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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

364 replies

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:13

Just returned from rural primary school in Lakes. Young lads in school uniform shorts - it's minus 3 here. I class this as neglect. Discuss.

Are people struggling to afford winter school uniform? Aldi sells school trousers for less than a coffee (1.75 gbp?) Or worse are they indifferent?

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:40

Our nearest in a HMC school. Long trousers.

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:39

The dr mentioned that "Young girls were getting chilblains". She seemed convincing.

OP posts:
watchingtheworldwithwoe · 06/12/2023 09:39

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:18

Yeah, I get posh kids wear trousers. But brass monkeys it is!

Most of the private schools near us have shorts for the boys uniform until secondary school. I remember reading that the royals ensure the boys wear shorts until they reach a certain age too.

Ultravox · 06/12/2023 09:38

One of my DSs would only wear shorts from the age of 5 until he went to secondary school. I stopped buying school trousers for him as he never ever wore them. He would wear boots/coats/hats/gloves etc when it was really cold but just preferred shorts.

YouJustDoYou · 06/12/2023 09:37

Oh bore off, it's not neglect, they choose to wear it. The classrooms can get quite hot.

DappledThings · 06/12/2023 09:37

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:35

We were allowed trousers in 94 - a female Dr stated at a meeting about skirts that girls were getting ill. The trousers were so nice & warm.

Getting ill from wearing skirts? RIght.

I'm not sure if you think you are replying to specifc posts (the reply button doesn't work) or just adding random now posts deliberately.

Marionberry · 06/12/2023 09:37

DH didn’t wear long trousers to school at all till middle school, he is 55, just checked with him. Where I live which is up North though I was raised on the South coast many men are still pottering about in shorts. I was surprised to see a guy in shorts and t.shirt at the weekend, it snowed that evening. They are at least usually wearing coats. I saw an are you even British meme recently which was a postie in the snow delivering mail wearing shorts.

ladygindiva · 06/12/2023 09:37

My best friends son will not wear long trousers. He's asd and impossible to negotiate with. She gets him to school on time by picking her battles.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:37

oh hell aye to the marshmellows.

OP posts:
BMW6 · 06/12/2023 09:36

Don't be a dick OP.

So boys wearing kilts is neglect? Schoolgirls wearing skirts and socks, not tights?

TedLasto · 06/12/2023 09:36

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:17

I did wonder if it was a sensory thing and the children could be neurodiverse. My hands are red and I was barely out long. I'm wondering if we need to start a uniform bank.

I was going to say this. My daughter refuses to wear tights or trousers so is in dress and socks. She is autistic. She is fine.

MissDollyMix · 06/12/2023 09:36

I should add that I used to live in Maine (New England) where it gets SERIOUSLY cold (like -20) Boys still out in shorts, sometimes even flip flops once the temperature hit 0.

SirVixofVixHall · 06/12/2023 09:36

User2856948 · 06/12/2023 09:18

It's what most young boys wore in the 60s as school uniform with long grey socks, my brother did and it didn't affect him adversely. Is it the school uniform as you mention affording uniform.

I have a photograph of my older brother and his friends at Primary School, he must be about 7. There is reasonably heavy snow and they are all in shorts. I think boys then only went into long trousers when they went to secondary school. My Mum was very caring and and we always had good quality clothes, and warm Winter coats. DB certainly wasn’t neglected.
I sometimes see boys locally in shorts in Winter, some boys just seem to prefer them, so I don’t think it is a neglect issue.

Aturtleatemysandwich · 06/12/2023 09:36

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:29

I've a real fire on the go... toasting marshmellow and choccy buttons...

the classrooms are very warm so perhaps that sways the lads.

Marshmallows on a fire at 9am on a Wednesday?

Oblomov23 · 06/12/2023 09:36

OP is offensive. Do you know how serious the word Neglect is. Ask a SW'er. You idiot. FFS. Hmm

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:35

We were allowed trousers in 94 - a female Dr stated at a meeting about skirts that girls were getting ill. The trousers were so nice & warm.

OP posts:
JayoftheRed · 06/12/2023 09:35

My 7 year old point blank refuses to wear trousers. He hasn't worn anything longer than knee length since before covid. He's fine, and far from neglected. I mention it to him now and then and he looks at me like I'm mad.

My 11 year old wears trousers and hoodies in the height of summer. Again, when I gently suggest he might be too hot, he looks at me like I'm talking gibberish.

They know their own minds. They're fine.

firef1y · 06/12/2023 09:34

Evenstar · 06/12/2023 09:17

I know an adult who wears shorts all year round, they might prefer wearing them

Do you know me 🤣🤣🤣
Seriously I wear shorts virtually all year, I hate the feeling of material against my legs, maybe they do too.
OK I sometimes make concessions and wear knee length socks if it's way below freezing and I'm running, but there's a running joke in the village that if I'm wearing leggings/jeans then it must be really cold.

*I also never wear a hat, because...ick. wear the thinnest gloves I can find (and they usually come off quite quickly), can't wear anything woolen (ick again) or fleece. In case you haven't guessed I'm autistic with sensory issues around clothing

MrsMiagi · 06/12/2023 09:34

My child would wear shorts in the snow if hw could get away with it. Has always preferred shorts

Realowlette · 06/12/2023 09:34

My 7 year old is Autistic with SPD and will only wear shorts. We get a lot of funny looks in the cold but short of wrestling a pair of trousers onto him I can't force him. We've tried multiple types of styles and fabrics but he can't stand the feel.

Oblomov23 · 06/12/2023 09:34

Coldest you've even known it? 🤣

Neglect? 🤣

InvisibleDuck · 06/12/2023 09:34

I remember wearing skirt and socks to secondary school all year and being absolutely freezing in winter. (Trousers were not allowed. Tights were, technically, but they had to be opaque white and I never saw a single girl wearing them!)

I'd say YABU as it's not neglect if the boys are choosing to wear shorts. I do look askance at schools with a shorts-only policy though, posh tradition or not.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:33

it was minus 9 last week and snowing. Still shorts.

OP posts:
Benibidibici · 06/12/2023 09:33

Not unusual for boys in juniors especially to refuse trousers in all weathers!

DappledThings · 06/12/2023 09:32

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:30

We're a thermals and ski gloves kinda family.

OK. And some people feel the temperature differently. This can't be news to you.

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