What's the first thing you do in the morning? Get up and stretch? Brush your teeth? Look outside to see what the weather's like in the world around you?

You probably check the weather outside, so you'll need to know what to wear that day. Of course, if you have a certain set of clothes you always have to wear, then you don't have to worry about what to wear. What are we talking about? Uniforms, of course!

Uniforms are sets of clothing worn by all the members of a particular organization. Uniforms come in all sorts of different sizes, shapes, designs and types. Can you think of some of the types of jobs or other activities that require uniforms?

For example, certain jobs require uniforms. Police personnel and firefighters wear special uniforms that help identify them with their profession. Their uniforms can also help them do their jobs better. Firemen, for example, wear suits that help protect them from the heat of fires.

Doctors and nurses also often wear uniforms. Their uniforms can help them stay clean in an environment where they frequently encounter germs. Uniforms can also help people feel more comfortable. Would you feel more comfortable if a doctor was wearing a white coat or shorts and sandals?

Uniforms are also an important part of military service. Soldiers wear uniforms to increase identification with their fellow soldiers and their mission. Their uniforms also provide important protection and, sometimes, camouflage to help them do their jobs.

Some companies require all of their workers to wear uniforms to help customers identify workers. For example, you may have noticed that package delivery personnel for UPS all wear similar brown uniforms.

Students in many schools are also required to wear uniforms. Many parents like school uniforms, because they prevent repeated hassles with trying to figure out what to wear for school. Required uniforms can also cut down on clothing expenses, since they're usually less expensive than other popular styles.

Students, on the other hand, don't always like uniforms. Some students may not think their uniforms are as “cool" as other modern fashions. Other students might feel like uniforms hinder their ability to express themselves through their clothing choices.

School uniforms can have other benefits that not quite so easy to spot, though. For some kids, having the latest fashions is not an option because they're too expensive. Uniforms allow these students to fit in without worrying about whether they have the latest fashions.

Another area where uniforms are important is in the world of sports. If you've ever played sports, you know that each sport tends to have a particular set of requirements in terms of dress. Soccer players need shorts, cleats and shin guards. Football players need helmets and pads. Uniforms in sports help athletes stay safe and perform their best.

Chances are that, if you haven't already, you will wear a uniform one day. Whether it's a sports uniform or a uniform you need for work or an organization of some type, most people wear some type of uniform at some time in their lives.

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