Children wearing tails?

That's not what being a furry is tho? And schools should be not allowing this.

But I'd put this on the list of things that never happened.

My DS went through a phase of wearing a tail when he was about 5 I think. He's 17 now and no longer wears the tail!

I’d agree with that if it wasn’t for the internet rabbit hole when you search for stuff on it

I get what you’re saying. I do but at the end of the day it’s just a thing these kids do. They will grow out of it. Adults walking by in furry stuff are gonna get a funny look. Kids doing it are gonna get a oookay

I saw some in ikea as well!!! And there was a subservient with them.

is this a tik tok thing? This has to be a tik tok thing

I think you should do a bit more research. A huge chunk of the adult furry world is kink/fetish-orientated and there is plenty of (intentional on the part of the adults) online and RL crossover between the two worlds. Also a very strong narrative of 'choose your glitter/rainbow family', and that one's 'birth' parents are invalidating.

I'd honestly be very careful.

ETA - sorry I can see that lots of posters have already said similar.

There was a thing on TV years ago - Eurotrash- where the presenter poked fun at a bunch of people who stuffed a tail up their bum, put on ' bridles' and scampered round the woods starkers with ears on. Felt really sorry for then tbh. Young girls and older creepy blokes. Always the same.

Not sure letting at 13yr old play alone in the woods is a good idea, and certainly not dressed up as an animal. A dog walker could easily have a heart attack with shock.

What the actual hell

Come on. As a child it’s completely innocent. They don’t see it as a sexual thing. Older teens and adults sure, but not kids

The naivety on this thread is so bloody worrying

I think I read about this. It's astonishing that parents are happy with their children being remotely involved in anything relating to this. It's extremely worrying.

I mean, when I was a young teen I got really into vampires.

My father bought me a copy of Dracula, recommended a few songs by The Cure to satisfy my teenage angst, and allowed me to wear more "goth" clothes when I asked.

He didn't rush out to buy me a pair of vampire fangs and let me go out in public wearing them with a cape, covered in fake blood. He did not encourage me to become nocturnal or demand to be called Countess Von Giddy.

If these children are so interested in animals, get them involved in animal care somehow. For making costumes, get them involved with theatre groups. I just can't fathom the "Oh it's all fine, it's harmless and they're happy!" laid back approach. Pre-teens/teens doing their own thing is normal and absolutely a crucial part in developing their own identity. Why would any parent want that identity to be a furry?!

People complain about kids growing up too quickly, then when they try to act like kids, they still complain.

It's normal for kids to want to use their imagination and dress up. 11 year olds are still kids.

Let them wear it if they want, it's harmless.

@Sartre
Another one calling you out on your utter bullshit.

I work in a school and I'm involved in a number of other schools as I'm a safeguarding lead.
This training absolutely doesn't exist.

"It baffles me that anyone can have an inkling about furries and still think this is a normal and innocent hobby."

The people who are fetishists actively rely on the children dressing up aspect to normalise what they do. That way they can claim that they are being 'childlike' and having an innocent time.

There was a thread where two males walked in with their 'master' into IKEA. Complete with butt plug tails (not clip on but the ones that are inserted into the anus for sexual gratification) and there were many posters who dismissed this as 'just a bit of fun'.

I actually saw this the other week. Child of about 11/12 wearing fox ears, a fox mask and a fox tail. Was a bit by it

I don’t think you fully understand the situation here.

@Pookerrod ,

‘The schools are in a really difficult position though for fear of doing wrong. It needs to come from the parents.’

I don’t think schools are in a difficult position at all. I don’t think a head would get in any trouble from banning animal costumes to school.

Teachers, on the other hand, could be in a difficult position if the head and SLT don’t give good clear guidance, or go the wrong way and say animal identities should be respected.

I suspect the vast majority if schools would just enforce normal uniform, and (human) PE kit for PE.

Do their parents take them to the vet or GP? It must be difficult if a child with autism choses this as a special interest. But as it's anti social behaviour parents and teachers really shouldn't encourage it. It's socially inappropriate behaviour. Is not possible to redirect this interest to caring for animals?

This! Aside from the madness of allowing a teenage child to go off and play in the woods...why not channel this creativity, if that's truly all it is?

Get her involved with drama groups, if she's into cosplay there are absolutely groups for under 18s out there. Anything online needs to be monitored totally. Costume workshops, designing items of clothing or props, not just animal masks and tails!

It baffles me that anyone can have an inkling about furries and still think this is a normal and innocent hobby. Maybe that's where it begins, but the wider community and what it can lead to, nevermind what must be going on in a teenagers brain to want to do this?! Parents need to step the hell up.

This describes my daughter exactly even down to the grudge clothing and wearing the tail playing in the fields and trampolining and making her own masks.

I think it’s harmless and it makes her happy.