School Bans Outfits that Cause Migraines

No stripes or spots allowed at this school. A Stockholm, Sweden preschool has received criticism for its banning children from wearing spotted, striped or patterned clothing because it gives one of the teachers there severe migraine headaches. Instead the children are required to wear solid-colored clothing.

The ban was imposed three years ago after a staff meeting where the teacher complained about recurring migraine attacks when working with children wearing spotted or striped patterns. The ban has been in effect without a complaint until recently they received a complaint from a parent who said the ban prevents the child and parent from choosing what they want to wear.

Some researchers claim that striped, spotted or even checkered patterns can cause migraines since they affect the brain and the eye’s visual impressions.
Anita Israelsson, a spokeswoman at the Swedish Work Environment Authority, said the clothing ban, since it deals with people’s work environment, does not violate Swedish law and is usually handled by individual workplaces.