First grade differs from nursery in one important way: a child has to manage their own clothes for the whole day, without a teacher's help. That is why a school wardrobe is chosen a little differently than a nursery one.
What matters most: easy to put on
A first grader's clothes should be easy for the child to put on and take off alone, for example before a sports lesson. The best choices are:
- a jumper or polo that goes on over the head
- trousers with an elastic waist, no button or zip
- shoes with velcro instead of laces, if the child cannot yet tie a bow
Buttons and laces can be learned later, at home, without the pressure of time.
How many changes of clothes are needed
Five outfits a week are enough for school, plus one spare in the bag. In the first months a child often gets dirty, so it is always better to have a spare t shirt and trousers ready.
Fabric that lasts the day
At school a child wears one outfit all day, sitting, standing, playing at break time. It is worth choosing a sturdy, slightly thicker cotton fabric rather than one that stretches out of shape in a single day. Size is also worth thinking about twice, since a child grows through the year and a slightly roomy size lasts longer. The full chart is in our sizing article.
Shoes
School shoes need to be comfortable for long wear, not just good looking. The foot is measured several times a day, so a slightly roomy fit is better than an exact one. How to measure the foot at home is in a separate article.
Accessories that get forgotten
Besides a bag, a child needs socks, a hat for the warm months and gloves in autumn. It is worth buying a few extra pairs of socks, since those are what go missing or wear out first. The accessories section has all of this in one place.
Where to find it
In the shop you will find school age clothing in the clothing section, with a size filter. Shoes have their own page, in the shoes section. If your child still has nursery ahead rather than school, we have a separate article about getting ready for nursery, here.
