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This board is primarily for parents of LGBTQ+ children to share personal experiences and advice. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful that this is a supportive space.

LGBT children

Should I let my 7 yo boy wear nail varnish at school?

76 replies

Twoprinces · 17/07/2017 16:59

My 7 yo son has started to want to wear nail varnish at school, the more colourful the better.

I'm in 2 minds as to let him. On one hand he displays several mannerisms that could be considered quite 'camp'. Whilst I'm keeping an open mind at the minute, is 7 too young to suspect your child may be gay, I am mindful that I would never want to impose hetrosexist rules upon him in order that, if he does turn out to be gay, I make him feel that something is 'wrong' with him and cause him to struggle with his sexuality?

On the other hand he does also have autism, which may account for him being non-conofrmist, and is statistically at a lot greater risk of being bullied. I wouldn't want to do, or allow him to do, anything that put him at greater risk and could make his life really miserable.

It boils down to do I make my boy miserable by making him feel weird for his choices or do I allow others to make him miserable by exposing him to bullies.

Please let somebody be able to offer a third way.

OP posts:
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Dawnedlightly · 17/07/2017 17:01

The third way is surely that no 7 yo
should wear nail varnish to school. What does it say in the rules?

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Hoppinggreen · 17/07/2017 17:01

No you shouldn't and neither should you let your 7 year old daughter if you have one
It's not a sexuality issue it's a what age appropriate to wear for school issue

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Possumfish · 17/07/2017 17:01

Does school actually allow nail varnish? Many don't.

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grasspigeons · 17/07/2017 17:01

Well I wouldn't let a girl wear nail varnish to school so wouldn't get in a pickle saying no to a boy.

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Justhadmyhaircut · 17/07/2017 17:02

No nail varnish at our school regardless of who you are. . .

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Sirzy · 17/07/2017 17:02

Is it actually allowed? Most schools I know don't allow nail varnish

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Justgivemesomepeace · 17/07/2017 17:02

No because no one should be wearing nail varnish to school Confused

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Whosthemummynow · 17/07/2017 17:02

Kids aren't allowed nail varnish at school.....

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Saiman · 17/07/2017 17:02

I have never known a school allow kids to wear nail varnish. Regardless of gender.

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SasBel · 17/07/2017 17:03

Another one saying no nail varnish or makeup at school regardless of the sex of the child.

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AfunaMbatata · 17/07/2017 17:03

No nail varnish unless clear at most schools.

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Saiman · 17/07/2017 17:04

Oh and my male boss wears nail varnish. Always in his toes sometimes in his hands. He is neither 'camp', gay or transgender. He just likes it.

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BenLui · 17/07/2017 17:04

No seven year old should be wearing nail varnish at school or anywhere else.

His sex is irrelevant.

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MissTakesOurMaid · 17/07/2017 17:04

What are the school's policies on nail polish? Do they let girls wear nail polish? If no, obviously, don't let your boy wear nail polish.

Plus, wearing nail polish won't 'make your child gay' and isn't instantly 'camp' - as a 25yo man making the choice to wear nail polish then it could be considered camp but... he's only a little boy, OP! It doesn't matter, surely and at this age isn't an indicator that he'll be gay?! Confused - I wouldn't let worries of 'what if he turns out gay?' cloud your view, that's a bit ridiculous.

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trinity0097 · 17/07/2017 17:04

Nail varnish and make up are not allowed at school

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PossumInAPearTree · 17/07/2017 17:06

Let him wear it st weekends and remove on a Sunday evening. Schools don't tend to let any 7yo wear nail varnish.

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Bigbiscuits · 17/07/2017 17:23

He is 7 years old. He like to dress up like other 7 year olds.

It is not a predictor of anything (if it were, I would not have let my DS buy the monkey outfit he so despitately wanted when he was 7 Grin)

But just as my DS was not allowed to wear monkey outfit at school, your DS (and every other kids at school) is not allowed to wear nail varnish at school.

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goingagain · 17/07/2017 17:27

Goodness me... the fact he wants to wear nail varnish at 7 means nothing! FWIW my 4 and 3 year old boys love wearing it but they are not allowed to wear it at school (obviously).

Seems you are way over thinking this. He shouldn't have it on at school but if he wants to wear it at home then fine. Don't make it into a girl or boy thing (I had to stop myself saying 'usually only girls wear nail varnish'), it's just a fun thing for them like having their face painted or whatever.

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goingagain · 17/07/2017 17:27

Boys are 5 and 3 btw (almost 6 and 4)

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SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 17/07/2017 17:28

My now 12 year old used to love wearing bright pink nail varnish. He didn't wear it to school as it wasn't allowed for any child.

He used to like dressing in princess outfits at the play area.

He's grown out of it.

Not sure how a 7 year old can be regarded as camp to be honest.

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TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 17/07/2017 17:30

Show him his choices are perfectly normal by letting him choose a nice colour for himself but don't let him wear it to school.

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Twoprinces · 17/07/2017 17:33

There is no mention of nail varnish in the school uniform policy and many of the girls do wear it. I was shocked that it was allowed and I'd already told him it wasn't as I just assumed it wouldnt be.

If I question the policy with school then I will be the grinch to every other little girl and their parents.

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RiverTam · 17/07/2017 17:35

We are a non-uniform school and I think nail varnish is allowed. If it is allowed then yes, why not? No one would bat an eyelid in our school, there's a boy with hair halfway down his back.

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Haudyerwheesht · 17/07/2017 17:38

Yeah I'd probably allow it - my daughter is 6 and wears nail varnish to school

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WaxyBean · 17/07/2017 17:40

In our School no children can wear nail polish. My DC (boys aged 5 and 7) regularly have painted toe nails (eldest in football team colours, youngest likes glitters). Staff and pupils have seen them while they have been changing for PE - it has never been an issue for anyone. DC shrug off any comments about it being girly.

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