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

Shorts aren't on the list for my DD. I have sent her in gingham cullotes or shorts. No one says a thing. She wears trousers in winter. Her choice, she has the option.

@FudgeSundae who on this thread has suggested that it would be scandalous for girls to not wear shorts under their dress?

I said my DD who is 8 wants to wear them- if she didn't that would be just fine.

Part of the issue is that girls underwear isn't the same as when I was at school. We wore big navy pants (and did pe in them) that covered everything properly. Unlike flimsy white cotton. That said my DD's never wore shorts under dresses, they didn't care

They are thin cotton cycle shorts with an elasticated waistband, basically just like a really big pair of knickers themselves. She could even just wear them as knickers if she wanted to, although wouldn't be so comfortable without a gusset.

She likes to wear the summer dresses, doesn't want people seeing her pants. It works for her. Anyone else should do as they please.

I would personally find a thin cotton summer dress far more comfy with basically what is a really big pair of knickers far more comfy than anything with a more rigid waistband and fastening but that is me.

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??

Adult men staring at you while you're doing handstands at four years old? Your fault for not being more covered up.

At school?? What are you saying about male members of staff here? I can imagine these still being a thing in an all girls school with all female staff. Girls want to wear skirts and dresses and at the same time want to keep their underwear private when they are climbing, rolling around on the floor and doing handstands as children do. I’m sure dresses used to be quite restrictive for young girls when it came to playing. Wearing shorts changes that.
Let’s be honest it’s the word ‘modesty pants’ (what a stupid things to call them) not wearing them that’s the problem. Boycott the word and continue to call them shorts.

My DD is 9 and has almost exclusively worn dresses and skirts since she was old enough to choose. She is also a competitive (obsessed) gymnast so spends a good portion of the day upside down doing somersaults, back handsprings etc. It was her choice at about 5 years old to wear shorts underneath her outfits so no one would see her knickers, and she still does to this day. She now says it feels weird if she doesn't wear shorts. I guess I wouldn't have though twice about 'modesty' pants had it not been for her tendency to upside down constantly.

It does make wearing a dress more practical and comfortable for a child to be running around and playing
How does adding another item of clothing make it more comfortable? And practical - who cares if someone sees her knickers when she’s a child? How is it different to a bathing suit?
I also wear dresses a lot and it wouldn’t occur to me to wear shorts with them, just as I don’t wear shorts with my swimsuit. I just really really don’t get it.

My DC's school (primary) does allow girls to wear shorts and trousers if they like. By by DD (8) likes wearing summer dresses, it's her choice. She asked for school trousers when I was buying her uniform for September but she really likes the summer dresses. I go with what she likes.

I do buy her cotton cycle type shorts to wear underneath it (and nor do I think young children should have to wear them for 'modesty'). It does make wearing a dress more practical and comfortable for a child to be running around and playing. I wear dresses a lot because I find them more comfortable, especially when it's warm in summer. I'd definitely find soft cotton cycle shorts with an elasticated waist more comfy and practical to wear with a dress than shorts/trousers with a more uncomfortable waistband and a top that the teacher tells you to tuck in all the time, so I actually think DD is probably more comfortable than her brother.

It should never be a thing that any school is 'advising' but I think they can be quite useful.

My three year old refuses to wear dresses in case people see her private parts, I don't wear skirts or dresses either really, they're just impractical. We tell our children this is a private area and then put 50% of them in clothing that limits what they do, maybe we should just overhaul uniform rules!

Why is it that things are going backwards so much?
Ironically in this world of non-binaryness and a-genderness girls are increasingly singled out and objectified.
At 4? FFS.

Wouldn’t it be easier if girls were allowed to wear trousers, ordinary shorts (or skorts even) as part of their uniform? I can’t understand why schools still mandate dresses and skirts for girls. I had to wear skirts all through primary and secondary school and I hated them.

The idea of making four year olds wear modesty clothes doesn’t sit well with me - yes, adults have to protect children from inappropriate behaviour but I don’t think making girls responsible for maintaining modesty is fair - why not take boys or adults who see girls as immodest, or as sexualised, to task rather than placing all the blame on the girls?

Absolutely the right board for this.

We got to this because everything is always the fault of the female. Got unfairly dismissed from work, your fault for having a baby / potentially having a baby. Got raped, your fault for being dressed a certain way/acting a certain way/walking home at night. Adult men staring at you while you're doing handstands at four years old? Your fault for not being more covered up.