GET COOL FOR SCHOOL

Its that time of year already! Do you have a child starting or going back to an ELC, School and pre-school day – those days of school are here again and it takes the stress out to be preapred! Use our checklist to make sure you have all the outfits you need so your little ones are dressed just right for play and adventure indoors and out…

Getting the kids ready for class again after the summer break takes a little preparation, but it needn’t be too stressful!

Our guide includes a good reminder of what they’ll need in the wardrobe to make sure they’re dressed for fun, indoors and out, looking cool in Summer and feeling cozy all at once as the autumn and then winter months roll in.

OUTFIT CHECKLIST

You’ll want to consider essentials including:

- Kids Hat with Brim

- Sunscreen

- Art smock to protect clothes during messy ( and fun ) playtimes 

- Long and short-sleeved t-shirts

- base layers for really cold weather

- comfortable bottoms

- socks

- a few fleeces or sweaters

- rainproof outerwear such as a rain jacket and waterproof trousers

- winter coveralls / coats as colder weather sets in

- footwear such as comfortable sneakers, rain boots and winter boots for later in the year

- accessories such as rain hat, gloves / mittens, winter hat / balaclava for colder months

- diapers if your child is at pre-school and still uses them - make sure you have a good supply handy

- pack a simple change of clothes kept in bag for any accidents

Before doing anything else, we suggest taking time to look through the wardrobe to see what still fits! Your child might have grown a little more than you expected over the summer so be sure to check those sleeve lengths and shoes to see what can still be used into autumn and where there might be gaps.

Try too, to keep these things in mind when you’re buying those must-have items:

KEEP IT COMFY

Your child will spend a lot of the day running, jumping, exploring and generally moving about, so make sure you choose comfy and practical clothes they’ll be able to express themselves in. If in doubt on sizing we’d say go up a little for comfort and longevity!

CHOOSE EASY FASTENINGS

Your little one will be starting to get used to dressing themselves, putting on their own shoes / taking their outer layers on and off etc, so where you can, go for fastenings that offer as little stress as possible, such as big buttons and velcro.

 This will give your child more and more confidence and autonomy to do it themselves and will help to build up their dexterity.

LAYER UP

It’s likely your little one will do a mix of indoor and outdoor play, so layers are perfect for moving between environments. Mid-layers like fleeces and jumpers are great for this, but do think about front-zip fleeces or cardigans if your child isn’t too keen on putting clothes over their head!

LABEL EVERYTHING

Everything seems so ordered when you’re at home, but once your child is at school - there will be lots of other kids with lots of clothes once you get into the classroom environment! So do invest in clothing labels, write directly on items if you can with a waterproof pen, or look out for clothes that have a built-in label where you can add a name (good idea, right?!).

PREP YOUR OUTFITS THE NIGHT BEFORE

Those mornings just after a long summer break can be tricky - waking up ready to go earlier than you’ve been used to, and getting everyone where they need to be on time! So we’d highly recommend making it a little easier - or at least a little less rushed - by deciding on an outfit the night before and having it ready to go. If you’re super-organised, you might even want to plan a couple of days ahead or even for the whole week - but we’ll leave that choice to you!

KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER REPORT

As the climate can be changeable, and it’s likely your child will be doing a fair bit of outdoor adventuring every day, do keep an eye on the weather to see what outerwear / accessories might be needed, as well as cozy layers.

What starts as a dry day could end in rain and be colder than you might have expected, so it’s always good to be as prepared as you can!

HAVE A FEW EXTRAS

We've already mentioned making sure you have provided spare diapers if your child still uses them. If they’re now in underwear, it’s a good idea to have spares of those too. If you have a long-sleeved t-shirt, bottoms or socks you're able to do without at home, it’s probably worth having them in a bag at school too, just in case of any unexpected splashes or spills.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER AFTER SUMMER BREAK

Give yourself a reminder of the basics a few days before heading back to pre-school including:

- what time to get the kids to bed when it’s a school day rather than a vacation day

- what time to set your alarm for (maybe give yourself a little extra time on the first day back!)

- making sure school has all your contact details and letting them know if anything has changed

- making sure you have simple breakfast ingredients in the cupboard if you’ll all be eating before you head out.

AND FINALLY...

While it seems like a lot to think about, once you have a list in mind of what your little one will need, it’s just a question of going through it and ticking things off.

Start with the must-haves and the rest will fall into place! Remember to look out for sale items if you’re on a budget. And if you fancy some bright color and bold prints - go for it! Practical can mean stylish, too!

SHOP FOR SCHOOL NOW