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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:
LynetteScavo · 20/10/2010 18:23

lollipopshoes Wed 20-Oct-10 12:30:52
"get him a bright coat?"

ROLF - you don't have DC at high school, do you, lollipopshoes?

Reflectors on bag and cool light up key rings are the way to go.

TotorosOcarina · 20/10/2010 18:17

could you get him a few flashing kwyrings for the zips on his bag?

and ask him to turn them on during his walk home?

dunno if the alien ones would work but sure theres something similar out there?

or a small torch keyring?

ChileanMinerWife · 20/10/2010 18:13

agree
not a chance

MrsVincentPrice · 20/10/2010 18:12

Plain reflective stickers from the cycle shop on his jacket should be pretty unobtrusive; demand a horrible tabard and then "compromise" on them.

Batteryhuman · 20/10/2010 18:08

My ds has a ski jacket with white panels []homeshopping.24studio.co.uk/christmas-book/clothing-footwear/mens-by-brand/helly-hansen/3/hellyhansenmenstaigajacket/4/?source=TX3A]] which I have managed to persuade him to wear when its dark

GetOrfMoiLand · 20/10/2010 18:07

I think the problem is the fact you are calling it a reflective tabbard.

I used to work in a cafe when I was 14 and LOAATHED wearing a tabard. Just the name made me shudder. I used to run into the kictchen and pretend to clean if any of my mates came in the cafe.

Kez100 · 20/10/2010 18:05

Runners wear really cool reflective stuff - usually a material which is silver grey colour normally but reflects brilliantly. I have a running jacket with some on.

I'd go for that rather than a yellow acket type style.

werewolf · 20/10/2010 12:34

What about something like this?

Not sure anything safety wise will ever be cool, but at least they're not too 'in your face'. Could you stick a strip on the bottom of his jacket?

GetOrfMoiLand · 20/10/2010 12:30

DD's friend rode his bike down to our house in the dark last week - he had on a reflective tabard. However nobody could see it as he had covered it with a fleece which covered it completely. He said his mum had made him wear it, he sneakily put the feelce on when round the corner.

I think you are pissing against the wind trying to get teenagers to wear high vis vest, tbh.

lollipopshoes · 20/10/2010 12:30

get him a bright coat?

Buy him a rucksack with built in reflector thingies on the back - when he lifts his bag he will be visible

Buy him a torch... I know he won't want it, but he may be glad of it when it really does get dark

See if you can arrange surreptitiously for him to walk back with a group of others - safety in numbers and all that...

pagwatch · 20/10/2010 12:29

TBH I don't give a shit about cool when it comes to safety but

have you thought of getting plain reflective tape and sticking it on to his bag rather than his clothing

GypsyMoth · 20/10/2010 12:28

stick them to his bag?