Fall/winter gear requests

[5 Little Monkeys]

You are quite generous to provide the bottom half of clothing. Your parent's should be thankful and at least have the decency to send the proper top half of clothing. I do have a few spare things here but I don't let the parents know about them. I send home clothing reminders about 2x a year (summer/winter) and request certain stuff. I try not to get too specific but I do let them know that they need to be in proper gear. If they send something that doesn't work I speak to that parent. Nobody has ever had an issue with it and for the most part, most of my families leave spare things here.

As for wet clothes, I do dry them if needed. My laundry room is in the basement where my daycare is so it's no hassle for me. The past winters I have gone outside in the morning but I think this year I am going to try the afternoons because like playfelt said, it's warmer!! This way it also means that I am just dressing the kids, not dressing and undressing! lol.

[DayHomeMama]

I have sent seasonal newsletters home outlining which clothing is needed to be labeled and left at day home. I have also outlined that when children are not sent in proper outdoor clothing that it prevents the others from going outside to play, I'm not having a child get frostbite because their parents don't send them in appropriate attire. This year I have requested fall items (light toque and thin mitts/gloves) and gave everyone a head's up about proper winter attire at the same time so they can start shopping now. I have also let the parents know that it needs to be kid-friendly to put on by themselves, as much as possible.

[mom-in-alberta]

"Please keep this in mind when buying your child’s winter gear for the season – children’s outerwear should be easy to get on and off. Children aged 3 should be able to put on their own boots, ski-pants, jacket and hat (with a little help from me) and children aged 4 and over should be able to do their own zippers and put on their own mittens. Please buy clothing that is easy for your child and practice letting the kids dress themselves at home."
No lie, I just stole this, printed it out and put it up on the wall at the daycare entrance. So, thanks!!! LoL
I just wanted to add that if a specific family is consistently showing up in clothing that is NOT weather appropriate; it only takes sending them home in the morning ONE TIME. Make it inconvenient for THEM. And they will remember from that point on. We all forget sometimes. But I am not missing our outdoor time because Jimmy's family never brings him mittens.

[mickyc]

No problem LOL. There is nothing I hate worse is parents who do everything for their child. I don't have time, I don't just have 1 too get dressed. When they hit aged 3 they should pretty much be able to do most things themselves. When they get to school the teachers certainly don't have time to get 20plus kids dressed which means you need to start before they go to school.

Good luck! I hope it helps!

[Spixie33]

I send out a notice in my newsletter as the weather turns and remind parents to send extra socks and pants and to ensure little ones are dressed for the unpredictable weather.

I have had kids come in mittens and hats that are more "fashion" than practical and I then tell the parents the truth and say that "Little Susie was pretty cold today and was crying when we were outside." Her hands were red when I took her mittens off. I love how cute her mittens are but they aren't very warm. I wish they made the cute mittens warmer but does she have anything else that she could wear?"
This usually makes parents feel bad for their little ones and they show up warmer the next day.

I have also been giving pointers on what brands/type of mittens are warmer. I have seen a lot of different kinds and am starting to recognize a good hat or mitten when I see it