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

My oldest would wear shorts all year if given the option, wears them all the time at home and wore them every single day of year 6. Youngest won't wear shorts and will even wear trousers in 30 degree heat in summer. They both have plenty of alternative options, they just choose not to wear them. I do think it's a sensory thing, with a possible dash of contrariness for the youngest as doing the opposite thing to his brother.

My DS will only wear shorts, he has a drawer full of brand new trousers but refuses to wear them. Most of the boys in his class only wear shorts as well. His reasoning is that he doesn’t like sitting in wet trousers after playing football at lunch!

My son is 10 and will point blank refuse to wear school trousers. He has some but will not wear them. I don’t think he has worn school trousers since he was about 5 (his choice). He doesn’t really wear trousers at all. No sensory issues just prefers shorts.

I could insist he wear them but then that’s causing an argument between us. He’s not outside for long during the school day.

I know men and boys who never wear long trousers. Find them uncomfortable. Good socks are the important bit.

My 6 yr old hates the school trousers so he chooses to wear shorts all year round. No neglect happening here. Lots of boys at his school do the same. Also some may have sensory issues/ sen etc so don’t be so judgemental, what’s it got to do with you?!

I’m in the North West. My son wore shorts every day of the year at school. He was gutted when he had to wear long trousers at secondary school.

It’s not neglect for goodness sake. They aren’t in -3 during the day. They are indoors most of that time.

This sounds like a case of you projecting your sensory needs onto other people.

Postmen seem to prefer shorts all year round! I see lots of guys of all ages around who wear shorts in winter. And girls/women wearing skirts. If the child is happy, then great.

Dd wore shorts for the entirety of her primary school years - because she wanted to. We live in eastern Scotland minus 3 and colder is a regular occurrence. She was far from alone. Many of the boys also chose to wear shorts. Definitely not neglect and we'd have laughed at you if you'd suggested a clothes bank for our children. Now she's in high school and wears 30/40 denier tights which imo is worse. I always ask her are her feet not freezing as at least with shorts she was in cozy socks but she says not and she knows better than me 🤷🏼‍♀️

Are you from the south OP?

Lots of kids and adult men wear shorts all year round in the north east too so I'm thinking there maybe a bit of a north/south divide.

There are memes full of Geordies and no coats.

I work in a school. These kids come in with hats, gloves, coats, jumpers etc...and then try to go out for play/lunch break in nothing but their shorts/skirts and t -shirts. They'll try to convince you that they didn't wear a coat in. Many kids don't feel the cold like we do, others find the shorts more comfortable. On the coldest day so far, the adults were wearing multiple layers, meanwhile kids were out playing ball games without coats or jumpers...despite repeatedly being checked on to make sure they weren't cold. Coats and jumpers end up hanging on fences or in piles on a bench. It's certainly not a case of neglect... its rather judgemental that that is the conclusion you would jump to.

I know two (unrelated) boys who all through primary school chose to be in shorts no matter the weather.

Are the children you're seeing huddled up, shivering and trying to keep warm - or are they running round with rosy cheeks happily oblivious?

My DS has a lot of sensory issues related to ASD diagnosis. He will not wear trousers, it's shorts and short sleeve shirt all year round. I send him in with a jumper and coat but he usually comes out without them. When he was little I would dress him warmly and he would just take it all off!

I love to be snuggly and warm. My son however wears shorts all year round and no coat most of the time. I would have judged me before I got this kid. He just takes his coat off and if I put him in trousers he rolls them up. He's never sick or anything so... pick my battles. He's always running around so never cold.

I also know many grown ass adults who wear shorts year round too! or live in dresses
I personally hardly ever put s coat on or jumper maybe direct result of my hardened skin from that time in primary wearing skirts and socks in November 🤣

Oh get a grip lol
may school in primary the uniform was shorts and long socks all year round for boys and skirts and socks for girls back in the 80s and wind, rain or snow!

as far as I know the uk have had zero deaths or loss of limbs from shorts worn by children ti school 🤦‍♀️🤣

My 4 year old will only wear shorts. I have tried to get him to wear trousers but then he ends up going to school upset. I worry people think it’s neglect but would think anyone with kids would understand! The school prefer him to come in happy. And previous generations had to wear shorts all year round and survived! I would say don’t judge if you don’t know the circumstances.

My son is autistic and lives in shorts all year. Can occasionally get him in a pair of Jogging bottoms but hates school trousers . He's 12 now!

When my son was in primary school, he absolutely refused to wear anything but shorts all year around. Even when it snowed. He was in a group of very sporty boys and they were all the same. It is not neglect but choice. It was also not a financial issue. The long trousers languished in the cupboard with the labels on and unworn. I eventually donated them to the school uniform shop.

My DC's wore shorts to primary school out of choice all year round. They had lovely little golden coloured legs and white sock marks in those days. If you're active and wrapped up warm your knees don't really get cold.
It was a sensory thing for DD too.

I work in a high school. The girls wear extremely short skirts and refuse to even entertain the idea of tights. They have to wait outside in the morning until their teacher brings them in. They could wear trousers. I’d be shocked if it were more than 5% that do.

Private school here - boys are in shorts and long socks all year. They love it, have never complained of being cold.
If school allows options then kids should be able to choose, nothing neglectful about it. School age children have a voice and can express their opinions and advise if they are cold.

Why are you projecting your own comfort level onto others?

I frequently don’t dress appropriately for the weather by other people’s standards. I tend not to worry about other people’s standards though, because what I wear actually has no impact on anyone else.

I personally think a uniform bank is a great idea. Our school PFA redistributes second hand uniform in good condition via their website. It saves money and gets use from perfectly good clothing. That said, your reason for this shouldn’t be being judgemental of other parents who are unlikely to be neglecting their kids simply by allowing them to wear shorts

Of course it isn't. My son always chose to wear shorts whatever the weather. I also teach and even this week it has been hard to get some of them to keep a coat on. They just get so hot running around.

Dd is now 13 and has always hated the feeling of tights, so refused to wear them throughout school. She still only wears a skirt with long socks!

I only realised my younger son didn’t even have school trousers when it snowed last year. I had to send him in joggers (he wanted to still wear shorts)

His only pair of trousers is one pair of jeans and they are very rarely worn.

In his defence the classrooms are very hot and he runs around all playtime.

my older son is the ONLY kid still wearing shorts in this weather at secondary school. He wears shorts and a T shirt with a coat over the top for on the way to school. It stays in his bag all day.

he has jumpers and trousers but he does not want to wear them. Whether it’s genuinely that he feels warm or just teen bravado I don’t know but I have plenty of other things to worry about!

He rarely wears a jumper out of school either and is still wearing pants or short pyjamas so…