could miss my son's bus or (we have the option of walking as it isn't far) arrive at the school after the bell and the doors are locked (like today). LOL, I guess I wasn't done venting!