I came across an old schoolbook from the 1950s which taught the reader, probably fourth grade or so, how to dress for school. The textbook instructed that the schoolroom was to be considered a workroom and to dress appropriately for the work that would take place. I gave the page a judgmental glare and scrolled past it. A few weeks later, my thoughts have changed.
You see, when you or I get up early on a Saturday morning with a day’s worth of yard work to do, we pull on the old jeans and the trusty t-shirt. When we go to an appointment with a financial advisor, we select the professional-looking attire. When we go to the gym, we choose the moisture-wicking athletic gear. When we prepare to learn, we should dress for that task as well.
Some might assume I mean a specific kind of clothing that I deem appropriate for the schoolroom. And, I kind of do. However, my description of appropriate homeschool clothes is rather broad. Are you comfortable? Are you warm or cool enough? (Our school space isn’t always the best climate-controlled area.) Are we going somewhere later today for which you need to be ready? Have you showered in the last few days? (Some joke about this. With teens, it isn’t a laughing matter.) Is your hair pulled back so it isn’t bugging you, so you can see into the microscope, or so it doesn’t get caught in the science experiment later?
Teaching our children to think through the appropriateness of their attire seems old fashioned, and to some degree, it is. Forgo the silly rules about not wearing white after Labor Day, pairing black with navy, or only wearing black to funerals. However, there are clothes for specific occasions and it’s important to at least touch on those conversations. Clothing helps get our minds prepared for the task at hand; whether it’s sleeping, partying, interviewing, taking a business call, or studying.
Also, dress-up is ok to wear to church, grocery store, or classroom, in my book.
Prior to COVID season, homeschoolers had a reputation for wearing either pajamas or denim dresses every day. With more people homeschooling, it seems that people are more aware that there is a middle ground for what we wear to learn. So, tell me, are you a stickler for what your kids wear while they are learning? Do you allow pajamas every day? How do you approach the topic of appropriate clothing in certain situations with your children?
Lindsay Banton is a caffeinated mother to three great kids. She never expected to homeschool, but has found that it is a wonderful addition to their lifestyle and wouldn’t change it for the world. In addition to homeschooling, Lindsay works alongside her husband in campus ministry at a large university in Connecticut. She grew up in Virginia but has settled into life in New England, learning to love the long winters, cool springs, green summers and gorgeous autumns- and has built a boot collection to meet all the demands. She is currently blogging at www.lindsaybanton.com.
