I 10 Step 1 i Don’t wear ill-fitting clothing that can catch on furniture or equipment. i Don’t wear clothing that fits too tightly. i Don’t wear clothing that has loose buttons, sequins, or other small pieces that can fall off and become a choking hazard for children. i Don’t wear clothing that is revealing. You do a lot of bending over and reaching up. Stretch up and over before you leave the house to make sure your body is properly covered. Uniforms and Smocks In some centers, early childhood professionals wear uniforms or smocks. Uniforms and smocks can be professional. Think about the uniforms of nurses, doctors, and sports figures. A uniform may consist of a colored shirt and pair of pants, or a shirt with the center logo or emblem. Smocks are typi- cally worn to protect a teacher’s clothes and to identify her as an employee. Here are some of the advantages to wearing uniforms and smocks: i They create a distinctive, professional look. i They enable families and visitors to quickly identify employees. i They make selecting appropriate clothing easier for the teacher. i They protect the teacher’s personal clothes from damage. i They ensure that an employee’s clothing is appropriate. winning ways Here are some of the disadvantages that early childhood professionals have noted: i Uniforms don’t allow teachers to express personal clothing style. i Uniforms are less professional. i Uniforms must be kept clean and ready for work the next day. i Uniforms require additional expense.