Children wearing tails?

I understand. I've also taught for much of my working life. Sadly there are a number of parents on this thread attesting to their own daughters doing this (at secondary level) along with parents with children having to put up with kids in their schools displaying this age inappropriate behaviour.

I'm certain this is a minority of schools and that where it's happening it's a toxic combination of parents scared to say no to their children and a school seeing this as part of their "being kind and accept everything" perspective with all the adults being unwilling to take the firm "No, inappropriate for school. Restrict this to drama and outside school".

I really wish this was an urban myth but sadly there's too much evidence that it is happening in a minority of schools. Teenagers deserve much better "boundary enforcement" from the adults around them.

I saw a grown woman wearing a tail last week. Not fancy dress, just shorts and a tail whilst doing her shopping in Sainsbury's. Didn't like it at all. It made me look at her arse!

So George Galloway was ahead of the trend.

The world has gone mad.

@MrsOvertonsWindow - I do not know of any secondary school where this would be allowed. Action would be taken in the first instance. There would be no referral to "councillors" (sic), but robust measures put in place, involving parents and possible referral to outside agencies.

So professionals sit in a Child in Need (safeguarding) related meeting say of a 13 year old . And if said teenage girl is dressing and performing as a cat and displaying age inappropriate behaviour in a secondary school, nobody addresses this? No exploring the likelihood relating to her peers / adults in school in role as a teenage girl might go some way to improve her social isolation / anxiety /peer problems /bullying / inappropriate adult /child relationships etc?

And these discussions aren't being had in professional meetings about a child with problems because professionals worry they'd be charged with "ignoring the voice of the child"?

It does go some way to explain why in certain schools there are unbelievably issues about this but fgs, surely it must be possible to explore why a teenager is stuck role playing behaviour that is more suited to a primary child?

Not meaning to be critical but it's hard to see the professionals behaviour in ignoring this as professional neglect ?

My son is only 5 so I don't know much about what the "things" are for tweens on the whole, but I do see a few kids about 10-13 (maybe) around town and at the park wearing tails or ears etc. Usually just one or two in a group of half a dozen, the rest who aren't wearing them.

I'm guessing it's probably a very mixed bag. You'll get kids who just wear a tail at weekends because they think it's funny or cute or whatever, then you'll get others wanting to do it at school and taking it further. Some might do it out of a genuine feeling that it makes them feel more comfortable, which yes is a bit weird but I'm not gonna judge, kids are weird sometimes. Others will be doing it for a reaction, a way to push the envelope. Either way that's in the realm of normal kid stuff, but shouldn't be allowed to disrupt lessons etc.

As for the fetish thing... It's a very rocky ground I think. Because I'm sure most of these kids will be doing it innocently, even ones wanting a reaction, it won't be a fetish/sexual thing, it'll be a "look how different I am" thing...

BUT there are definitely communities of adults who are into the furry scene on a whole other level and parents really need to ensure they're being vigilant here. If they're going online to chat to people about it or research costume ideas and all of that, there's a real chance of them falling on something they shouldn't or getting sucked in to something very toxic. Especially if they're using the furry identity to feel more secure because in "real life" they are struggling. It makes them very vulnerable and sadly there are those out there who would prey on that.

You don't think there's any harm that your child is aware of, and also role playing an adult sexual fetish? How did she even become aware of it?

There's a difference between dressing up for a couple of hourse, but identifying as a cat/dragon/aardvark is not normal. It's bad enough that the world is full of kids wearing else costumes all day.
Nothing is a 'treat' anymore. It's pampering to every whim

It doesn't matter if you only know kids who would find it embarrassing, or if you personally find it appropriate.

That doesn't mean it's linked to furries or anything sexual or worrying.

It's an 11 year old kid wearing cat ears at drama club. What do you think it means?

Wtf?
40 years ago, she'd be seeing a psychiatrist, just as those adults who identified as Jesus did
Anyone who encourages this shit in kids is enabling future problems

I'm agreeing with you. I was answering the other poster's question and am saying that it's only linked in that it's a thing that children like, in the same way as lollipops. There is nothing offensive about it.

???

Ithink people are getting a bit mixed up.

Sure, some little;e kids have always played at being animals, they come up with it themselves. Or characters from cartoons like Lion King.

The therian thing though seems to come right from the adult scene which is very much about some of the alternate identities, and is also very often tied up in alternate sexual identities. It is desperate to legitimize itself by drawing in young people.

There is also some relation to certain kinds of anime which seems to be filled with creepy men - this is largely I expect related to some of the really nasty school girl sexual fetishes found within some anime.

And honestly, the who comic con culture and cosplay culture seems to be rife with a lot of it. Not that everyone is into it, but I think there is some very unhealthy alternate identity activity going on with a lot of people at these events now.

I was big into RPGs when I was young and loved the old school comic cons, but I find they've become a little worrying, There were always plenty of nerdy guys (mostly nerdy guys) but now so many seems to be drawn into some very odd directions. I suppose it's the internet.

This is exactly what I was going to post.

Just because they have never heard of it, it doesn't exist. It's an urban myth!!

Some really poor parenting going on here.

There’s no link between Studio Ghibli films and grooming. (Unless you want to count the little girls in “My Neighbor Totoro” taking a bath with their dad, but from what I understand, that was normal in that era in Japan because it took a long time for people in rural areas to heat water.) Anime is animation from Japan, not a type of genre or subject matter.

It hasn't 'now' become a thing originally from adult fetishes.

30 odd years ago kids were into this stuff and many of them are now adults into this stuff. Most have no fetish connection with it.

How do I know? Been there, seen it, taken part in some of it as a teen, still know lots of adults who were kids at the time etc.

It actually is entirely harmless. Discouraging kids from being allowed to dress with ears and a tail when they're expressing themselves and enjoying something harmless is ridiculous.

The only thing which needs watching is if they end up on the kind of social media they shouldn't have access to in the first place, where they might join groups for the minority of adults who do take it further go.

It's no different to how many of us love to dress up or cosplay for fun and because we are into fandoms or enjoy making the outfits, but you'll always get people who like to dress as medical staff, candystripers and school girls etc for sexual role play.

I mean, have you ever heard of sploshing? Go have a Google. You all going to ban cakes and sweets and midnight feasts at kids slumber parties? Of course not.

Sorry to derail but does this have anything to do with the fact that I saw a young women in her early twenties stroking her pet, erm, stuffed cat in its pushchair the other day? She was on the bus in front of me, talking to a friend. I know it’s impossible to tell but she seemed of sound mind.

@stonedaisy
I don't think any pre teens are going to 'do it to you' you're quite safe
I agree, it's just the annoying ones that I get through my job that insist on meowing at me!

I really can't be arsed with it and as I said in an earlier post it soon stops when they realise they are going to miss out ( i'm sorry ( young person) cats aren't allowed in the cinema, ,you are going to have to stay behind tonight)

Flat out no. Sorry.

I don't think any pre teens are going to 'do it to you' you're quite safe

My friends daughter is into this.. there's also a thing called quading i think where you run about on your hands and feet (at a park or a beach for example)
I think it's maybe about getting into the mindset of being an animal. Kids that just live for animals tend to be interested in the trend. Thats my interpretation anyway pretty harmless if a little immature*
If any one quading to me while I sat on a bench I certainly would not be happy ,impressed or amused.

Agreed. Not misinformation. There's one as my ds secondary school too. Identifies as a cat, disrupting lessons meowing on all fours. I wish I was joking.

They've surely been suspended for persistently disruptive behaviour? That cannot be allowed in any school.

I wish I could say the kids I deal with had been suspended but no! Is all about their 'mental health ' and fear of discrimination that allow these kids to contine and their spineless parents just shugging their shoulders and say ' well what can you do?'
Personally I have loads of ideas about what they could do but professional boundaries means my mouth stays shut at CIN meetings otherwise I would be disciplined for not supporting 'the voice of the child," and their ' wishes and feelings' that ride over any parental concern (allegedly)

I'm sick of this bullshit if in case you can't tell!

Huh? I didn’t say that. We certainly don’t have mistresses leading adults dressed as dogs with children patting them! I do think it must be hard for people in the LBGTQ community here though as very little in terms of Pride type activity. I never see gay couples walking hand in hand or kissing, and it’s a very non diverse area. Very white. A bit behind the times. It will hopefully change but for now I’ll be pleased I’m not faced with men pretending to be dogs in public!

My friends daughter is into this.. there's also a thing called quading i think where you run about on your hands and feet (at a park or a beach for example)
I think it's maybe about getting into the mindset of being an animal. Kids that just live for animals tend to be interested in the trend. Thats my interpretation anyway pretty harmless if a little immature

Because there are no teen issues whatsoever in the country side ?!