Sometimes kids and adults think alike.

When first-year Irvington Dows Lane Principal Randy Lichtenwalner asked both students and teachers what would make a "dream school day," the uniform response was overwhelming: a pajama day.

Who doesn't like rolling out of bed, brushing their teeth—maybe their hair—and heading out for school with an extra ten minutes to stop for bagels and cocoa (or coffee, whichever age group you may fall into).

But Lichtenwalner stopped and thought: "It's easy to have a pajama day, but should it be for free?"

Every day this week, kids, staff (and even some of their parents) are permitted to don "wild and wacky" attire—as long as they contribute somehow to the community.

On Monday, for example, kids got to wear crazy socks in return for bringing in a can of food for Fred's Food Pantry in Peekskill. On Tuesday, they could come in wearing PJs as long as they brought hand-drawn pictures to decorate the Kateri Nursing Home in New York City.

"It's not as if anyone's policing it," said Lichtenwalner; nobody will stop a child for wearing pajamas if they don't have a picture.

But it's the spirit of the event that's important.

"I didn't want to choose one charity to support or only one group of people in need of assistance," he said. By having a different activity each day of the week, Lichtenwalner and the Dows Lane staff are able to show kids how they can help people who are hungry, elderly, and perhaps lonely—

"On Wednesday, they can wear hats if they bring in books for foster children in New York City," he said.

Kids who connect with animals can even see how to help needy pets by bringing in food and old towels or pillow cases for dogs and cats at the Pets Alive shelter in Elmsford. For that, they can wear green and white to celebrate Irvington pride.

"In Irvington, the PTSA is extremely involved with charity work, but the younger kids don't always get involved," Lichtenwalner said. "This way, they can help others and think beyond themselves."

By not just offering rewards like candy or gift bags, kids get to experience their acts of service all day long.

"With kids it often helps to combine extrinsic and intrinsic rewards," he said.

On Monday morning, Lichtenwalner was greeted by a group of first graders—one whose father was even wearing crazy socks.

"The community loves the idea," he said. "And it instills great values in the kids at a young age."