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??

I think really the gingham dress thing is outdated altogether. There's no good reason for it. "They look cute" ugh, or "it's a nice tradition". Outside school they're mostly in leggings or shorts. Often short tunic style dresses with leggings under (shock!).

Dd wore them ( her own choice) from year 4 I think. They were black dance style shorts so just like very substantial knickers. She is tall and slim so to get skirts or summer dresses that fitted they tended to be quite short
She’s in y9 now and in summer wears something similar under her School skirt, which is good because her undies tend to be pretty skimpy - but it’s her choice again

My DD wears white shorts like cycling shorts under the summer dress. I don’t agree with it, but she wants to be like everyone else. TBH if the summer dresses weren’t so transparent it wouldn’t be necessary. The pale gingham is so sheer you can see the pattern and colour of the pants. It doesn’t look very smart. I wouldn’t wear pale trousers with bright patterned pants on show.

As much as I don’t agree with it, I go along with it so DD feels comfortable.

DD is three and I put shorts under her dresses, mainly because she likes to walk around hiking her dress up and a lot girls knickers are thin material now. She has some Boden knickers and H&M shorts that are substantial like I wore as a child but any supermarket/Next/M&S ones are thin cotton that seem to shrink easily as well.

When she wants to stop wearing them she can but for now it means I don’t have to worry about her walking around with her dress around her head 🙄

So what if people want to put shorts on their girls? Do what you want with your children and let others do their own thing. If other girls wearing shorts physically affects you in any way, then by all means make an issue of it, otherwise, shut up. I only see this issue on MN. In RL, no one gives a shit what girls are wearing under their dresses.

The girls tend to wear cycling shorts at our school once they get to ks2. I think it’s peer pressure that introduces it, much like crop tops- they don’t need to wear them, but once one has them, they all want them. It’s no bother, dd can either wear them or not, it’s up to her, she is in year 3 so hasn’t in the past and we haven’t gone back to school yet after Easter, so haven’t worn a summer dress yet, but they are there if she wants them.

DD wore what she called "shorties", sometimes called boyshorts at school from kindy until this year (Y10). Her request, girls would often sit cross legged on the floor or in the playground and she just preferred it. I would have complained if there was any suggestion from the school that it was expected or that the girls were in any way responsible for not making the boys and male teachers uncomfortable.

Dd 1 started wearing her pe shorts under her skirt in yr 1. Due to kids being silly and laughing. And yes sadly in this case it was boys.

They didnt get a separate classroom to change into til yr 4/5 but due to this silly behaviour the girls changed hiding behind chairs or took themselves off to the kitchen. Shes 12 now. She still wears the shirts under her skirt. This time to hold the tights up.

Dd2 doesnt wear shorts and shes yr 3.but to be honest and possibly thankfully she oblivious. Although that has its downside as she will go back for more so to speak.

Both wear decent pants too. The seamless m&s shorts.

I could have made a fuss and refused but that would have impacted dd1s ability to play properly at break time so I just went with it.

I remember them as a kid for the reasons Dressless said, rough grass, insects, scratchy carpets aren't much fun on thighs. That alongside, as others said, knickers and dresses seeming to be a lot thinner these days and it being popular, I can see why some would want them. I don't see why it's an issue either way.

Even outside of school, my daughters usually wear shorts or leggings with dresses - one practically lived in dresses and trackie bottoms last summer because it was better for rolling down hills, apparently.

Hmm, how would people feel about a school uniform requirement that girls wear full swimming costumes not just shorts for swimming? That would still be about covering up according to convention. In that case covering up more than the boys, the shorts thing is only covering up as much as the boys.

I don't think "we don't want to see your underwear" is unreasonable as school uniform policies go. I'd still prefer there was no uniform as they seem to manage perfectly well without in other parts of the world. Or we could go back to big green school uniform pants like I had in primary school, then whatever is being shown is uniform... (joke)

DD (Yr2) has the shorts-style pants from M&S and they are her 'school pants' which she wears all year round, even when she's wearing tights.
I can appreciate that sitting cross-legged in knickers can expose more than intended, and that's the main reason I gave into her requests to wear shorts under her summer dresses.Knickers can be a bit thin and skimpy.
It's a fine line though, between observing polite behaviour in public (ie not unintentionally flashing) and girls feeling that they need to cover up the things that are covering them up. I feel quite strongly that it is not beholden on girls to modify their dress and behaviour (in terms of physical activities) to prevent either boys laughing/oogling them, or other girls 'shaming' them, as long as their dress and behaviour is acceptable in public.
If DDs school ever even mildly suggests that girls should be wearing anything additional to knickers/pants under summer dresses, I will bit taking it up with them. Girls learn to take responsibility for boys/men's behaviour far too early, and very often little is done to nip inappropriate behaviour from boys in the bud.

My girls have been wearing them on and off for a few years since Reception. It’s absolutely nothing to do with modesty, they just find it more comfortable- warmer when there’s a breeze & less sticky when it’s hot. Also, dare I say it- perhaps more hygienic in a hot classroom with littles ones if there’s threadworms about

My dd is 6 and wears shorts under her summer dress, but only because she has eczema which can get quite bad on the back of her thighs. She can react quite badly to carpets so the shorts help protect her legs a bit.

Ok. I'm a teacher. When girls sit down cross legged you can see their vulva behind a very skimpy covering. Also, sometimes their pants slip to one side and you can see everything. Is this ok? I don't want to see children's willies or vulvas. I'm there to teach not safe guard. Constantly

I used to hate showing my knickers when I was playing at school, I would have loved to have had shorts to wear under my skirts.
In my experience, both boys and girls dislike showing their underwear, so this puts girls and boys on an equal footing. The playsuits are a great idea as well.

My DD is in reception, and I've just put her in long "boys" shorts and a polo. Plenty of boys and girls wear the same thing, while other girls wear a gingham dress. I think requiring different uniform for boys and girls is outdated and sexist. All kids want to play outside and be comfortable doing so - I think the shirts are a much more practical option than the dress.

*shorts.

Ok. I'm a teacher. When girls sit down cross legged you can see their vulva behind a very skimpy covering. Also, sometimes their pants slip to one side and you can see everything. Is this ok? I don't want to see children's willies or vulvas. I'm there to teach not safe guard. Constantly

Bit weird I worked in schools for 25 years, I certainly wasn't looking at children's pants or what was inside them!

Isn’t that what knickers are there for? Unless your 5YO is wearing lace knickers or a thong (in which case you have bigger problems!), surely their knickers are providing the ‘modesty’.

I'm with Elizabeth on this. It's actually very common for girls and boys to inadvertently expose their genitalia whilst sitting on the carpet in a skirt or (for some boys) baggy short shorts. Even more so if doing cartwheels or hanging off the climbing frame. Some parents would make sure their children are covered enough for this to be avoided. Others don't even realise.
Personally I hate summer dresses. They are flimsy, don't stretch with movement and just aren't practical. As for playsuits, they are the worst! Toilet time is a nightmare with girls struggling to dress themselves, not let their playsuits drop in the floor, fasten buttons!
Give me a plain white t shirt and black elasticated shorts (like pie shorts) any day. Cheaper, easier to wash, cool and comfortable.

I don't look at childrens pants for god's sake. Just sit down cross legged in a very short skirt in front of a mirror.

It's actually very common for girls and boys to inadvertently expose their genitalia whilst sitting on the carpet in a skirt or (for some boys) baggy short shorts They're very little children, good grief, if this happens so what? It'll be a cold day in hell before I would start dressing my child like someone from the Duggar family!

Children are allowed dignity, obviousy.

Children are allowed a short time to be exactly that, children.

They're fully clothed, comfortable and in a safe environment, if they show pants or sit down and expose their god forbid vulva who gives a shit? 4/5/6/7/8/however old have their entire lives to worry about decency or sexualisation... so until they worry about it, just leave them alone.

And to the teacher offended by seeing little girl's vulva - I don't think you're in the right profession.

I often put my dd4 in cycling shorts under short dresses although don't make a big deal of it. She's more comfy (sitting on grass etc) and she likes pulling her dress up and rolling over and generally waving her legs around. I have to agree with the teacher above re sitting cross legged. I've yet to find a brand of knickers that doesn't go gappy at the crotch when she's sitting cross legged, not necessarily revealing all but they don't seem to make good sturdy knickers anymore with sturdy leg elastic! My sons underwear was never on show so I don't see why my daughter is any different.