Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Help - son walks home in dark and won't hear of "reflective tabbard" - any ideas?

37 replies

stillfeel18inside · 20/10/2010 12:27

I'm sure this must be a problem for most parents of secondary school pupils, but it's only just occured to me: after half-term my DS will be walking home in the dark every day. He got wobbly-chinned when I talked to him about wearing some kind of reflective tabbard/stripe/even an armband/stickers because "nobody else will"! Had a quick look online and I must admit most of the reflective stuff is pretty horrible or babyish - how do YOU make your DCs more visible but still cool?!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
roisin · 30/10/2010 13:48

You can get reflective stickers and strips: stick a few on bags or shoes.

We nearly ran over two neighbouring 12-yr-olds last night. They were on scooters in the middle of the road in dark clothing and were practically invisible until we were almost on top of them!

I'm going to go and dig out some reflective strips that I have an put some on the boys' school stuff.

UniS · 29/10/2010 19:28

hand up. I will probably wear my HI Viz jacket to the pub tonight ( and hang it on a peg in teh hallway once I'm there). I live on a un lit narrow lane.

Original poster
stillfeel18inside · 29/10/2010 12:43

okay everyone, enough of the digs! I think I phrased my original post or title a bit lazily - what I meant was my son wouldn't dream of wearing a tabard (that was an extreme example!) in a million years so what else could I get him just to make him a bit visible when he's walking home in the dark. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions - have sorted it with a rucksack with a reflective bit.

OP posts:
ShoshanaBlue · 29/10/2010 11:15

Hands up all the adults here who wear reflective tabards!!!! Reading the OP, I'm beginning to think I live in a strange parallel universe.....

The only people who wear tabards in my world are dinner ladies and preschool children on road safety courses/trips and also with reins/long ribbon to hold....

LucindaCarlisle · 29/10/2010 07:44

Ask him if he wants a "cool" slogan or name of a band on it.

UniS · 27/10/2010 20:17

Altura night vision "black" jackets are pretty cool.
www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5611&cPath=83 is a camo design reflective sticker set for bags etc.

Do his shoes have any reflectors built in? my trainers do and they are surprisingly effective. As is a reflective key ring or two on a bag.

Tortington · 24/10/2010 15:07

he's in secondary school.

lordy. leave him be.

HughRinal · 24/10/2010 15:06

take him to a motorbike shop and see if there is anything cool.

He will really get the piss taken out of him if you make him wear a tabard or belt when he is walking....

amicissima · 24/10/2010 14:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KatieScarlett2833 · 23/10/2010 14:35

Both my DC's need coats, we live in Scotland and suprisingly it rains a lot here.

Every year since the hormones hit I have gone shopping with DC's, cried and begged on bended knee for them to choose a new coat. DC's pity me for my foolishness.

New coats are eventually chosen. New coats are never, ever worn, ever, even when there is 2 feet of snow outside and hurricane gales and brass monkeys begin to look fearful.

My DC's seem to have an amazing self-heating system that never allows them to be cold enough to wear a coat. Perhaps NASA should investigate. And I have a cupboard full of them, praying that one day......

I'm still waiting.

JustGettingByMum · 23/10/2010 13:24

As the weather gets colder your DS will need a coat to go over his blazer anyway, have you looked round the shops? How about something like this?

KatieScarlett2833 · 23/10/2010 10:44

Why do you hate your child? Any child in a mummy-coat will be bullied unmercifully and will suffer emotionally for the rest of their days. Please, just go to JJB and buy him some Adiddas for the love of god.Smile

Goblinchild · 23/10/2010 10:39

DS has a black coat with a thin white piping that reflects in the light, especially headlights. Being a scout, he also carries a torch.

TrillianSlasher · 23/10/2010 10:37

If there was a parents evening at the school, would you wear reflective clothing to walk there?

melpomene · 23/10/2010 10:10

jacket available in black. not as embarrassing as some?

Whocantakeasunrise · 22/10/2010 20:25

LadyLapsang - that can be said about many things in life, e.g. My dh and I never wore cycle helmets and we're still alive, but we still make our kids wear one even though they have their cycling proficiency!!!

But why shouldn't a parent make things safer. And the OP isn't putting him in a tabard, she's after something that will make him stand out.

And personally I wish more parents would do this, as the number of children who suddenly 'appear' because they are wearing black blazers, black trousers, black shoes, and black bag.

Something with a bit of reflection would make it safer for everyone.

jicky · 21/10/2010 23:55

You could try doing something with black light pigment - here

LadyLapsang · 21/10/2010 23:48

Must say I've never worn a reflective tabard and am still alive, so is DH, DS etc. Unless you don't have pavements / street lighting where you live, surely just teaching him road sense should be enough.

Original poster
stillfeel18inside · 21/10/2010 09:55

Thanks everyone - loads of great ideas! - I didn't call it a tabard and but knew there wasn't a chance in hell it wouldn't end up screwed up at the bottom of his bag in any case. He walks home between 4 and 6 depending on what's going on and he does have to cross quite a few roads. The problem only struck me the other day when I realised there were some kids in a similar uniform (black blazer, black trousers etc) about to cross the road and they were virtually invisible.

OP posts:
mummytime · 21/10/2010 08:41

Does he have to walk in the roadway? If its on pavement with normal street lights I wouldn't stress. Mine do know they have to wear lots of reflective gear if they go by bike.

HSMM · 20/10/2010 21:57

Getting DD to attach a torch to her bag (she'll probably fall and break her neck otherwise). Just have to convince her to wear something warm now .....

OneMoreMum · 20/10/2010 18:32

Will he be walking on the road? Otherwise why would he need anything reflective in any case?

Both my DS's coats and backpacks have reflective strips sewn into them in any case (just part of the design not something I've intentionally bought), if yours doesn't perhaps a new coat or backpack is in order.

What time will he be walking home? Our secondaries here finish around 3ish so quite a while before it's dark.

TotorosOcarina · 20/10/2010 18:25

sorry these