Even though the pandemic has played havoc with so many things, including the start of the school year, it's fairly certain kids have all grown a bit since they last sat in a classroom. And that means they likely need some new clothes. And whether students are going to school five days a week, attending on hybrid schedules, or showing up totally virtually, parents will be looking for a break any way they can get it, including through more easy-care clothes for their kids.
"I like getting my son pants with reinforced knees, because they're supposed to be tougher. Although he gives them a run for the money," said Jessica Schetting, a mom of a grade-school boy and girl (full disclosure, she's related to this columnist, who is grateful she's not dealing with the possibility of home schooling anybody). "If things are stain resistant, that's amazing. And they both want soft, comfortable clothes. My daughter wears a lot of leggings because she's so slim in the waist and her legs are so long. So I like GapKids for her because they have a slim option."
Gap Kids offers a number of stain resistant, cotton kid's garments, including white denim shorts, jacket and jeggings, uniform skorts and shorts, and khaki pants and shorts.
But today's performance clothes for kids include a lot of features that make them as beneficial in the schoolroom as the potential outdoor classroom at home. Take REI's cotton-blend, insect-repellent hoodie from Craghoppers that also wicks moisture and is quick drying. Old Navy has kids' denim with Built-in Flex Max, a stretch technology that allows for maximum comfort and movement. And L.L. Bean's cotton-blend, insect-repellent hoodie features the brand's Insect Shield technology. This EPA-approved, invisible, odorless treatment is made from permethrin, a synthetic form of a bug repellent produced naturally by chrysanthemums. L.L. Bean says it's also been proven effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The list of performance technology garments for kids goes on. But with the amount of stress parents are already facing over whether their children can (or should) return to school, any piece of mind brands can provide is a plus.
