Summer Dresses and Underpants...

[glowfrog]

hello all

My 5 year-old DD is in Reception. It's that time of year for summer gingham dresses and I'm wondering whether I should get her shorts to wear under her dress and over her pants...

It seems OTT and I've surprised myself by being uncomfortable at the thought of her pants showing. It's not that I worry about pervy grown-ups, it's very much that it feels "rude" if they show.

Is there any kind of consensus about this??

[Justmadeperfectflapjacks]

Is your dd find of pulling her dress up?? My dds are 10+11 and would never of thought of shorts underneath a dress.

[SkeletonSkins]

As a teacher, I find that lots and lots of girls feel more comfortable wearing shorts. Also makes changing for PE very quick! Ask her - if she's not bothered I wouldn't bother.

[Borntoflyinfirst]

My 6 year old wears cycling shorts under her summer dress. Her choice as she spends half her life upside down. My older dd did for a while too but she's too old for handstands and summer dresses now 😭

[DayGlo]

My 8 yr old asked herself if I could get her horns last summer, as she loves doing cartwheels and said some silly boys had laughed at seeing her knickers. Wouldn't have occurred to me to suggest it otherwise, but was happy to accommodate.

[DayGlo]

thorns = shorts

[OffRoader]

I teach this age group and often see little girls trying to hold their skirts so their knickers don't show when hanging upside down on the climbing frame etc. It definitely restricts play.

On the other hand I have a little girl who is so excited about being able to wear a summer dress now the weather's brightened up!

I'd rather she just wore shorts (no dress) but she had her own ideas. I'd probably just go with whatever DD wants to do.

[TakeASipOfDancingJuice]

I bought these last summer for my girls to wear under their dresses

[ScarletPower]

Would she be able to wear a playsuit - Asda are selling Gingham ones from £4 in their uniform store
direct.asda.com/george/school/dresses/girls-school-gingham-playsuit-light-blue/GEM423334,default,pd.html

[Bloggybollocks]

We have had a letter home from school stating if girls want to wear summer dresses then they MUST wear cycling shorts underneath. Apparently underwear is on show if they do handstands etc and it's not appropriate! It doesn't affect me as I have boys but I was a bit

[BarneyRumbleton]

That gingham playsuit is so cool! I'd have loved that as a kid. It's so practical.
Otherwise, ask her what she thinks. If sh 's a gymnastic type, like I was, she may well appreciate shorts under her dress.

[BackforGood]

Good grief.
I've only ever seen this discussed on Mn, and I just think it's pretty sad that it is even a question.
Myself and all my peers, my dds and all their peers, and all the dds I've taught in virtually 30 yrs have never had a problem with this.
Surely, if they are wearing pants, then the pants cover their bodies, and that's the end of it.
It really doesn't matter if anyone catches a glimpse of a small child's pants whilst they are playing.

[Trb17]

Most of the girls in DD's school wear shorts under all year round to allow cartwheeling without exposure. Seems to be the norm with all her peers and I didn't think it was worth getting my knickers in a twist about it if she prefers it then fair enough. Asda sell good ones too.

[mrz]

"That gingham playsuit is so cool! I'd have loved that as a kid. It's so practical" really? She'll have to take it off every time she visits the toilet!

[dementedpixie]

I don't think playsuits are practical either as you have to unzip and take the whole thing down to go to the toilet

[BarneyRumbleton]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that aspect!

[Trb17]

All I could think about when I saw those play suits was the fact that they'll have to get undressed to go to the loo and the top half will probably drape on the toilet floor while they go

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Both my Dds have those black shorts as pants. Dd1 wears little cycling shorts u see her dresses and skirts. I have however not made her nor has the school she just prefers to and I tho k making a big deal about not wearing them would probably be more damaging than letting her wear them. I have told her and she does know however that she shouldn't feel she has to cover up her pants and if anyone has problem catching sight of then it is their problem not hers. But shes like me tbh and I don't like the feel of just pants I always wear leggings or bikini bottoms under dresses or skirts.

Dd2 hasn't started to wear them yet and she dangles upside down frequently

[glowfrog]

Thanks all - I think I'll leave it to her to decide. If she mentions being uncomfortable then I'll get some.

[SilverLeafClover]

I am shocked little girls are encouraged to wear shorts underneath dresses.

Either a uniform is fit for purpose or not. Why don't the school allow them to just wear shorts and tee shirt?

[Millybingbong]

I ought those playsuits I thought they were good. In reality my dds shunned them big style.

Back to dresses here. I don't care about pants on show. That is what they are for - to cover the bottom.

[Millybingbong]

Also do has been wearing long socks for a few weeks anyway so this situation is not new here.

[catkind]

Sounds sensible to me OP. Not that little girls have anything to show or hide, but we do talk about it being not good manners to show your underwear in public generally. And I'd rather not at some point in future have to explain now you're 8/10/15 you should show some modesty - or however you do explain it.

Am still hoping to convince DD that shorts would be much more sensible. She says herself that she can't sit on the carpet properly in her dress, and if she does handstands it's over her eyes shorts or not. But dresses still seem to be the thing. There's hope yet, over the winter she had trousers phases and pinafores phases.

DD before the holiday managed to go to school in her summer dress with no pants on at all one day!

[sirfredfredgeorge]

I expect they do SilverLeafClover but some girls or maybe parents like them to wear dresses or skirts instead. DD's class allows shorts, but she's the only one I've ever seen at pick up etc. - although more wear trousers in the cold, DD wears shorts almost all year.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Either a uniform is fit for purpose or not. Why don't the school allow them to just wear shorts and tee shirt?

I'm my Dds case she hates trousers and the shirts are the same material so they would just make her itch. We have had a few attempts at finding comfortable skirts too.

So she opts for what she knows doesn't cause too many problems.

However of she could wear leggings and t shirts/vests we would he very happy

[glowfrog]

Maybe an alternative is skorts...