Shoes for School.

They required shoes at my daughter's preschool in case they had to leave quickly in the event of fire.

some daycares around here do this. keeps the floors cleaner for when they are having play/story/nap time.

M.

My son's preschool was the same way, shoes and jackets off at the door. It keeps the place a lot cleaner.

Never heard of this.

Our kids attend a Montessori school that enrolls infants-6th grade. The infant and Toddler rooms both have a no shoe policy. One the kids move up to pre-school they wear shoes. I assumed it was to help keep the dirt and germs out for those that may be inclined to put things in their mouths.

Never heard of such a thing. Why aren't they wearing slippers. Socks will wear out fast with that treatment and the kids are more likely to slip and fall with just socks on.

I have not heard of it in preschools.
My next door neighbor years ago was from Japan, and they required you to take off your shoes before entering their home.

the one we are going to this year is the same way....I am ok with it.

I assumed it was some bizarre Montessori think that my son's school did. I thought it was silly.

I own a Montessori preschool/kindergarten, and we have our students do the same thing. We do it to cut down on the noise factor and to help keep the floors clean. The children do a lot of their activities on mats on the floor, so we try to keep it as clean as possible.

Our municipality requires all children to wear shoes at licensed daycares or preschools. I have also seen quite a few daycares or preschools that require a pair of "inside shoes". I live in AK, so in the winter they are dragging in snow, ice melt, sand etc.

I've heard the same concern as a few others have stated. If there is a fire they need to get the kids out. In my opinion safety comes before clean carpets any time.

I understand the germ concerns...to a point. I think it gets a bit overblown at times, though. We need germs to work up antibodies. I've never asked guests to take their shoes off in my home. When my twin boys were toddlers and in and out all day, I only asked they stomp their feet before running in for a drink. Unless, their shoes were really soiled.

Apparently, my germ theories have a little validation. My kids don't get sick very often. Yet, three of their friends whose homes are spotless and no shoes allowed are always sick.

Sorry, but if i'm paying good money for childcare, my priorities are: safety, good teachers, good policies, and an overall healthy environment. If the center has to clean their carpets more often, darn.

Hmm? I have never heard of such a thing? Have you asked someone that teaches there at the preschool why they do that? I would think thye would want the kid's wearing their shoe's?

Yes, it helps keep the classroom clean, dust down, and this help the kids. It also makes the classroom more "homey", rather than the formal feel of kindergarten and first grade. It is common practice. Has been for years. Many classes have the kids bring slippers. You can send your granddaughter wild and crazy socks all year long to make classroom time fun if you want.

My son attended a private in-home preschool a couple of mornings per week last year, and her rule was also shoes off while inside. They practiced a fire drill several times, and each time she andthe children left quickly without their shoes. And that was fine with me.

If you had a fire in your home, would you have your child sit down to put their shoes on before leaving?

I have heard that shoe removal keeps out toxins and pesticides that are picked up walking around. Children who play/crawl on the floor are exposed to them there. Environmental toxins are found in dust in houses, mostly tracked in on people's shoes. I'm guessing that would be a reason why a preschool would do this, rather than the "germ" theory. An alternative would be for them to have non-skid slippers or house shoes (non skid) to wear while in the building (that would prevent slips and could be worn outside in an emergency) Anyway here's a link regarding the toxins issue: http://www.drdoormat.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.displa...

I've had experience with both preschools that do require shoes, and those that do not. I personally would rather have my daughter in shoes if there was a fire or another emergency and not out of them because she had to keep the carpets clean at the preschool... silly. My daughter was sick quite a bit when she was first introduced to daycare/preschool, but now her body must know how to fight off all of the common sicknesses (at least I have to believe that is true since she hasn't been sick in over 3 years, minus ONE pink eye infection and even though she's pretty good with hygiene, she's still a kid and doesn't always remember to wash up).

Someone below mentioned "inside" shoes. GREAT idea. Just have the kids keep a pair of clean shoes that they change into at the school. I wouldn't let my daughter go to a preschool that had a no-shoes policy because of kicking issues... that seems a little off.

i like it. especially because the kids usually nap on those floors, onmats of course, but still, cleaner is better.

Oh how I wish m daycare did this, but here they wear shoes. It's so much better for little feet to run around shoes free, I feel bad for my kid having to be in shoes all day...once we get home she is so happy to take them off!
I would get her a bunch of tennis socks for school, they are easy to pair up and you can bleach them without ruining them.

I like that idea...I don't allow shoes on in my home,I would think it would have to do with allergies being tracked in the classroom,cleanliness of the carpet/flooring (low budget to keep them looking like new maybe)prevent accidents,no this doesn't occur at my childrens preschool.Have you asked why?

Kids on Oklahoma are required to wear shoes at all times, even during naps, even though some child cares let them take them off. If the fire alarm goes off the kids will not be allowed to put their shoes on and if it is hot they can get blisters and if it's cold they can get frost bite.

I think I would bring up that if your grandchild is injured due to this unsafe practice will they pay the medical bills and then clarify what you think. This is not a safe practice.

I've never heard of this either.

Is the floor carpeted?

Never heard of this either!