Modesty shorts recommended for 4 year olds.....

@Mumdiva99 yes, many school dresses and skirts are too narrow for sitting cross legged on the floor, especially the cheaper brands.

I don't agree with modesty anything for children.
I remember P.E. knickers and even they were appealing to the perverts.
However girls underwear seems to be unfit for purpose by the accounts on mnet, gapey and flimsy.
Not having girls, my question is why not stop buying the flimsy shite and buy short style knickers instead of knickers and shorts?
Surely underwear that serves its purpose is preferable to adding a fix in the form of implied immodesty?

Girl boxers sounds much the best idea. So a decent amount of coverage, like the boys get, in a looser fitting breathable fabric.

And as we are getting onto the issue of uniform, almost all schools allow girls to wear trousers or shorts so they have the choice. To my mind they should also be allowing boys to wear skirts but many don't. Playsuits are the work of the devil! Such a nuisance when you need the loo.

@ChocOrange1 buy what you think she would like to wear most and would be most comfortable wearing.

I couldn't give a toss if anyone thinks I've bought DD shorts for 'modesty'. None of their business anyway.

I also wear dresses a lot and it wouldn’t occur to me to wear shorts with them

Do you do handstands and cartwheels during your lunch break at work??

No. But I'm not a child. A child of primary school age should be free to do cartwheels without concern about her knickers - as I did at that age. It's a shame that 8 is now the new 12. At secondary school I can understand wanting more coverage (although again, it's the boys that are the problem, not the girls). But for an 8 year old it's just sad that they can't play unencumbered.

I also love the look of these playsuits, I think they would get in the way less when trying to climb on the playground equipment

I was planning to get my 4 year old some shorts to go under dresses, but not for modesty reasons. She loves going on slides but in a dress her legs/bum stick to the slide and stop her going down and its uncomfortable.
Now I feel like I shouldn't get her any shorts in case people think I'm trying to force modesty on a 4yo.

Most girls pants are cut so skimpily that they are unhygienic for sitting on the classroom carpets. All too often bare bits are on the floor.
Also cringily indecent if sitting cross-legged in skirts.
I wish something more approaching bloomers/cycling shorts was the norm. I think they are more comfortable and more hygienic.
I hate the term modesty though.

My 9yr old hates wearing dresses, she doesn’t mind the playsuits but they are a hassle when going to the toilet. She does like the Sainsburys shorts and shirt in the gingham dress material. Asda also sell the gingham shorts but not the shirts.

This isn’t a male-enforced ‘modesty’, this is about young girls wanting to protect their own dignity.

Well no - the angry reaction was to schools asking girls to wear them - supported by the leading police officer for child protection.

And who are these predators looking at them while they play at school - are they leering through the railings? Surely that's the main problem.

Cartwheel shorts is a much better time and if these young girls are choosing to wear them then good.

I teach at a high school and most of our girls wear shorts under their skirts for their own benefit as the want to be comfortable (sitting cross legged on the grass, playing football at lunch etc). They can wear trousers but most prefer skirts with shorts

My dd is a teen but when she was in primary she chose skirts and dresses. I don't know if it was a coincidence but in year 4 ish she started wanting to wear girl boxers rather than standard knickers. She was often happily upside down a lot of the time and this meant she was properly covered unlike many knickers for girls that gape.

I hate the term "modesty" imposed on them (I do kind of like the Gap one of "cartwheel shorts" thought) - and my kids' school lets the girls and boys wear shorts if they want to, but the girls all seem to choose to wear gingham dresses and wanting to fit in can be a huge thing at that age.

I wish supermarkets would sell gingham short/skort and tops so the fitting in factor was taken care of, but the shorts option was there without the faff of trying to get to the toilet wearing a playsuit.

I hate the term "modesty" being imposed on tiny children, but I don't particularly have an issue with this. I'd hate it more if it were easier to find knickers for little girls that actually cover them properly. The gussets are so skimpy it's ridiculous.

My three are home educated, so school uniform of any kind isn't a personal issue. If they're wearing dresses or skirts when we go to a park or somewhere to play I encourage them to wear shorts or leggings underneath solely because slides are woodchip are so damned uncomfortable.

Schools should allow girls to wear shorts instead of skirts if they wish.

My DD is tall and narrow hipped enough that even with adjustable waist anything other than a dress is a bunched up uncomfortable mess (or just falls down)... Near enough six but comfortably fits age 3-4 shorts and has worn age 2-3 in a pinch. Needs age 6 (or probably 6-7) in length though ...

Not that unusual in build, so having a way not to show pants isn't a bad thing.

I can't wear a dress without shorts, leggings or tights because I'm very prone to chafing, even when slim...

*And to the PP, shorts do not make wearing a dress either more practical or more comfortable. Completely the opposite in fact.

By year 4, then they start to get more conscious but my 9 year old is still wearing summer dresses.*

In your opinion. I'd probably find the shorts my DD wears more comfortable than knickers alone as might help keep them in place and stop them going up my arse all day. I find dresses far more comfortable than anything with a rigid waistband so definitely more comfy for me.

My DD is 8 and I've noticed her becoming more conscious recently and I respect her feelings.

I dunno how I feel about all this. I mean, I definitely hate the word 'modesty' anything and I don't think children should be forced to wear them nor do I think schools should be encouraging them. Having said that, I always wear little cycling shorts under short-ish skirts as I feel super uncomfortable with the idea of anyone seeing my underwear. I feel this is much more practical for me personally as I don't need to worry about it then and I'm free to move and sit how I please which is particularly important since I have a toddler to run about after now. I've always done this anyway though and will likely encourage my DD to do the same once she's a bit older (she's not even 3 yet). Having said that I already generally encourage/dress her in trousers and shorts rather than skirts and dresses anyway, feel they are generally more practical. E.g. I wouldn't wear a dress or a skirt or consider that practical clothing if I was doing something like climbing or gymnastics or riding a bike whatever so likewise I don't consider skirts or dresses appropriate clothing for her when she's going to the park or to toddler gymnastics and whatnot. Also at this age I have to consider ease for her to toilet independently too so she doesn't ever wear jumpsuits or dungarees and very rarely wears tights as she can't manage any of that independently when it comes to toileting. Obviously that won't be an issue for older children though of course.

I have 4 girls. None of them have ever bothered about showing boys or anyone else at school their knickers. It's just not on their radar and nor should it be. And yes, they all knew about their private parts being private. And to the PP, shorts do not make wearing a dress either more practical or more comfortable. Completely the opposite in fact.

By year 4, then they start to get more conscious but my 9 year old is still wearing summer dresses.

From what I remember, both girls and boys hated showing their underwear from a pretty young age. I think this puts boys and girls on an equal footing. Personally I think shorts and trousers for both sexes are best for school uniform, but I understand the gingham dresses are still very popular, so shorts are a good compromise. I agree they shouldn't be called modesty shorts though, that just sounds cringy.

To add. She wears shorts on their own, not with a dress.