Time to get out the winter school uniforms

It seems like the kids have only been back at school for a few weeks but it's already approaching half-term.  The routines we've just settled into will stop again.  Then it's just a week off.  It'll get even darker and colder and when they go back the kids will be in their winter uniforms.

Winter uniforms can feel different.  For girls there's often ties, shirts, skirts or trousers, and even tights which create 'crumples and lines' as my youngest would say.  Boys might move into trousers and then there is all the wet weather gear to cope with too. We've got two main things we do to help with the transition to and maximise the comfort of the kids winter uniforms.

Prepare them and their uniform 

Many kids with autism or ADHD don't like dealing with change.  It can cause extreme anxiety when something is suddenly different, even if the change is a good one.  We have a definite deadline to change from summer to winter uniforms.  All our kids have to be in their winter school uniform before they go back after the autumn half term.   So, we can help them prepare for this change by letting them know when it is going to happen, and making them familiar with the winter version of their uniform before hand.

One of the easiest ways is to have the same uniform.  It can help it feel familiar.  Ours often looks faded but a new wash can help brighten and clean the uniform so it's ready for after half term.  Where we use a chew or sensory aid, this can be transferred easily making another familiar addition.  We've had Chewigem's in the same colour as the kids unform so they blend in well.

Our kids can be involved in putting the parts of summer uniforms 'away' at the end of term and taking the new parts of their winter uniforms out.  Jane doesn't like things disappearing without knowing where they've gone.  We need to let her know what happens to old toys or furniture when it's time for them to go to into the loft, someone else or the charity shop.  It's the same with her clothes and physically putting them away can help.

A countdown board or calendar showing the days and their associated uniforms can help some kids understand when they will be expected to wear different clothes.  This can mentally prepare them and we find that simply knowing when a change is going to happen can relieve some of the anxiety around it.  Our older kids know it will be when they go back to school after the break and we can use this to help them.

If they have out grown any of their winter uniform since they last wore it and / or you've purchased new items for them, then give them the time to get used to these. We wash them a few times so they feel more like what they remember.  We have any new items out or try them on in advance so it doesn't feel completely foreign the first time they are put on.

Minimise uncomfortable seams

It's time to say goodbye to Jane's free flowing summer dress and ankle socks and hello to seams and layers.  For many kids with autism or sensory processing challenges, seams and tags can be extremely uncomfortable. Anthony used to say the tags in his clothes felt like he was being stabbed by spikes  and that when his clothes were crunched up around his waist it felt like he was wearing tin foil.

Seamless clothing can make a huge difference to our kids. Both Jane and Anthony have used some seamless items.

Jane in particular has bamboo socks and tights with smooth toe seams and comfort cuffs and waist bands.  She always really struggled with the tight feeling she got around her calves when she wore knee high school socks.  She would complain of having cold legs but refuse to wear anything other than ankle socks. The comfort cuffs on her socks are super soft and wide which get rid of that pinch feeling.  The socks and tights are also made of bamboo which is breathable and wicks moisture away - really helpful incase her socks manage to get wet at break time.

Her tights have flatlocked seams on the inside and the waist band is a big elasticated honeycomb.  They look like regular smooth tights but are also smooth against her skin and soft against her waist.  Her scrunchy skirt waist band can then sit on top and not be so uncomfortable. When she is wearing knee high socks she can also wear a vest underneath her shirt to add a soft layer between the skirt waist band and her skin.  A vest can also help Anthony avoid the scrunchy feeling of his trousers too. This can also be helpful if they feel the cold with some particular vests offering extra warmth.

Even Anthony can have socks without seams in the toes.  He needs to have contrasting heels and toes on his socks so he can get them on the right way round.  There are well known brands that do this in a seamless toe style too.   Longer socks can also help avoid the feeling of the trousers riding up against his ankles when he sits down.

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The SockShop kindly sent us some of their bamboo and seamless socks to try for purpose of review. And with the other suggestions above, I'm happy to include them in my editorial copy.

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This post includes a Rafflecopter giveaway that has now closed.

Conditions: UK Residents only. Entrants must be aged over 18. Entry is via Rafflecopter. Entries can be made up until midnight on 1st November as indicated.  One winner will be chosen from all valid entries at random the day after closing. The winner will be contacted within 24 hours of the closing date and have 24 hours to respond. The Prize is one pair of bamboo seamless socks from SockShop similar to that above.  Prize is sent direct from SockShop. The exact pair of  socks could change with an alternative product of similar or higher value sent. No cash alternative.