Shorts under school summer dress?

[mommathatwearspink]

DD (5) goes back to school after half term tomorrow and will be going back in her Summer dress. I’ve heard friends talking about their daughters wearing white modesty shorts under their school summer dresses... I didn’t know this was a thing?? Should I invest in some for DD or are knickers adequate on their own??

But they are not shorts as underwear. They are shorts over the top of underwear. Tell me, why?

english because in this society it is deemed good manners to keep your underwear covered if you're not on the beach or changing for PE or something. And the alternative to teaching 5 year olds that it is good manners is telling 13 year olds ... what? They won't overheat in a light dress and little cotton shorts, half of them are probably living in actual shorts or leggings and t-shirts outside school.

Completely unnecessary

Englishdictionary, would you sit cross legged on the floor in a short skirt with the crotch of your pants in full view in front of a large group of peers and adults ?

I think people have got neurotic about sexual harassment, sexual assault, paedophiles and think every man over two is a real danger to little girls. It’s just sad.

Why wear a cool summer dress if you’re then bundled up in shorts. Decent knickers are not much less modest than shorts - if modest they must be. Is it so awful if someone sees a young child’s underwear? Does it really matter? I’d accept if you put your pre-pubescent child in a thong there might be an issue of coverage but nice patterned full knickers are fine.
Most high schools don’t have summer dresses so it’s a non issue.

would you sit cross legged on the floor in a short skirt with the crotch of your pants in full view in front of a large group of peers and adults ?

As a young child I did.

IF there is any teasing happening then that should be addressed,we shouldn't encourage small children to cover up.

because in this society it is deemed good manners to keep your underwear covered if you're not on the beach or changing for PE or something

Elizabeth - I asked why the problem was....

Englishdictionary, would you sit cross legged on the floor in a short skirt with the crotch of your pants in full view in front of a large group of peers and adults ?

^that does not answer my question.

Just put her in trousers. Most schools allow the option. Shorts under a dress is pointless.

Do girls only cartwheel in the summer? Surely they flash them in skirts in the winter too? Perhaps s his should bring in floor length gown s from pre school to ensure the modesty of girls!

Dd spends half her life upside down with handstands. Pants are fine as long as they do their job and actually cover genitals. I've found lots of them for girls are skimpy these days and the material is crap quality. H&m actually have a great range of boxers aimed at girls so dd is happy with the designs on them and they actually cover what they are supposed to.

the knickers are there to hide the genitals
but then we need to hide the knickers with shorts
what's next, we hide the shorts with , I don't know, trousers?
handstands or whatever, it doesn't matter if people see your pants!
they have covered your genitals, and done their job!

THIS!!!!

We don't wait till they're in secondary school to teach them other social conventions, we don't say don't bother saying please or thank you you're only 5. I mean, my DD would happily wear just pants all day, should I let her go out in just pants? She's only 7, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Pants and T-shirt is just as covered as pants and shorts. The only reason I can see not to is it's not considered good manners.

Or pyjamas, they would happily wear pyjamas all day, should I be letting them wear PJs all day? No issues about anything being covered, but against conventional manners. I think mostly we do start to nudge them towards conventionality.

But why has this only become a 'thing' in the last few years?

Why is it suddenly 'good manners' to cover up the things that are already covering up the private area? Why did knickers stop being good enough?

DD liked to wear shorts under her summer dress (and now her secondary school skirt FFS). I made an effort to tell her they weren't necessary but bought them for her anyway as she really wanted to wear them.

I do think it's ridiculous BTW. I just didn't want to make my DD feel embarrassed because of something I thought was ridiculous.

Both dds have asked for playsuits this year instead of school summer dresses. First year I've bought them. Have never bought shorts, my kids don't care about that and DD1 overheats too much for layers.

Why is it suddenly 'good manners' to cover up the things that are already covering up the private area? Why did knickers stop being good enough?

I actually think some knickers (a lot of) stopped being enough actually. And became a bit lacy and adulted. I’ve certainly seen cheap supermarket knickers that are not nearly as substantial as what I wore three decades ago.

I actually think some knickers (a lot of) stopped being enough actually. And became a bit lacy and adulted. I’ve certainly seen cheap supermarket knickers that are not nearly as substantial as what I wore three decades ago

I didn't realise that,makes more sense.

I've got my DD6 gingham shorts this year... We've tried the playsuits before but they weren't that practical in the toilets. Our school playground has climbing frames, climbing walls, all sorts like that. No space for cartwheels though- it's all concrete.

Funnily enough, DD7 wanted skirts and dresses... Despite also playing on the same equipment. Unfortunately they have less outdoor time in the junior school.

y dd found trousers too hot in the summer but found the gingham dresses too 'light' and 'breezy'. Plus, it might not matter if she inadvertently exposes her knickers but she's 10 and she doesn't want to. It's just personal choice isn't it? If girls are being told they 'should' wear shorts underneath their dresses that's a different thing entirely and not something I would be happy about.

This was a big thing when I was a child. It wasn’t about modesty. I went to all girls schools. It was about preventing thigh rub and/or avoiding sitting on the grass etc without a protective layer (your upper thigh is not somewhere you want a bull ant bite). Not everyone did it but it’s often much more practical for young girls who are very active.