Page 5 | To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

DragonMumE · 2023-12-06T09:13:43+00:00

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?

RoxyRoo2011 · 07/12/2023 11:19

Wow! Judgemental much? My son is still wearing shorts to school. If it’s ok for the postie it’s fine for him. FYI I can afford trousers. He has 4 pairs in his wardrobe but HE chooses shorts and that’s fine with me. If he comes home and says he got cold today can he wear trousers tomorrow? Also ok with me.

gretathebetter · 07/12/2023 11:16

Snickers23 · 07/12/2023 10:53

My son wears shorts all year round and we are also in the Lakes. He likes shorts, he is more comfortable in them and claims he does not feel the cold on his legs when I encourage him to wear trousers. He is well wrapped up otherwise, waterproof hooded coat, hat and gloves but insists on wearing shorts. Many of his friends wear them as well. So you think I’m neglecting my child? I think it would be a good idea for you to mind your own business and let people be! You and your children may like to be well wrapped up and toasty and that’s fine but that doesn’t not make other people bad parents or neglecting their children because their children like to dress differently.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 this entirely.

Spareincoming · 07/12/2023 11:10

Mine were shorts all year round. We’re in the borders. They prefer them and I pick my battles, shorts vs trousers before school is not an argument I want.

That said, one of the DC would happily wear a skirt as he’s been taken with the idea since his first kilt wearing at a wedding this summer.

thecatsthecats · 07/12/2023 11:05

I went to a rural Lake District school growing up, and am as much of a coat refuser as I was then. It's not that I don't feel the cold, I just don't feel it negatively if that makes sense?

Regr · 07/12/2023 11:03

I’m a shorts all year person and as a kid, although briefly went into skirt and shorts when I started to feel the peer pressure of being the only girl in shorts! Some people just run hot or hate the sensory of trousers i remember epic strops when I was forced to wear them!

Divaprincess · 07/12/2023 10:59

Don't judge as you don't know the reason why. My son has sensory issues with clothes as such he never zips his coat up. So annoying, but the way I think is he will if he gets cold.

gemma19846 · 07/12/2023 10:53

Girls used to have to wear skirts in the middle of winter until a few years ago. When i was at high school you would get a detention for wearing pants! (Girls) Id say you just look after your own children and dont worry about others in shorts. There could be many reasons! My teenager refuses to wear a coat to and from high school because he has to carry it around all day

Snickers23 · 07/12/2023 10:53

My son wears shorts all year round and we are also in the Lakes. He likes shorts, he is more comfortable in them and claims he does not feel the cold on his legs when I encourage him to wear trousers. He is well wrapped up otherwise, waterproof hooded coat, hat and gloves but insists on wearing shorts. Many of his friends wear them as well. So you think I’m neglecting my child? I think it would be a good idea for you to mind your own business and let people be! You and your children may like to be well wrapped up and toasty and that’s fine but that doesn’t not make other people bad parents or neglecting their children because their children like to dress differently.

gretathebetter · 07/12/2023 10:32

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:19

I own 2 lads. They and I like to be toasty warm

Good lord.

Own?

FWIW it's been -8 here this week (highlands) son (8) still in shorts. I offered trousers. "I'm not cold and I don't like trousers".

But then he is sentient. Soooo

paddlinglikecrazy · 07/12/2023 10:26

My two are the opposite and won’t wear school shorts even when it’s hot 🤷‍♀️
They wear shorts at home but prefer long trousers for school.
Constant ripped knees playing football too 🙄
They have mates that won’t entertain long trousers & only wear shorts whatever the weather, they’re all fine 😁

Longdarkcloud · 06/12/2023 16:53

The official line at DD’s school, where the boys wore shorts, was that it was better (and warmer) than sitting round all day in wet/damp long pants. No suggestion girls should wear long pants rather than skirts, either

Legendairy · 06/12/2023 16:49

DSs school uniform was shorts and long socks all year. They were always warm enough, its never -3 in the South though 😂

UnctuousUnicorns · 06/12/2023 16:47

CatamaranViper · 06/12/2023 15:16

I'm very sorry but the 1960s were only 40 years ago and I won't hear otherwise.

Show quote history

I think you'll find they were actually twenty years ago.

MotherofWhippets81 · 06/12/2023 16:06

My ND DD9 is still in shorts. That's what he wants to wear. He's got a t-shirt, jumper and coat on.

Bit of a jump to it's neglect 🙄

User2856948 · 06/12/2023 16:01

cobden28 · 06/12/2023 12:09

Sixty years ago, in the very cold winter of 1962/3, schoolboys wore short trousers all year round because all boys wore short trousers then until they left school and started their working lives.

Nobody then thought it was 'neglect' to have a schoolboy in shorts in the depths of winter, so why are folk worrying about that nowadays?

Yep, me too, in my school skirt and long socks, I started school that year, I can't recall I ever wore tights

DappledThings · 06/12/2023 15:19

CatamaranViper · 06/12/2023 15:16

I'm very sorry but the 1960s were only 40 years ago and I won't hear otherwise.

Show quote history

Makes sense as the 90s were only 10 years ago and that's a fact.

CatamaranViper · 06/12/2023 15:16

cobden28 · 06/12/2023 12:09

Sixty years ago, in the very cold winter of 1962/3, schoolboys wore short trousers all year round because all boys wore short trousers then until they left school and started their working lives.

Nobody then thought it was 'neglect' to have a schoolboy in shorts in the depths of winter, so why are folk worrying about that nowadays?

I'm very sorry but the 1960s were only 40 years ago and I won't hear otherwise.

mistlethrush · 06/12/2023 15:02

My son was considering getting one of the skirts that are on the uniform list so that he didn't have to wear long trousers (year 11)... and his normal attire is shorts - he hates wearing trousers most of the time. Even his scout leader gave up trying to make him wear trousers unless they were going somewhere where he was likely to pick up ticks... I've got photos of him in the snow in his sandals and shorts....

Wakeywake · 06/12/2023 14:59

Shorts are compulsory uniform for boys at my kids' school all year around. We are in Scotland, it's never been an issue.

GladioliandSweetPeas · 06/12/2023 14:55

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:48

My middle child only wanted to wear 1 sock today. ASC so no point in arguing. I managed to get 1 on. Small victories...

I think you mean ASD

MargaretThursday · 06/12/2023 14:53

Ds is 16yo. He has, by choice only worn shorts at school right the way up.
It was - 7 last year. I asked him if he wanted me to get him some trousers and he said no.

GladioliandSweetPeas · 06/12/2023 14:52

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:20

I also went to school in 80s/90s. All the boys had long trousers unless it was very hot. It's def colder in North West!

Not as cold as up here in the north east!

GladioliandSweetPeas · 06/12/2023 14:51

NoTango · 06/12/2023 09:18

My daughter wears a skirt and long socks to school every day. Is that neglect? The school has heating ...

Unless her school has indoor playtimes and underground/heated car parking along with your home, so therefore she doesn't go outside then she's going to get cold

ManorPiggyWig · 06/12/2023 14:38

My 12 year old wears a skirt with socks year round and won't be told. She hates tights.

meganorks · 06/12/2023 14:36

Not neglect. I doubt very much it is anything to do with the parents. The boys I know who wear shorts all weather do so because they want to. My daughter refuses to wear tights or trousers so she too is out bare-legged.