What Are Your Rules Regarding Winter Clothing/Snow Clothing?

[cheerfuldom]

well I think I am going to bite the bullet and get extra snow clothing for daycare use. I am so sick of kids not being properly clothed and this year, we CANNOT stay indoors all winter. Last year I just made do with some of my kids' extra things but this year, I have a bigger group. Older group too and we need our outdoor time. There is just no way around it and I am not going to fight with parents about what constitutes as proper winter wear.....lets not talk about the 2 year old that wears cheap knockoff crocs every day or the 3 year old that is still being squezzed into 18 month sized clothing.

so I am collecting snow overalls or pants, boots, jackets, mittens and gloves, hats in a variety of sizes for daycare use. I cant bear to just send the kids outside in inadequate clothing....thats not their fault, its the parents fault and I also cannot deal with the whining from the parents or the "oh I forgot" at drop offs, etc.

What are your rules about winter wear?

[crunchymama]

I gave up that battle a few years ago and just started collecting winter gear. I hit goodwill at the end of the month when they are having their 50% off sale and can usually find a piece or two. I have 1 tote dedicated to snow boots, hats, gloves, scarves, etc.

[MaritimeMummy]

I only have 3 DCKs this year. I only had one last winter. There is NO excuse for not bringing appropriate attire. The one DCK I had last year, many times, was not dressed appropriately. She had a pair of snow pants, mittens and a hat in her box here that were brought from home, all DCM had to do was make sure she came in a good winter coat and boots each day.

NOPE, she couldn't even do that. Many times, DCG came in a little trenchcoat. Very cute, but totally inappropriate for even outdoor play in the spring or fall. And the boots...I had to alter my parent handbook to say something to the effect of "No fashion boots are permitted for outdoor play, especially in the wintertime". She'd come in these little black boots with no inner liner that zippered up the sides. I mean come on.

I don't permit scarves as they are a strangulation hazard, same as mittens on strings.

I will never get into having a stock of clothing for my DCKs. Never. With 3 kids, honestly I would rather chase down every parent over it than waste my time, space, and money building a stock of daycare clothing.

[daycarediva]

this was such a huge issue for me last year that I am writing up a notice for parents to sign and return that if their child doesn't come in APPROPRIATE winter clothing (which I am listing) they will be turned away for the day/to go home and get supplies. I am also listing a temperature warning. Under 40*, winter gear needed because some parents have a hard time deciding when it's cold enough to wear winter stuff.

I am also on the fence about requiring rain boots this year for fall/spring. We are outside a LOT and canvas shoes/sneakers aren't meant for jumping in puddles, but little feet are!

[SilverSabre25]

This year we have to walk to the bus stop twice a day and no, it is NOT an option, so I'm requiring some pretty strict rules about winter gear.

GOOD warm coats
GOOD sturdy winter footwear (shoes when the roads/sidewalks are clear, boots when they're not)
Hats
Gloves

I am, however, making *my* life easier by making the kiddos each a hat and matching gloves (yay knitting) *to stay here* for the walks to the bus. That reminds me...I have a Jo-Ann's coupon and I need to go get some nice wool yarn for the hats and mitts. And start that project.

[kayla]

Every year at winter I have issues with winter clothing I dont know why parents think they don't need to dress children properly but in my mind it is neglect.... I have posted reminders on my door that doesnt help. I have said things directly to parents that doesnt help. So this year if they do not have winter clothing they are going to be turned away at the door. If you are wearing gloves your child should be as well not that hard!

[Blackcat31]

Cheer, I completely understand the dilemma with winter clothing.

I have supplied extras~ only to have a DCM tell me that I saved her some money since I had extra snowpants, hats and gloves, she didn't have to buy her child any that year

I have had children bring an extra pair to leave at daycare only to take BOTH pairs home accidentally and never return any.

I have even stayed indoors with 10 kids because 1 didn't have the proper gear.

But in the last 3 years or so, I decided I had had enough and was no longer going to even entertain the rediculousness (is that even a word ) of begging, pleading and requiring parents to bring winter gear when seriously, we live in Northern Minnesota...what part of winter are they not getting?

So what I have been doing now is Have your child come 100% prepared or I will turn you away at the door.

No "Oops, I forgot"...or "It is just this one day" or "You have spares ones right?" It isn't rocket science for the parent....simply have ALL your kids' winter dear or they can NOT stay.

DO I check at the door? Absolutely!!!

We live in a climate that it is just downright bad parenting to not have winter stuff. Simple as that. I am tired of staying inside because one child's parent was late getting to Caribou so they forgot their snowpants and gloves.

NOT MY problem. Give the issue back to who it belongs to.

[Willow]

Have your child come 100% prepared or I will turn you away at the door.

This is what I do. Zero exceptions.

I refuse to buy something a parent should be responsible for. That won't fly when the child gets to school, why not get them in the right mindset now?


I have already started sending reminders with invoices since this week is supposed to take a downward turn temp wise.

[Meyou]

Cheer, I completely understand the dilemma with winter clothing.

I have supplied extras~ only to have a DCM tell me that I saved her some money since I had extra snowpants, hats and gloves, she didn't have to buy her child any that year

I have had children bring an extra pair to leave at daycare only to take BOTH pairs home accidentally and never return any.

I have even stayed indoors with 10 kids because 1 didn't have the proper gear.

But in the last 3 years or so, I decided I had had enough and was no longer going to even entertain the rediculousness (is that even a word ) of begging, pleading and requiring parents to bring winter gear when seriously, we live in Northern Minnesota...what part of winter are they not getting?

So what I have been doing now is Have your child come 100% prepared or I will turn you away at the door.

No "Oops, I forgot"...or "It is just this one day" or "You have spares ones right?" It isn't rocket science for the parent....simply have ALL your kids' winter dear or they can NOT stay.

DO I check at the door? Absolutely!!!

We live in a climate that it is just downright bad parenting to not have winter stuff. Simple as that. I am tired of staying inside because one child's parent was late getting to Caribou so they forgot their snowpants and gloves.

NOT MY problem. Give the issue back to who it belongs to.

This. Plus I have not providing the proper clothing day to day as a termination worthy offense. I pride myself on how much time their kids get outside so I take no excuses for not bringing their clothes. Now...that does sometime backfire on me. They might show up in short and tshirt but have packed full rain gear and a sweater and sneakers "just in case" but I never have to ask for clothing.

For the record in the winter I require daily:

long winter coat (no bomber jackets)
snowpants
winter boots with waterproof bottoms
hat
neck warmer
waterproof mittens
extra sweater
extra socks
change of clothes

I give them the option of leaving it all here and bringing it daily. I also encourage PLAY CLOTHES all the time including outerwear. I recommend thrift stores and clearance centers to families to pick up extra clothes as well. I don't care what it looks like as long as it works.

[cheerfuldom]

Cheer, I completely understand the dilemma with winter clothing.

I have supplied extras~ only to have a DCM tell me that I saved her some money since I had extra snowpants, hats and gloves, she didn't have to buy her child any that year

I have had children bring an extra pair to leave at daycare only to take BOTH pairs home accidentally and never return any.

I have even stayed indoors with 10 kids because 1 didn't have the proper gear.

But in the last 3 years or so, I decided I had had enough and was no longer going to even entertain the rediculousness (is that even a word ) of begging, pleading and requiring parents to bring winter gear when seriously, we live in Northern Minnesota...what part of winter are they not getting?

So what I have been doing now is Have your child come 100% prepared or I will turn you away at the door.

No "Oops, I forgot"...or "It is just this one day" or "You have spares ones right?" It isn't rocket science for the parent....simply have ALL your kids' winter dear or they can NOT stay.

DO I check at the door? Absolutely!!!

We live in a climate that it is just downright bad parenting to not have winter stuff. Simple as that. I am tired of staying inside because one child's parent was late getting to Caribou so they forgot their snowpants and gloves.

NOT MY problem. Give the issue back to who it belongs to.

I understand what you are saying....its just not my style on this particular issue. I dont feel it is enough of an issue to start being what I consider militant about it....checking bags and sending kids away that are ready to come in for the day and ticking off parents. It has taken me a long time to create the current group of kids and at almost 30 weeks pregnant, I dont have the time or desire or energy to replace anyone should this issue make someone leave. Plus it is VERY hard to find full timers in my area (see my 100 previous vents on that!) and I finally am full with two full timers and 3 part timers that work out perfectly schedule-wise. We all have to pick our battles and this one is one that I will win....just in my own way. The kids will have outerwear here that is appropriate and I wont have the daily headaches of trying to train parents of the basics on kid friendly clothing......for some reason, this is basically the only big issue here. The kids are great for the most part, I have never had someone skip on a payment or send their kid here with a serious illness or any of the other things that other providers struggle with....its just the clothing issue and an occasional other small issue. Clothing is the big one! Its annoying to buy backups but I will be purchasing second hand and never be sending a kid home in daycare lent clothing so after a little prep work, I think this is the way to go, at least for this year.

Thanks for all the feedback ladies!

[itlw8]

not being from a Northern state many of my kids do not have or need snow pants unless they play in the snow. I picked up several last year on clearance and ask if the parents keep a pair of boots here. We do so much better when we get out but snow clothes are not always needed. Very cold we stay in.. I know our very cold is much warmer 28 is about it.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Cheerful......just a joke.... But move to Florida!! ::::
Its a very fine line between enforcing winter clothes rule and not upsetting parents. Take the path of least resistance. I wonder if you could get parents to leave a set of winter stuff with you, that stays with you? For "winter" here (January as we call it) I just have parents leave a sweater here. Saves me from having to provide back up sweaters, saves parents from forgetting.

[DBug]

I have spares here. Mostly hand-me-downs from my own kids, but also a few that I've picked up second-hand. I also stock up on dollar store mitts and hats that I also use for my own kids.

I tell each parent that we'll need winter clothing for bus runs since staying indoors is not an option, and I provide space for winter gear to be stored here. Beyond that though, I don't need the stress of having to nag, remind or otherwise tell a parent to bring things for their child. Most of my parents are great at remembering, but they all have "one of those mornings" at least once a season. It's just so much easier for me to just use my spare stuff, rather than to have to send the parent back home to pick up the forgotten clothing.

Yes, it has been taken advantage of, but not very often. And even if it does, it's only $2 or $3 (if that) out of my pocket for a child to have a warm hat (or snowpants or mitts) at home to wear. Ftr though, I do write "DAYCARE" on all of my items so that if they do wear them anywhere else, it's really obvious .

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

Ftr though, I do write "DAYCARE" on all of my items so that if they do wear them anywhere else, it's really obvious .

That is awesome!!
If the parents say anything you could say," Oh I am such a blond sometimes and I don't want to keep YOURS!"

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I'm in the South the children here are not used to anything below 50. They can't handle it.

This is the notice that will be going home at the end of Sept.

Fall is quickly approaching and the weather will start changing soon!
In order to keep the children healthy, appropriate cold weather gear will need to be brought for each child starting October 29 (the last week of October and the first week of November).

This includes:
1. A thick coat (no sweaters/rain coats)
2. Gloves
3. Winter hat
4. Closed toe shoes with socks (no sandals)

We will not be able to admit your child unless they have the appropriate winter gear with them each school day.
If you would like to leave a coat, gloves, and a hat in your child’s cubby labeled with your child’s name please know that you are more than welcome to do so!