It Was Bound to Happen....

[Thriftylady]

I have heard of mixing soap with the paint. I hadn't thought to do it, we just don't paint that often. It is something I have been trying to work more of in, since I am hearing more and more that kids don't get to do that stuff at school anymore. I am going to have to remember to do it next time. I do think it may have been a little more messy today because we were using household items to paint instead of brushes.

[Miss A]

The dollar tree has child sized aprons for $1 a piece. They provide enough coverage that I don't worry as much about messy clothes, and if the clothes still get messy I feel better being able to tell parents that I made an effort to cover them.

[daycarediva]

I don't keep children pristine. We DO play and get MESSY. Mud tends to be the biggest mess maker and we don't even have a mud kitchen. However, if they're painting with something other than the watercolors then they wear a smock. Or, if they're eating something very messy and are wearing a light shirt then I also put a smock on them. If it's something I can prevent then I will, however I don't hinder anybody's fun. My crayola smocks take up MINIMAL space. Part of a plastic drawer set from walmart (not the big kind, the skinny kind that sits on a desk) and I had 8 of them and my kids rotate who paints.

Same thing, same solution. Mine take up a TINY amount of space and they cover my SA like aprons well enough.

[Unregistered]

I agree....your policy is play clothes! So they should know not to bring them in "good" clothing!

That said, all my paint is washable along with my markers. I know that paint comes out because I've gotten it on my own clothes!

I have some paint from Discount School Supply and some from Wal-Mart-all washable. I don't think they were any more expensive. I have about five plastic smocks too. I rarely use them but they are available.

My kids play and get messy but I am careful about clothing. That's just me though....we are all different!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have looked at those small ones, but am not sure if they will even cover a SA kiddo? Wouldn't have made a difference with this kiddo, when we were done, I found paint even in his hair.

:: Some kids!

I'm not sure if they'd cover a school ager. I have the ones with sleeves so that when it's winter time it still covers their clothing. I'm sure the ones without sleeves would.

[Denali]

I once had a dcm that brough her 6year old girl, 5 year old boy, and her 3 month baby girl in wedding clothes and told the kids at drop off "don't forgot to tell Miss Denali that we're going to a wedding after daycare, and you can't get dirty." And gave me a big smile at the 'wtf' face i was making and left. My first thought was "ok, there must be change of clothes in the bag...because we just had a talk about that 2 days ago..." Nope, nothing. Not even a change for the baby that had at least 1 blow out everyday....

They were dropped off at 7:10am (I don't open until 7:30 but was trying to work with her work schedule because she was separated from her abusive boyfriend) and they were going to be in my care until 4:00pm. I had told mom the day before that we were painting and doing crafts today... I was so mad. Stressed all day about them getting dirty. I had canceled our painting and everything. I was so mad.

Mom picked up at 4 and I had somehow kept the kids clean. Told her that tomorrow at drop off they all need a change of clothes or I'd turn away at the door. Everything was good for that week, than the boy started to get destructive and violent with the other kids. Not bringing extra clothes. Told her I'd have to send dcb home every time if he couldn't keep his hands and feet off the littles. I needed spare clothes or I was going to have to start checking the bag before she could leave.

She then staeted up with having to drop off at 6am and that I couldn't tell her no because the state (she was on assistance) told her she could have child care between 6-6 and they were paying me for those times so she told use those time, and on, and on. She came at 6am one morning after being no call no show for 3 days after I told her that my hours were 7:30 to 5:30. I didn't answer the door. 😁

It all ended with a term.

Anyway, sorry didn't mean to ramble. Point is I've had parents that would have gone cray cray over messing clothes. None of them were worth keeping around anyway. Good parents would know that kids get dirty.

[Febby]

We also use washable paint and wear art aprons (I can fit 24 in two drawers of one of those plastic drawer storage things), but I do still shake my head every time a child comes in wearing new clothing. x2 if it's white.

[NillaWafers]

I have looked at those small ones, but am not sure if they will even cover a SA kiddo? Wouldn't have made a difference with this kiddo, when we were done, I found paint even in his hair.

IKEA has great smocks that are like 3 bucks each I just have them in a bin, they don't take up much space at all.

But really, I wouldn't worry about the clothes. Kids get dirty. If they sent them in new clothes they had to know they'd probably get dirty. If they didn't, well - shoulda read your handbook.

[finsup]

One time...when I was much younger and oh so smart I thought it would be an AWESOME idea to purchase every single poison t shirt for sale at the concert I went to. Yes, every one. Did I mention how smart I was in my younger years :: anyways those are now paint smocks. They just hang in the closet.

But bottom line, I tell parents messy clothes are signs of a fun day. We'll take precautions when we can but don't send them in anything that can't get dirty. Or my newest one if you allow them to choose their clothes and they pick pants and long sleeves in 80 degree weather...guess what they're going home in?! Send them in weather appropriate, play clothes. Don't want to? So be it, but I'm not worrying over it anymore

[Josiegirl]

I understand the whole play clothes thing but when we do painting and crafts that would get messy, I put an old shirt on over their clothes (old shirt of mine, theirs, my daughters, whatever) like an art smock. Whether they're wearing play clothes or not (at least in my opinion) it doesn't mean they should be able to trash whatever they're wearing. I only think this way because when my daughter went to daycare when she was younger, her clothes would be so dirty sometimes after picking her up it would drive me crazy...play clothes or not, they're still wearing them and someone spent money on them at one time or another. You could also ask each parent to send in an art smock for each child if you don't have extra clothes laying around (unlike myself who still has clothes from 10 years ago laying around because i WILL fit back in them someday! Haha)

I have the dcks use old t'shirts BUT even with that, I'm always asking them 'how on earth did you get paint THERE?' I also have told all the dcps many times hang onto those clothes with stains and holes because THIS is where they should be wearing them.

[Josiegirl]

A couple old adult sized T-shirts rolled up maybe....

They would work fine and take up very little space

Exactly! .25 at some yard sales. And if the neck is too wide open for decent coverage I just clip on the back with a clothespin. Add a hook in your playroom or anyplace out of sight and there ya go.

[bklsmum]

I got sick of the constant battle over dirty clothes and kids not being dressed appropriately for daycare so I went out and bought a bunch of used clothes for the bigs and onsies for the under 3 crowd. I have their cubbies, a changing table and my clothes in my breezeway. When they get here they get changed into my clothes and their clothes go into their cubby. When they get picked up they get changed back into their clothes and mine get thrown into the hamper I provide. No more issues....on that front anyway...

[DaveA]

I have some extra tshirts and bibs for messy crafts & mealtimes, but I tell parents not to bring DCKs in anything they aren't afraid to get ruined. If DCP brings child in something that "can't get dirty" they get changed into extra clothes and I need a new set of spares the next day.

[Controlled Chaos]

One time...when I was much younger and oh so smart I thought it would be an AWESOME idea to purchase every single poison t shirt for sale at the concert I went to. Yes, every one. Did I mention how smart I was in my younger years :: anyways those are now paint smocks. They just hang in the closet.

But bottom line, I tell parents messy clothes are signs of a fun day. We'll take precautions when we can but don't send them in anything that can't get dirty. Or my newest one if you allow them to choose their clothes and they pick pants and long sleeves in 80 degree weather...guess what they're going home in?! Send them in weather appropriate, play clothes. Don't want to? So be it, but I'm not worrying over it anymore

DH and I almost left our own wedding reception early to go to a Poison concert :: We instead closed the dancing for the night with Poison's cover of "What I Like About You".

[Pestle]

I found a pack of smocks at the thrift store for $2. Play clothes get messy, yes, especially since I have toddlers and I'm training them to use real cutlery and real cups--no bibs here; they're learning fast--but I wouldn't give them paint to play with without also providing smocks. Some small stains are inevitable at this age, but it's unreasonable for me to render their play clothes completely, permanently stained.