Infant girls told not to cartwheel...modesty issues... WWYD?

[Bibbidybobbidybastardingboo]

I don't know. Am I being difficult? DD (year 2) told me at the end of last year that one of the playground supervisors had told her she wasn't allowed to do cartwheels or handstands in the playground because she was showing everyone her pants. Back a couple of days and she is worried about it again so has asked for shorts - I'll buy her some cycling shorts but I am minded to challenge this behaviour too.

On one level I'm not overly keen on this woman putting the onus on my child to cover up and thereby by implication (and at such an early age) putting the fault for any comments or bad behaviour on the part of any boys at her door, down to her "inappropriate dress" as opposed to tackling their behaviour. Not sure it teaches the boys anything good at that age either. They can say what they want - it's the girls that will be told to dress / behave appropriately.

On a completely different level these children still get changed together in the same classroom for PE, so WTF?!?

How would you tackle this? Would you tackle this?

It's stupid because a traditional gymnastics uniform (ie a leotard) is way more likely to show off a body shape than a pair of plain colour knickers. Are boys allowed to watch their female friends at a gymnastics club display? I expect so. Is that indecent? No.

I don't like my daughter showing her knickers though. If she lifts her skirt up I tell her to put it down. It's different when they're changing as it has a purpose, but when playing I think they should be learning what is appropriate, for their own safety and modesty.

boom and there you go

'for their own safety and modesty' female infant school age children should not play games where someone might see their knickers

are you honestly serious with this?

Safety and modesty, in the playground?

Not if it's accidental, no it doesn't matter, but I'm not comfortable wirh my little girl showing her knickers like that, when outside. Childhood is when we teach them things for later life.

What's it matter if someone sees knickers. The knickers should be covering anything that shouldn't show. If girls weren't constantly told not to show their knickers the boys wouldn't even think anything of seeing them while playing. It's no different to seeing any other item of clothing.

I think they should be learning what is appropriate, for their own safety and modesty.

Their genitals are covered. They are children who are playing - an essential part of their learning and development. Children are not responsible for the behaviour of adults. You are insane. Op please challenge this.

But which is more important? Teaching girls not to show their pants or teaching boys that girls showing their pants is not an invitation for them to do or say whatever they please?

I had this with dd. She loves cartwheels, swinging on the monkey bars etc but kept being told by lunchtime supervisors to protect her modesty basically. I have caved in and bought some cotton cycling type shorts which she is happy to wear under her skirts. More recently boys have also started looking up the girls skirts so she now feels the need to wear these shorts by way of protection from that. It's so depressing this is the world we live in. They are under 10s and all this has started already.

More recently boys have also started looking up the girls skirts so she now feels the need to wear these shorts by way of protection from that.

wtf did I just read? I would go NUCLEAR about this

"Childhood is when we teach them things for later life"

This is why you must challenge this OP. the playground supervisor is drumming into your daughter that women are responsible for the unwanted sexual behaviour of men. I don't want my daughter to walk around without underwear, or with her hands in her underwear (🙄!) , but if she is wearing pants then she is modest enough. (FWIW I would also hold male children to the same standard).

Plus it's not like she isn't wearing a skirt. It's a quick flash of her pants. It is incidental to what she is doing. What next? No jumping or sitting cross legged in the floor?

Madame I know- I feel quite nuclear about it but haven't taken action yet as only found out last couple of days about the up skirting if that what it is? Should I go to the head I wonder? The lunchtime supervisors are very non interventionist in their approach so I don't think I would get much joy that way.

Childhood is when we teach them things for later life.

I was never told not to show my knickers as an infant aged child doing cartwheels - I can assure you as an adult I have somehow managed to learn that lesson

Boys used to try and look up skirts sometimes when I was at school. They got sent inside. Job done.

I would go to the class teacher or the head. they should be learning about respectful touching and consent, it's never too early. they need to do some circle time about this. it's incredibly serious and any head worth their salt will thank you for making them aware.

When my daughter was in year 2 she asked me for shorts to wear underneath her school dress. She felt self conscious about showing her pants and all the older girls wore cycle shorts. So I bought some cheap ones from asda, now she does cartwheels until her hearts content...all break times!

I don’t know, Titchy. Just today I vaulted over the photocopier and showed the entire ground floor my M&S lace trimmed pants. Is that unusual in your workplace?

Unusual for a Monday...

I was a dinner lady for 15 years. The only thing i used to say to children doing hand stands and cartwheels was be careful you don't land on your head

Pants ARE the covering ffs

WTF?

It's a cartwheel. How is it immodest she's showing her knickers?

Immodesty would be an adult woman walking down the street flashing people. It is not a child doing something where gravity means her skirt hangs down. The only people who should feel immodest, or indeed sickeningly ashamed, are those who look at such a small child and think anything of it beyond 'oh, she'd doing a cartwheel'.

What's next, requiring small children in swimsuits to wrap a sarong around themselves poolside in case anyone sees their upper thighs?

I would personally put shorts on my DD, wouldn't want people seeing her in her nickers and I mean the teachers. A headteacher was found to be a Paedophile in the Uk not long ago she had pics of children. Just scared the shit out of me tbh

Do they have the choice to wear shorts?

They shouldn't have to of course as pants should be good enough, but shorts seem to be more practical for running/climbing.

WrongKindOfFace I actually spat out my tea...

But aside from anything isn't it illogical? They still all get undressed for PE in the same class. It makes no sense to me.