https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:27:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284609 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:53:08 +0000 Torchwood 2284609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoyfulKiwi: Thank you for articulating that so well. This really makes me mad, but I was having a hard time working out exactly why. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284444 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:41:21 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2284444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I've taught at several preschools (and teach at a Montessori right now), and I would say that's not the norm. I think they also handled this completely wrong and I'd personally be really ticked as a parent. 1) They should have made sure parents were aware of the policy before school began. 2) They should have put her in her own extra shirt or provided an extra shirt, not turned it inside out. </p> <p>I think policies like this, especially in preschool, are completely ridiculous. I don't like liscensed merchandise either, and don't purchase it for my preschooler yet, but he also doesn't typically pick out is own clothes. My parents took him shopping and he chose some Paw Patrol stuff and he LOVES it. He wears the shoes every day &amp; the shirt once a week. He's so proud of these items and it's crazy to me that adults are going to give the message to 3-4 year olds that their interests &amp; style isn't valid because it doesn't align with the adult's agenda. A good preschool/teacher can figure out a way to achieve their "educational" goals regardless of how excited kids are about someone's sparkly Elsa dress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284361 Sun, 06 Sep 2015 03:26:16 +0000 regberadaisy 2284361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think the issue here is the larger consumer buying into trademark gear at all! The issue is how the preschool handled the situation! Which is very poorly imo. </p> <p>My daughter is 3.5 and thankfully isn't crazy into any mass marketed item yet. But if she did I'm not going to not buy her something she loves just because of my own hang ups. But I'm definitely not buying any princess gear right now because she's oblivious and if I can avoid princess pink explosion mania in this house then I'll be one happy mama. ;) and I totally bought her a superman t shirt from old navy boys section. Because, come on, supergirl is too cute :P</p> <p>But seriously if this happened to my daughter I would be ripping the director a new one since I wasn't even made aware of this policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284331 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 23:46:24 +0000 ElbieKay 2284331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: "I totally get the sentiment that we don't want to turn our kids into little consumers. On the other hand, we can't keep them in little media free bubbles forever."</p> <p>Yes, but if no one bought the stuff then the media wouldn't be an issue. That is another reason why I don't buy it. BUT, my son is only 18mo and who knows what kind of pressure I might be under when he's older, and whether or not I will cave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284300 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:03:55 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2284300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have seen this in parent handbooks in a few centers here. I somewhat agree. There is already enough peer pressure at this Age. Adding in some of the character stuff just makes it really worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool/page/2#post-2284288 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 21:45:59 +0000 Freckles 2284288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I think it's weird that if the orientation wasn't until later that they would enforce those rules so tightly! You think they would cut parents some slack in the first week! 😒 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283956 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 13:12:05 +0000 sunny 2283956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all of your thoughts. I am annoyed that they turned her shirt inside out and singled her out, when it wasn't her fault since she didn't know about the policy yet! I don't think she was too bothered by the incident, which I'm thankful for. I don't think she felt "shamed" by it -- I think that was more a feeling that *I* felt. We are new to this school (it was our 3rd day yesterday) and parent orientation is next week so I'm sure they'll go over all the rules then. </p> <p>I totally get the sentiment that we don't want to turn our kids into little consumers. On the other hand, we can't keep them in little media free bubbles forever. If cats, horses, princesses, etc. make her happy, then I'm happy to support that by purchasing clothing which she is excited to wear and keep the morning battles over what to wear at a minimum. However, I totally get that marketing to kids is insane -- while I would purchase a princess t-shirt, I would not purchase a box of princess gummy snacks (which she has totally pointed out at Target). </p> <p>I just think its a bit arbitrary that illustrations that have specific names are banned, but illustrations that are not trademarked are not. </p> <p>@Mrs. Tiger: I'm not sure about the shoes. Her shoes actually have a very small Rapunzel on them, but she wears different "indoor shoes" in the classroom. I'm not sure if they just weren't caught or if its ok because they aren't worn inside the classroom. I just bought these shoes last month so hopefully they won't be banned! </p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I think underwear is ok. She was wearing HK underwear and they all use the potty independently, so in theory nobody would see it except her. Come to think of it, she was also wearing HK socks yesterday but I guess they were mostly hidden by her pants so it was ok? They didn't turn the socks inside out :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283948 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 12:54:47 +0000 Mamasig 2283948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not a rule where my son goes. But it wouldn't bother me. I generally don't buy character clothes for my boys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283905 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:30:21 +0000 sandy 2283905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I can't believe this wasn't communicated to you more clearly and explicitly before school started. I can't believe they turned her shirt inside out :-/</p> <p>My LO went to a Montessori school last year and it was a Pre-K through 8th grade school. The older kids wore uniforms and the pre-K kids were exempt but were restricted from character clothing. But it was clearly stated as part of the school's policy and clearly communicated in all the paperwork and at orientation. While I didn't agree with the policy I understood their philosophy behind it. It was not a daycare, it was a preschool. They had a history of little kids dressing in character clothing (specifically superhero stuff) and the little kids would see each other and start playing superheroes and roughhousing. They are just being kids. But the teacher has them for a limited 3 hour time frame and is being paid to provide some enrichment and education separate from what they get at home. So eliminating the character clothes helped the school environment and limited distractions. They didn't want to pick and choose what character clothes could and could not be worn so they made a general rule across the board. Again, I didn't necessarily agree with the policy but I knew about it and the reasoning behind it and so we sent LO there despite it. And for myself I didn't put her in dresses at school bc she had no help with the potty and at that age I couldn't reliably trust that she could lift her dress completely up when going by herself. So I can understand for that age group making some restrictions on clothing BUT it needs to be clearly communicated </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283896 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 11:12:28 +0000 ElbieKay 2283896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son doesn't go to daycare or preschool yet, but I would embrace a policy like this. I don't really like commercial characters and we don't have any at home other than one Thomas book that was a gift. I assume that he will likely get exposed to this stuff when he goes to school but I would prefer to avoid it. I just don't see many upsides to having that stuff in my life. It's neutral at best, sometimes a bad influence, and always putting money into the pockets of big corporations. No thanks.</p> <p>I realize this is a relatively extreme, crotchety view, and I don't criticize other parents for having a different perspective. But I would still welcome a character-free preschool with open arms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283881 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 10:33:11 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2283881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That boggles my mind! I hope they didn't make your daughter feel bad about it 😕</p> <p>Eta: what would they do if it was on shoes? Make you buy new ones? Have her go barefoot? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283839 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:41:12 +0000 Finfan 2283839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can understand not wanting kids to wear a full Elsa costume to school but a T-shirt should not be a big deal. Costumes and dresses are discouraged at DD's nature preschool because they aren't practical for playing outside. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283815 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 09:29:43 +0000 plantains 2283815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that is OTT and pretty ridiculous. I hate character clothing but I hate trying to stamp our the individual choices of the kids even more! Plus if a preschool told me that my kid couldn't wear her earrings to school I would be pretty upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283798 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 08:54:29 +0000 Rockies11 2283798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: purple is the lifeblood of my LO. I hear "PURple" at least one hundred times a day. I don't have a clue where she got into it - she never owned a single purple thing ever until the obsession started. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283793 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 08:49:55 +0000 blackbird 2283793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rockies11: true! E has this little cotton dress from Kohls with a tulle skirt and glitter sparkle stars on it and it's my little pony, but it's PURPLE and that's all she cares about </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283792 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 08:44:30 +0000 Rockies11 2283792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that also at that age sometimes they don't even know it's a character. My daughter picked out a Sophia the First backpack yesterday because it was purple and had a horse on it. I don't even know what Sophia the First is. I can see a rule about no costumes, but not no character clothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283778 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 08:13:15 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2283778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: agree! My son will approach someone if he sees a common interest (they have batman on their shirt, I like batman. Let's be friends.) that's important in preschool! A lot of preschool is about social interactions and etiquette. </p> <p>I think it's silly. Like another said, my child's favorite shirts are: curious George, batman, Spider-Man, and minions. Getting him dressed without those would be a lot more difficult- I want him to be able to wear what he likes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283760 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 07:12:35 +0000 Bao 2283760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What?! Since when can kids not be kids? That's sometimes the only way I can get my kid dressed to go anywhere. She would be so bummed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283759 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 07:08:08 +0000 Dandelion 2283759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never heard of this. D has always lived in character clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283751 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 06:53:15 +0000 meredithNYC 2283751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heard of this policy and don't think it's a terrible idea. My daughter is 3 and goes to Catholic school, which requires a full uniform and I really like it. However, in your daughter's case, they shouldn't have made her turn her shirt inside out. They could have let it go for one day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283747 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 06:36:12 +0000 danda 2283747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like it as we severely limited screen time for my daughter until she was 2, but she became obsessed with Elmo and Frozen from what she saw at daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283746 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 06:34:58 +0000 looch 2283746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Characters are not banned from our preschool...it's a nature preschool, so whatever the kids wear shouldn't be too precious. It's going to get dirty.</p> <p>As for the discussion, I find it very interesting, because a lot of people are very anti-character before their kids are born and then change their tune when it makes mornings easier to just throw on the mickey tee shirt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283698 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 00:30:31 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2283698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was surprised to read that violent characters are not allowed at our preschool. Even Batman, superman, etc. because they fight. I guess kids were trying to be like them a little too much.</p> <p>I was surprised, but it doesn't bother me. I don't really that stuff anyway, but I still feel like I'll slip up sometime with underwear that is a hand me down or something...</p> <p>Luckily Lightening McQueen is safe or we would have a problem! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283695 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 00:18:48 +0000 Kimberlybee 2283695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: oh ok, yes I can see how an Elsa costume full of glitter can be very distracting but to me a Tshirt is no big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283683 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:23:16 +0000 Freckles 2283683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: @lilteacherbee: sorry, I was typing this on my phone and wasn't able to write out the full story. The issue isn't having a conversation, it's that one kid will come in their Frozen costume dress and will be surrounded by 5-6 kids wanting to look/touch/talk about it and it distracts them from the task/work at hand. This type of situation happened quite a bit that they instituted the policy this year. I can totally see my DD being distracted and wanting to talk about it all the live long day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283674 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:57:28 +0000 Kimberlybee 2283674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that is a ridiculous policy for preschoolers and it was handled poorly. A letter home to the parents would have been better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283667 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:48:13 +0000 ms.line 2283667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrugbee: I agree! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283666 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:47:28 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2283666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is ridiculous! At later grades, I can understand, but at preschool?! I completely agree with @lilteacherbee: at an age when they're just starting to communicate with each other, why limit it?</p> <p>I also have issues on how they handled it. Forcing a kid to wear her shirt inside out all day brings unwanted attention from her peers. Was she made an example? I feel that whenever persons on power enforce strict "moral" rules, they should really cover all their bases and think things through. I'm kind of pissed for you :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283656 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:27:03 +0000 regberadaisy 2283656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: agree. @sunny: clearly you weren't made aware of this rule. It's kinda ridiculous they turned your LO's shirt inside out. She didn't have another shirt in her cubby/backpack they could've changed her into? I would be pretty annoyed by this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-characters-banned-from-your-preschool#post-2283651 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 22:18:18 +0000 HLK208 2283651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's nuts!!! I've never heard that!</p> <p>@lilteacherbee: exactly, I think DD might talk to another kid wearing an Elsa shirt! And she's very shy! </p>