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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that children in your child's class don't identify as animals?

280 replies

wotnofurries · 08/11/2024 14:39

inspired by the wearing a tail to school thread, I thought I'd see just how common or otherwise the whole furry/litter tray/identify as an animal thing really is.

Unreasonable = Yes, a child in my child's class does this.
Not Unreasonable = Don't be silly, never come across one in my life.

OP posts:
Anoisagusaris · 08/11/2024 14:48

How does a 7 year old even know the term ‘therian’?

Not a child, but a mother of a child at our school identifies as a cat apparently 🙄

TwattyMcFuckFace · 08/11/2024 14:45

Cornishmama1990 · 08/11/2024 14:41

My 7 year old daughter does this 🤦‍♀️ she says she identifies as a therian. I don't let her wear her tail to school of course. I actually think its very normal for children of this age to pretend to be animals but its the terminology she's picked up around it...

Show quote history

No it's really not normal.

It's normal for kids to pretend play at being lots of things - yes.

'Identifying' as an animal is certainly not and nor should it be encouraged.

At least not without seeking help for their mental health.

FinallySleep · 08/11/2024 14:45

🤷oh this seems to be a thing at my DCs school - especially yr 7 and 8, and mainly among the girls. Bit weird IMO! But I do remember in the 1980s a girl in my class (probably age 10/11 at the time) pretending to be a horse and galloping everywhere!! (I still remember her name and what she looked like! and her gallop!!). So maybe the 'new' 'furry' thing is not that unusual in terms of being a 'new' thing, just the 'identify as..' part of it is new(?)

DutchCowgirl · 08/11/2024 14:44

There was a small group of Therians in my sons primary school, but they went to secondary.
I don’t have any fundamental problems with this, the children don’t see this as something sexualized, it is what a small group of adults make of it (just like anime, goth, punk). It is a school without uniforms, not in uk.

Cornishmama1990 · 08/11/2024 14:41

wotnofurries · 08/11/2024 14:39

inspired by the wearing a tail to school thread, I thought I'd see just how common or otherwise the whole furry/litter tray/identify as an animal thing really is.

Unreasonable = Yes, a child in my child's class does this.
Not Unreasonable = Don't be silly, never come across one in my life.

My 7 year old daughter does this 🤦‍♀️ she says she identifies as a therian. I don't let her wear her tail to school of course. I actually think its very normal for children of this age to pretend to be animals but its the terminology she's picked up around it...