Why is it important to consider a childs or their families preferences when dressing the child?

Educators must respect children’s individual clothing preferences unless there is a health or safetyconcern. Check with your nominated supervisor or centre’s clothing policy if you are unsure.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Temperature
Sun Protection
Clothing designs and accessories
Clothing fabrics
Dressing to support children’s play and learning

The child care day is an all-action and all-weather endeavour, and to help your under five dress for success and feel comfortable in their second skin, it pays to choose the right clothing.

Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you have to buy expensive brands.

A simple child care outfit has the power to protect your little one from the elements, free them up to learn and play, encourage their independence and boost their self-esteem, so let’s see what clothing is suitable for a short session or a long day of care.

What should you think about when choosing child care clothing?

Comfort and safety are key at child care, and to ensure your child feels happy and unhindered, Starting Blocks recommends that you choose their outfit with the following five factors in mind:

Temperature - Being too hot or too cold isn’t pleasant (or healthy), so it’s important to choose clothing that suits the conditions and avoid over-dressing or under-dressing your child. You can plan for an unexpected cold snap or hot spell by packing some spare clothing (especially as we move between seasons), and keep in mind that the smaller your child is, the more easily they can become overheated or chilly.
Clothing fabric - On a related note, some fabrics will make your child feel hotter than others, so it’s a good idea to check the label when choosing their clothing. Natural fabrics are usually cooler than acrylic ones, so if your under five is feeling the heat, it can help to dress them in materials that ‘breathe’, like cotton and wool, rather than polyester.‘Scratchy’ fabrics are also no fun during the child care day, so stick to comfortable-feeling materials that are low fire danger, and if your child is sensitive to a certain fabric detergent or softener, look for less irritating ways to wash their clothing (e.g. by using a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent).
Shoes - There are lots of fun, physical activities at child care, and to ensure your little one launches into the action safely and easily, you should strap them into some comfortable, well-fitting footwear. Shoe sellers can measure your child’s feet to find the perfect size, and you’re looking for a pair that protects the feet and provides support. As a guide, shoes with grippy soles are good for active play, while shoes with raised heels or platform soles can be accidents waiting to happen.
Clothing design and fit - As well as choosing suitable shoes, the design and fit of your child’s whole outfit should be conducive to safe active and passive play. For this reason, Starting Blocks recommends that you avoid long hems your child might trip on, and steer clear of accessories or appendages that could get caught in equipment (such as necklaces, toggles on hats, drawstrings on jumpers and loose ribbons). Your child’s clothes should fit them well (not too loose, not too tight, just right), to allow them to participate freely and comfortably in all the activities offered at care. You can also look for design features that support your child’s growing independence and self-help skills. For instance:

Trousers with an elastic waistband will be easier for your young child to pull up and down at toilet time than those with zips or studs
Tops with large necks, cardigans, slip-on shoes and Velcro-fastening shoes are all easier for your child to manage when they’re learning to dress themselves, and
Bigger buttons are easier to do up and un-do than press studs or little buttons.

Sun protection - Last, but definitely not least, it’s important that you dress your child in sun-safe clothing if they’ll be playing outdoors. Your early learning service will have sun protection policies and procedures to follow, but generally-speaking, a soft-brimmed hat, long-sleeved top and longer skirt, shorts or trousers will help to shield your child from harmful rays. UV (ultraviolet) levels can be high on sunny, cloudy and windy days, so the SunSmart App is an easy way to see when sun protection is needed.

All in all, you’re looking for an outfit that doesn’t get in the way of your child’s enjoyment and engagement at care.

You can expect the clothing to get a work-out as your child paints, gardens and plays in the sandpit, and your early learning service might also make some clothing-related requests (such as labelling your child’s gear, providing an extra hat or supplying back-up clothes if toilet-training is underway).

What input should you seek from your child about their clothing?

As a parent, you’re in a good position to tell whether an outfit is practical and appropriate for the child care day, but it’s also important to take your child’s tastes and preferences into consideration.

Starting Blocks explains that clothing is, ‘A way for many people to express their culture, personality and individuality’ and by allowing your child to choose their favourite Bluey t-shirt, or the trainers with the sparkles, you’re helping to develop their self-esteem and sense of individuality.

If you have concerns or questions about the suitability of your child’s clothing, you can always speak to their educator, but on the whole, Starting Blocks says, ‘You show respect for your child when you allow them to make some decisions about the clothing that they wear by offering them choices from several acceptable options.’

Your child’s clothing should reflect their practical needs and personal wants, and together, you can come up with a winning outfit for the child care day. Good luck!

Reference

Starting Blocks

You show respect for your child when you allow them to make some decisions about the clothing that they wear by offering them choices from several acceptable options. Talk about tastes and preferences in clothing and fashion with your child and try to avoid giving them the message that they are being ‘judged’ either positively or negatively by their clothing.

The clothes children wear can affect the development of their independence and self-help skills. For example:

Trousers that fit comfortably and have an elastic waist are easier for young children to pull down and up than tighter fitting clothes, or ones with zips and studs.
Tops with large necks, cardigans, slip-on shoes or shoes with Velcro fasteners are easier for children who are learning to or want to dress themselves.
Bigger buttons are also easier for children to manage than small buttons or press studs.

As with all issues related to your child’s experience in child care, to achieve the best outcome have open discussions with the educators in the service about your child’s needs and how these can be accommodated in the service. It’s important for the service to know what you think and what matters to your family in relation to your child’s clothing. Working together with the educators at your service will help to ensure that clothing and dressing practices support the best outcome for your child. You may want to talk with the educators at your service if you have questions about suitable clothing for your child. They can tell you about your responsibilities and theirs related to children’s clothing, including how they manage dirty or soiled clothing.

It’s usual for educators to make some requests about your child’s clothing, including that you:

label all clothing with your child’s name
provide spare clothes in case your child has an accident (especially during the time when your child is learning to use the toilet) or if there is a change in the weather
supply one or more sun hats
encourage your child to dress appropriately for the weather and to wear a hat at all times while playing in the sun

These are a few factors that you may wish to consider when choosing what your child wears to education and care.

Temperature

It is important that children are not over or under dressed, and that clothing suits the temperature of the day. The smaller children are, the more easily they can become chilled or overheated. Natural fabrics such as cotton are generally cooler than acrylic fabrics. It is a good idea to send spare clothes for unexpected changes of weather, especially during changes of season, when the weather can be unpredictable.

Footwear

Children need to wear safe, comfortable shoes that fit well. Shoes should provide support as well as protection for your child’s feet. Shoes that give little protection and support or that have raised heels or soles may cause accidents. Shoes with soles that grip make climbing and other physical activities easier and safer for children to enjoy and take part in.

Sun Protection

Children need protection from the sun while playing throughout the day. T-shirts with long sleeves and long trousers offer good protection. Hats are essential and should have soft brims to allow for movement and to provide maximum protection. Your service will be able to provide you with information about their sun protection policy and practices and the times that your child will be playing outdoors.

Clothing designs and accessories

The design and fit of their clothes and accessories may affect your child’s safety during passive and active play. For example, long hems may cause tripping, and items such as necklaces, toggles on hats, drawstrings on jumpers and ribbons may become caught in equipment.

Clothing fabrics

Some children are sensitive to ‘scratchy’ fabrics, and some may have an allergic reaction to detergents, fabric softeners or other treatments used on clothes. All clothes that children wear should be low fire danger.

Dressing to support children’s play and learning

When clothes fit properly and are not too loose or tight, children can move freely and comfortably and participate in experiences. It can be helpful to talk with your child about the clothes they feel most comfortable in for different activities, and to help them to choose clothes that will be practical.