Making microwable handwarmers

knithryn

As a teacher, I want to give something to my tutor group. They are 15 years old, and school has decided that gloves cannot be worn at break/lunch so many students are not bothering to wear them even walking into school.

Bought microwavable handwarmers are expensive, but I see it is possible to make them using wheat/rice etc.

I'm more than happy to make them, but has anyone got any advice on which filling is best?

adelight

Why have the school decided that?! Schools do some silly things at times...
I really hated how unless it was pouring with rain, my senior school rushed us to eat lunch then forced us out onto muddy fields(security guard style dinner ladies with walkie talkies ushered us across the disused carpark we weren't allowed to sit on...) and wouldn't even let us back in to pee! They only had one set of toilets open at lunch time too- 15 loos for 500 girls? So silly! And you couldn't leave a lesson to go for a wee and you'd get in trouble for being late for going to the loo between lesson changes, what's the point in even having toilets then?
Anyway
You need something like an old thick sock (or glove!), fill it with rice/wheat and a few drops of essential oil to stop the funky smell then sew up the top.

emiff6

Either wheat, which has a smoothish feel in the bag, or, for more heat retention, maize (which feels a bit lumpier). Sew it into strong cotton packs that can go in the MW - I would suggest ticking, but I've no idea if such a thing can still be bought - and make soft pillowslip type removable overbags from fleece for washability and cuddliness. (Is that a real word?)

BitterAndTwisted

What kind of school would forbid their students from wearing gloves at break-time in this weather? Do the same rules apply to the staff who have to supervise the students?

I'd be interested to hear the rationale for this decision.

Of course, the issue with the hand-warmers is where and how are the students going to heat them up for break-times?

Seakay

don't forget to put an eggcup of water in the microwave when heating the bags up - eventually the grain (whatever is used) dries out and can burn, so it's best to always have the water in there as a precaution.

Fruball

knithryn wrote: »

As a teacher, I want to give something to my tutor group. They are 15 years old, and school has decided that gloves cannot be worn at break/lunch so many students are not bothering to wear them even walking into school.

Bought microwavable handwarmers are expensive, but I see it is possible to make them using wheat/rice etc.

I'm more than happy to make them, but has anyone got any advice on which filling is best?

Absolutely unbelievable :mad: For what reason are they saying kids can't wear gloves? I just despair sometimes I really do

I love micro handwarmers and made loads last year and the year before and sold them at school xmas fayres - was a brilliant little moneymaker

I bought wheat (chicken feed) from a local farm shop but I think Pets at Home or similar do it in smaller bags now - I had to get a massive sack (but i made neckwarmers too).

Just cut out fabric into rectangles, fold in half, stitch 2 edges, stuff with wheat (i weighed the first one then made them all about the same so they were all roughly the same size) and then stitch the open end - easy peasy. Even for me and I am not great with a sewing machine.

Hope that helps, and please do let me know for what reason they school have banned gloves.

midnightraven3

what is it with schools these days?

my son & daughters school do not allow jackets of any description
the head stands every morning, and watches them pass through the gates
they are only allowed their blazer, and its a school regulation blazer, made of thin material, not wool

my 2 need to leave here at 7.40am and get 2 trains

i agree with whoever said about heating all these?
you must have lots of microwaves
and if the school is so intollerant they wont let them wear gloves, i dont think they will like a group standing microwaving warmers sadly:(

Tigsteroonie

midnightraven3 wrote: »

what is it with schools these days?

my son & daughters school do not allow jackets of any description
the head stands every morning, and watches them pass through the gates
they are only allowed their blazer, and its a school regulation blazer, made of thin material, not wool

my 2 need to leave here at 7.40am and get 2 trains

And what is the head wearing while s/he does this? A thin shirt & unlined jacket? Did s/he travel to her workplace without a warm coat? Does s/he have to stand outside at breaktimes without a coat or gloves?

Sorry OP but reading this kind of thinking from schools makes me :mad::mad::mad:

Fruball

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

And what is the head wearing while s/he does this? A thin shirt & unlined jacket? Did s/he travel to her workplace without a warm coat? Does s/he have to stand outside at breaktimes without a coat or gloves?

Sorry OP but reading this kind of thinking from schools makes me :mad::mad::mad:

Me too, and believe you me... If my girls ever come home with appalling rules like that then there will be hell to pay

NO COATS??? !!!!!!??? NO GLOVES???

I'll start a revolution

I would actually buy ALL the kids in school a pair of gloves and stand in the playground with any other supportive parents and defy any teacher/head/assistant to dare to tell them to take them off. Oh, and the local papers would be invited along too

midnightraven3

he stands in his suit jacket

that was the 1st thing i asked!!

both mine wear a jacket and take it off on the approach to the school (covered walkway)

Swampmonster

Frugal wrote: »

Me too, and believe you me... If my girls ever come home with appalling rules like that then there will be hell to pay

NO COATS??? !!!!!!??? NO GLOVES???

I'll start a revolution

I would actually buy ALL the kids in school a pair of gloves and stand in the playground with any other supportive parents and defy any teacher/head/assistant to dare to tell them to take them off. Oh, and the local papers would be invited along too

Love it!!! :rotfl::T