What to pack for kindergarten: a first-day checklist

For the first day at kindergarten, pack indoor shoes, at least two sets of spare clothes, pyjamas, and outdoor clothes and shoes to suit the weather. If your child still uses nappies, pack those and some wet wipes too. Don’t forget a favourite toy for nap time. Label everything with your child’s name or symbol. The exact list varies between kindergartens, so always ask what the kindergarten provides and what parents bring.

A kindergarten bag looks like a small thing, but well-packed belongings save your child a lot of unhappy moments. Wet socks after a puddle, missing pyjamas or someone else’s joggers in the locker can spoil a day for a two-year-old. Below you will find a printable checklist, tips on each item and a short list of things best left at home.

One thing that often surprises parents from abroad: at Slovak kindergartens, children change into indoor shoes (prezuvky) as soon as they arrive, and outdoor shoes stay in the cloakroom.

First-day checklist

Most things stay at kindergarten in your child’s locker. You will only take home what is wet, dirty or needs washing.

Print the list and stick it on the fridge or inside a wardrobe door. In the first week you will need it almost every day, and after that packing becomes a habit. If it seems like a lot, you don’t have to buy everything at once. On the first day, indoor shoes, one set of spare clothes, pyjamas and outdoor clothes are enough. You can add the rest once you see what your child actually uses at kindergarten and what the kindergarten provides.

Indoor shoes: what matters most

Your child spends most of the day in their indoor shoes. They run, dance, exercise and sit at the table in them. So they should have a firm heel that holds the foot, a sole that doesn’t slip, and a Velcro fastening so your child can put them on alone. Flip-flops, open slippers and warm furry “house” slippers are impractical at kindergarten. Feet sweat in them and children slip easily. Children’s feet grow fast, so buy indoor shoes with a little room to spare and check every few months that they still fit.

Spare clothes: how many and what kind

Every child needs spare clothes, even one who has been out of nappies for ages. Tea gets spilt, there is an accident on the potty, your child gets muddy up to the knees playing outside. Two complete sets are ideal: underwear, socks, trousers and a T-shirt. During potty training, add a third. Choose things your child can put on alone: elasticated trousers, T-shirts without buttons, zip-up sweatshirts. A child who can dress themselves feels more confident at kindergarten.

Change the spare clothes with the seasons. In October the locker needs a sweatshirt and long trousers, in May a short-sleeved T-shirt and light joggers. Whenever the weather changes, go through the locker once and swap anything that no longer suits the season or the size.

Outdoor clothes and shoes

At good kindergartens, children go outside every day when the weather allows. So outdoor clothes are part of the basic kit.

• Spring and autumn: a waterproof jacket or raincoat, waterproof trousers, wellies, a thin hat.
• Summer: a cap or sun hat, light clothes with longer sleeves against the sun, sandals with a heel strap. Sun cream as agreed with the kindergarten.
• Winter: a snowsuit or salopettes, a hat, a scarf or neck warmer, mittens (two pairs, one always gets wet), winter boots.

Dress your child in layers rather than one thick coat. Mornings are often cold, it warms up by lunchtime, and a child who is running around soon gets sweaty. The teacher and your child can easily adjust layers to the weather.

Outdoor clothes should let your child play freely without worrying about getting dirty. The best day at kindergarten is often the one that ends with muddy trousers.

Things for nap and rest time

Pyjamas tell your child it is time to rest, just as at home. Choose comfortable pyjamas that aren’t too warm, and wash them once a week. Many children also need something familiar to fall asleep: a small soft toy, a scarf that smells of home, or a muslin to cuddle. If your child falls asleep with a dummy at home, tell the teacher and agree how it will work at kindergarten. The first weeks are not the time to give up the dummy. Whether your child has to nap at kindergarten is covered in our article Does my child have to nap at kindergarten?

Hygiene

Which hygiene items you bring varies between kindergartens. At some, parents bring a toothbrush, toothpaste and a cup; at others the kindergarten provides them. The same goes for towels, bed linen and paper tissues. So ask before the first day, so you don’t bring anything you don’t need and don’t forget anything. If your child has sensitive skin, let the teacher know and bring your own cream.

Nappies and the potty

If your child still wears nappies, bring enough for a few days, along with wet wipes and a cream if you use one. During potty training, pack extra underwear and trousers. Tell the teacher what stage of potty training you are at and how your child shows they need the toilet. We cover this in detail in our article Nappies, potty training and kindergarten.

A toy from home: yes, but sensibly

A small object from home helps your child cope with saying goodbye and with the first days. Paediatricians call it a transitional object. A soft toy for nap time works best, or a small thing your child can keep in a pocket. Expensive or much-loved toys that other children will want to borrow, and toys with small parts, are less suitable. Your child then worries that someone will take the toy or that it will get lost. Agree with your child that the nap-time toy lives in the locker and comes out at rest time.

How to label things

In a class of 15 children, things get mixed up fast. Three identical navy joggers from the same shop are common. So label everything, socks and hats included.

• Iron-on or sew-in labels last through many washes.
• A fabric marker is a quick solution for clothing labels.
• Stickers with your child’s symbol are practical for shoes and bottles.
• A symbol instead of a name helps children who can’t read yet. Many kindergartens give each child a picture for their locker. You can use it to mark their things too.

Bag or backpack

The best way to carry things to kindergarten is a small, light backpack your child carries themselves, or a cloth bag with their name on it. A backpack with a favourite animal or colour gives your child the feeling they are going “to work” like their parents. It doesn’t need to be big. Most things stay at kindergarten, and the backpack only carries home pyjamas for washing, wet clothes and drawings. Pack a bag or waterproof pouch for wet things so they don’t soak everything else.

What to pack by age

Two-year-olds need the most spare clothes and comfort items. They are often still learning to use the potty, get messier at mealtimes and find a long day without a favourite toy harder. Keep clothes as simple as possible: elasticated waists, Velcro, no small buttons.

Three- and four-year-olds can already do more for themselves. It helps if they have clothes they can put on and take off alone, and shoes they can put on without help. Two sets of spare clothes are usually enough.

Pre-schoolers often have their own “work” things: crayons, scissors, gym shoes. The teacher will tell you exactly what is needed. Pre-schoolers like being responsible for their own bag and can get their things ready themselves, which is also good preparation for school.

A weekly rhythm: what to check and take home

Kit causes the least trouble when you settle into a simple weekly rhythm.

• Every day: check the bag for wet or dirty clothes and top up the spares.
• Once a week: take the pyjamas home to wash and bring back a clean pair.
• When the weather changes: swap the outdoor clothes and shoes in the locker.
• Every two to three months: check the size of indoor shoes, outdoor shoes and clothes.

If you find something that isn’t yours in the bag, give it back to the teacher. You help other parents just as they help you when your joggers find their way back.

Drinks, food and celebrations

Food and drinks are usually provided by the kindergarten. So there is no need to bring a bottle or a snack from home unless the teacher specifically tells you otherwise. Some kindergartens, though, want children to have their own water bottle for outdoor time, especially in summer. Ask in advance. If your child has an allergy or a special diet, mention it at admission and agree whether you will bring anything from home. Before a birthday celebration in class, agree with the teacher in advance what you will bring. That way the teacher can take the other children’s allergies into account.

A celebration doesn’t need much. Fruit, a small cake and the chance to sing to the birthday child are enough. What your child will remember most is being the centre of attention for a while.

You don’t need to buy everything new

It is easy to spend a lot on new clothes for kindergarten that get muddy or outgrown within a month. Comfortable older clothes, hand-me-downs from siblings or second-hand things are perfectly fine for the kindergarten locker. Put your money instead into the two things where quality pays off: indoor shoes that hold the foot well, and waterproof outdoor clothes. Those decide whether your child is comfortable all day.

What to leave at home

• jewellery, necklaces and bracelets that can get caught during play,
• expensive toys and electronics,
• sweets and chewing gum, unless agreed otherwise with the kindergarten (for a birthday, for example),
• medicines, unless agreed with the teacher and the head teacher,
• cords and scarves with long ends on the slide and swings,
• clothes you would be sorry to see get dirty.

Documents and information for the kindergarten

As well as your child’s bag, get things ready for the kindergarten. Usually this means a certificate from your paediatrician about your child’s health, the signed contract, a list of people who can collect your child, and the parents’ contact details. Tell the teacher about allergies, diets, health restrictions and what helps your child calm down. You can see the whole admissions process on our Admissions page.

How to pack the bag together with your child

Pack the bag with your child a day or two before they start. Let them choose which T-shirt goes in the locker and help label things with stickers. When your child takes part, they feel kindergarten is their thing too, and they are less afraid of the unknown. Go through the bag together: “These are your indoor shoes, these are your pyjamas for nap time, and this is Teddy, who’s coming with you.” How to handle the morning goodbye itself is covered in our article When your child cries at kindergarten drop-off.

When your child is unwell

If your child is ill, the bag can wait for a healthy morning. A temperature, diarrhoea, vomiting or a bad cough are reasons to stay at home. In the classroom, the illness would pass to other children and to the teachers, and it would be handed round between the children like a relay. A few days after coming back, your child would be ill again. How to tell when your child can go to kindergarten and when they can’t is explained in our article When to keep your child home from kindergarten.

How we do it at Sovička

For Sovička, all your child needs is indoor shoes, spare clothes, pyjamas, and outdoor clothes and shoes to suit the weather. If they still wear nappies, pack those and some wet wipes too. A favourite toy for nap time helps them rest. Label everything so it always finds its way back to your child.

Your child’s towel, bed linen, toothbrush and cup are ready for them here. We also wash the bed linen, so you don’t need to take it home. When the weather allows, your child is outside every day, so they need good outdoor clothes and shoes. If you are not sure whether their locker has everything, ask the teacher.

On a visit we will show you the locker, the classroom and the place where your child will rest, so you know exactly where everything goes. Book a visit at a quiet time, when the kindergarten isn’t busy.