Winter means bundling up kids before school with gloves, hats, and scarves to stay warm. But how do you prevent them from getting lost?
At school, these items often end up misplaced on coat racks by little hands. Fortunately, after years of teaching 30 kindergartners, I've got two simple, effective tricks to keep them secure—and avoid frustrated parents buying replacements.
For gloves or mittens, sew a long braided wool thread connecting one to the other. Measure the length with your child's arms crossed to get it just right.
Slide the connected gloves into the coat sleeves so they dangle out. Now, they're impossible to lose!
Scarves are often banned in kindergartens due to choking risks from 'scarf games.' But this trick works great for collars, snoods, or neck warmers to protect little throats.
Teach your child this habit: When removing hat and neckwear, tuck them into the coat sleeve from the inside, like a pocket.
Bonus advantage: They won't forget to put them back on before recess—the items will get in the way when donning the coat, ensuring your child stays covered.
Pairing hat and scarf? Kindergarten pros like me prefer the balaclava—equally protective, safer, and easy to store the same way.
