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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 10:50

So possibly yes a school for future posties...

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:49

@BrimfulOfMash The author of Postman Pat worked as a teacher at Castle Park school in Kendal, he was a friend of my mum. I met him in Chester when I was little and he signed his book.

OP posts:
EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 06/12/2023 10:49

Or third option they have a kid like my son.
You're welcome to come round and try and get my 8 year old to wear long pants. He has a cupboard full of them, when he grows out of them I give them away completely unworn and buy new ones in the eternal hope that he'll one day wear long pants in winter. He can't stand the feel of them. The closest I've gotten is long socks and long shorts. He hasn't gotten sick from it, it's not causing him any harm, make of it what you will, but he's the one in the family that never catches anything.

JanS17 · 06/12/2023 10:48

My DH wears shorts all year round basically unless it’s snowing. I don’t understand it at all but unless you know the reason I don’t think it’s particularly dangerous….

Original poster
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...

OP posts:
SENlife · 06/12/2023 10:47

We are also North West on the Coast nothing will get my eldest to put trousers on, won't even wear socks. No matter how cold it is 🤷🏻‍♀️ some kids just prefer it. My dad also only ever wears shorts, unless skiing or it's a special occasion 👌 something my headteacher always used to ask me about as a child actually 🤣

Calliopespa · 06/12/2023 10:47

I sometimes think this, but for some reason children don’t seem to mind cold legs. Perhaps they are ( often) so skinny there isn’t much insulation going on there anyway! The one that gets me is babies in the pram in winter with little feet sticking out and just thin cotton socks on ( and sometimes a lost one!). They can’t even run about for warmth.

CharityShopChic · 06/12/2023 10:47

ChimChimeny · 06/12/2023 09:16

DD used to have swimming lessons with a boy who wore shorts pretty much all year round, unless it was snowing. He just preferred them 🤷🏻‍♀️

My youngest was exactly the same. We are in Scotland and when he was 7 or 8 he refused trousers entirely. He didn't like the "flappy" feeling around his legs. He found the centrally heated school too hot to wear trousers and only had a short 5 minute walk there from home. Spent his playtimes running around like wee boys do.

We could well afford to buy him school trousers but he refused to wear them and preferred shorts. Wasn't the only one either.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 10:46

the children I noticed didn't have warm coat, hat or gloves.

OP posts:
CharlotteBog · 06/12/2023 10:44

The worst thing about starting secondary school for both my boys was that they HAD to wear long trousers. They wore shorts all year round at school.
It's not like they're outside for long stretches, and when they are they're (hopefully) running around.

Ryeman · 06/12/2023 10:44

My sons both prefer shorts for school and outside of school. My oldest is in secondary school now, but I cannot get my youngest (7) to wear trousers to school, no matter how hard I try. I pick my battles.

BrimfulOfMash · 06/12/2023 10:42

KnickerlessParsons · 06/12/2023 10:34

Is it a school for budding postmen by any chance?

😂

BrimfulOfMash · 06/12/2023 10:40

There is a cafe on the corner of my road which is popular with trades workers. I am fascinated how many choose to wear shorts, whatever the weather. They sit outside too, so that they can smoke.

But at least grown men have hairy legs to keep them warm.

Schoolchoicesucks · 06/12/2023 10:40

It was shorts all year round when I was at junior school in the 80s. My nephews wore shorts year round at junior school out of choice until a couple of years ago (when they moved to secondary and weren't allowed). Friend's son in Cumbria wears shorts year round out of school as well. Unless they're sitting/standing still for long periods it's unlikely to do them harm. If they have warm coat, gloves etc. I think it's unlikely to be about cost or poverty as school trousers can be bought as cheaply as school shorts. It probably is the child's preference.

blabla2023 · 06/12/2023 10:37

My oldest hates trousers. He wears short with cotton cycling shorts underneath, and long socks with waterproof shoes. probably warmer than the girls with thin tights and ballet flat shoes.
Why is it expected and ok for girls to freeze and boys need to be extra warm?

LlynTegid · 06/12/2023 10:36

Not an issue to me as long as the school is accepting of long trousers being worn if child and/or parents want this.

Velvian · 06/12/2023 10:36

My DH has recently and inexplicably become a 'shorts man'. I did not sign up for it.

TinPanSally · 06/12/2023 10:34

I've spent years trying to get my boy into trousers. He wore them through his secondary years only because the school uniform ones didn't go down to his waist size and kept falling down. Once home, they were straight off.

He's now in the sixth form, and is back in shorts.

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/12/2023 10:34

One of our son’s friends would wear nothing but shorts out of choice, whatever the weather. Simply wouldn’t tolerate trousers. So I wouldn’t rush to judge.

maddiemookins16mum · 06/12/2023 10:34

Discuss? Hate that expression on posts. However, shorts and socks? no different from a skirt and socks really.

KnickerlessParsons · 06/12/2023 10:34

Is it a school for budding postmen by any chance?

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 06/12/2023 10:33

I had a weird child who wouldn’t wear long trousers. Compromise was merino socks and long sleeve thermal top. Didn’t seem to feel the cold . He had ski trousers in his bag for snow. They largely went unworn.

MilitantMommyBFArmy4Life · 06/12/2023 10:33

The tone of the op is extremely irritating.

Discuss? This is not an RE exam. No, we don't need to dance for you op.

And who says gbp? Use the £ sign, thank you.

Oblomov23 · 06/12/2023 10:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

UnctuousUnicorns · 06/12/2023 10:32

Myfabby · 06/12/2023 10:16

plus the concept of 'owning' children is bizarre to me.

Show quote history

I wasn't sure at first if that was EFL, but the OP talks of being at school in NW England in the 80s and 90s, so clearly not. Agreed, it's very strange phrasing.