Crocs Banned at Preschool

on June 4, 2009 at 4:35 PM

Do your tots wear Crocs, flip-flops, or open-toed sandals to day care or preschool? Mine can't even if they wanted to, since our teachers have banned them.

Students must show up in the morning wearing socks and sneakers or they won't be allowed to play outside.

According to my daughter's teachers, several kids at a neighboring school have fallen off equipment while wearing Crocs, leading to some pretty bad boo-boos and a few broken bones.

Who can say if the shoes were really the reason? Toddlers are naturally uncoordinated and clumsy. But the classic Crocs (there are newer styles out) and other slip-ons are meant for ease, not security or support, so I'm totally on board with this little precaution.

"I work at a daycare/preschool and we don't regulate it, but I find it very dangerous," says JessalynnJade. "There are wood chips that pierce right through the bottom of Crocs and into the feet -- that happened to me when I was taking the garbage out. Also, there are tons of kids riding bikes out on preschool playgrounds. Not safe at all to be wearing sandals or Crocs. I always send my kids to play outside in socks and shoes only."

Despite the bad rep that Crocs have gotten over the years -- frequent tripping, soles getting stuck in moving escalators -- moms love Crocs and won't stop buying them.

Do you let your toddlers wear Crocs at the playground? Do you think they are appropriate footwear for active, uncoordinated little people?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: clothes, nursery school, play

Comments (31)

BaisMom

on Jun 4, 2009 at 4:43 PM

Good! They should be banned EVERYWHERE!

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momoflilangel

on Jun 4, 2009 at 5:21 PM

My daughter tripped all the time in some sketchers type crocs that she had but then I bought the walmart kind and have not had the smae problems.

mamaD2008

on Jun 4, 2009 at 7:04 PM

I have heard that little kiddos are having that problem. My daughter is 5, and she has the kind that have the criss-cross velcro strap. She hasn't ever had any trouble, but again, she is 5! I don't know how I feel about the school banning them... I kinda feel like it should be up to the parents. Then again, I'm a teacher (I work with older kids), and I might get slightly annoyed at how much time was being spent cleaning up "boo-boos"!

shivasgirl

on Jun 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM

I think they are horribly ugly and my kids would never have them, and I always send my kids to school in full shoes and socks, for safety

mommy_arika

on Jun 4, 2009 at 8:45 PM

my daughter has several pairs of them and we love them. she prefers them over tennis shoes any day.

Charlies_mommy

on Jun 4, 2009 at 8:55 PM

I don't really like them so no... I like sandals though and I will be buying them for my daughter to wear.... but not at a park where she could get her feet hurt or slip. Gym shoes are how my kids will be going to school/parks...

LadyKiki

on Jun 4, 2009 at 9:01 PM

I love mine for when I am pregnant and when I am at home. But I don't wear them out. They are house shoes to me. No one in my family wears them out of the house. I can see them getting banned if they are causing a problem. I remember backpacks getting banned at my high school.

aurorabunny

on Jun 4, 2009 at 9:46 PM

I think they should be banned on ugliness alone. Those things give me feet nightmares.

RhiannonHunt

on Jun 4, 2009 at 10:51 PM

I hate them but they are the only things that will fit on both my sons feet!! I put them in tenny's when they go to the park but otherwise unfortunatly its crocks for now, till i find something better

JPsMommy605

on Jun 5, 2009 at 12:33 AM

I get the cheap versions for my son - they're wide enough that they don't squish his toes. But he also wears them with socks. His school allows them - they only prohibit open-toed shoes, so crocs are okay because they still cover the toes. We have had the bark splinters poke through, though - that was surprising and I thought it was just because I bought the cheap versions. I didn't think it was an issue with the real crocs. If it is, then I'll just keep buying the cheap versions for my son because he does enjoy them and his toes don't get squished.