What can boys wear for a ‘wear pink’ day at school?

[Rainbowb]

Our school are having a breast cancer awareness day and everyone has to wear something pink (can be anything). My friend doesn’t really have anything for her son to wear, does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm with you on detesting the short-notice 'wear this' days. So the answer is, whatever they've got!

If no suitable clothing (gloves, socks, scarf, tie?), does she have any pink make up? If so, could draw on his face or hands. A heart on his cheek, a Bowie-style lightning flash across his eyes etc.

I thoroughly recommend the Sarah & Duck episode 'Pink Day'. He might just want to stand and shout the word pink... or he might not.

Agree Rainbowb, these days are such a pain always just wear something spotty, yellow, pink etc. Bet you were glad you asked on here! We used to colour in an old white t-shirt or find a scarf or something that might fit the bill.

Red if nothing else.
I don't buy stuff for these occasions, unless I'm certain that it would have long term use. DS certainly would not accept any offers of pink accessories from me!

DS9 has pink zips on his fluffy hoodies (because he loves fluffy, and boys allegedly don't so he has "girls" hoodies with a token hint of pink as "girls" things apparently must)

Thank you Fennellathewitch these clothing days are indeed a headache. My daughter has ocd and has huge issues with clothes, she’ll only wear a very limited number of things which causes all sorts of problems so I dread these days coming. At least with her I can do pink jewellery or hair slides, boys do unfortunately have more limited options when it comes to cheap accessories that’s why I thought I’d see if anyone had any good suggestions. After a couple of years on Mumsnet you do learn to filter out the mindless abuse as there are some very kind, insightful and helpful people on here.

I hate these days! DS school has a wear it purple day for some cause (can't actually recall what it is) and it's just not a colour any of us pale ginger Scots wear or have around. So hard on families with no cash - and as an aside, I read somewhere recently that Christmas Jumper day is the school day with the worst attendance (pre-Covid). It's just nonsense.

I don't own anything pink and never have, I'd have to get a cheapo t-shirt from Asda.

@Rainbowb

Thank you Fennellathewitch these clothing days are indeed a headache. My daughter has ocd and has huge issues with clothes, she’ll only wear a very limited number of things which causes all sorts of problems so I dread these days coming. At least with her I can do pink jewellery or hair slides, boys do unfortunately have more limited options when it comes to cheap accessories that’s why I thought I’d see if anyone had any good suggestions. After a couple of years on Mumsnet you do learn to filter out the mindless abuse as there are some very kind, insightful and helpful people on here.

The thing is, most of these things are kids get to wear non uniform and in return they pay £1 (for the privilege 🙄) to support whatever charity or cause. The main aim is to raise money, the "theme" is secondary.

If DD has what's needed,fine. If she doesn't she wears whatever else she has. We also have crazy socks,crazy hair,three saints non uniform and fuck knows what else on top of the normal stuff that goes on.

Lots of boys in DD's primary school wore their sisters/cousins/neighbours tops, ballet tutus, leggins, socks or used hair chalks or coloured hair spray and face paint. There was always a big swap going around in the playground, people lending items or giving away outgrown tops.

I got into the habit of buying T-shirts from Amazon/Fruit of the loom, in the basic colours as these days came annually and the tops normally lasted 2 years. We had them in red, yellow and pink plus blue as her house colour.

Today 21:19NiceGerbil

Although nothing too near his groin area or his testicles will fall off.

He may also start randomly singing show tunes

Mine refused pink, and wore his uniform. He was far from the only boy in uniform that day, tho most of the girls were in pink.

The next year, I knew the organiser, and suggested they would get a much bigger uptake if they went for pink for breast cancer or blue for prostate cancer. Yes, I know its brest cancer awareness month, but they raised much more money when they widened the remit.

Mine have done this a couple of times ds once wore his sisters pink socks another time pink hair spray.

That's somehow really depressing.

Pink is for girls. I won't go near it (says boy).

It's breast cancer awareness month but you get lots more money if you say blue is fine and put a male cancer in.

What this says about attitudes to girls and women is really grim. Not about individuals- it's about society.

I had a boy at a party once who refused to use a certain plate. I mean wtf is going on. I'm sure when I was growing up it wasn't as bad as this.

When we haven't got something, I buy a size up and make sure it's something that will get worn.

Pink laces sounds perfect though.

The next year, I knew the organiser, and suggested they would get a much bigger uptake if they went for pink for breast cancer or blue for prostate cancer. Yes, I know its brest cancer awareness month, but they raised much more money when they widened the remit.

Were the pink refusers really so against the colour that they wouldn't just chuck a quid in regardless?

Pink face paint in camo style stripes. A bit like that pink neon zinc sunblock for skiing in the 80s.

I have no problems with the charity aspect and will happily send in the donation. Its the dressing in a certain colour that really gets my goat. My youngest DD has been loving doing a bit of tie die at the minute so anything white (ie stained, grey and grubby) is now like an explosion in a paint factory Latest charity days have just been something colourful thank god. I would rather give the extra money to the charity than buy something to fit the day .

@InTheLongGrass

Mine refused pink, and wore his uniform. He was far from the only boy in uniform that day, tho most of the girls were in pink.

The next year, I knew the organiser, and suggested they would get a much bigger uptake if they went for pink for breast cancer or blue for prostate cancer. Yes, I know its brest cancer awareness month, but they raised much more money when they widened the remit.

Or your kid could've worn whatever colour he wanted ,including his uniform and donated the money anyways. Just like any other kid. As long as you donate money they don't really care if it's pink on pink day or brown with neon green polka dots.

Tshirt, socks, shoe laces, wrist bands, tie

Staple a slice of ham to his blazer?

Raw sausage in his shirt pocket?

How about those glow in the dark bangles /necklace. They are usually at the $1 shop. Probably be loads around with Halloween comming up.

Having taught approximately a million children I can tell you with confidence that the vast majority LOVE and look forward to a dress up days. It’s why we do it. I hope you miserable lot don’t piss on their chips in front of them and keep your moaning about their school for after bedtime. Just dress said child in any clothes at all. It’s really not important. It’s about donating to charity and not wearing uniform. Find something with 1cm squared of pink on it if you can. Or don’t. But please be happy about lovely school things in front of your children, it must be so disheartening to children when they are excited about something and then they have their adult just moaning about what a massive pain in the arse they are for daring to attend a school that suggests opening their wardrobe and looking for an alternative outfit once a term.

Wouldn't be an issue here as my teenage son has far more pink in his wardrobe than either me or his sister but I agree that the general principle of "wear something X " days is irritating. Nobody has clothing in every colour and its unreasonable to expect parents to buy things specifically for the occasion. I know schools always say that you shouldn't buy something new but often parents don't want their child to be the odd one out.
In this case I think I'd go for socks, either a cheap new pair or dye a pair of old white sports socks then it doesn't matter if they never get worn again.

Chuck money in a bucket??? More like money returned in reading diary with a note because he wasnt wearing pink.
And no, I'm not going to force him to wear something he doesnt want when their is a viable alternative. He was offered pink, own clothes or uniform. He chose uniform, and we sent the money, which was returned. Ok?

Bunkmum
Nobody is pissing on anybody's chips, being told to dress child in any colour or non uniform is fine I have no problems with that. OP said it was specified 'PINK' Where did anyone say they didn't want to donate to charity ?
I love my child's school we just don't all don't have the time and money sometimes to dress in specific colours?

@Bunkumum

Having taught approximately a million children I can tell you with confidence that the vast majority LOVE and look forward to a dress up days. It’s why we do it. I hope you miserable lot don’t piss on their chips in front of them and keep your moaning about their school for after bedtime. Just dress said child in any clothes at all. It’s really not important. It’s about donating to charity and not wearing uniform. Find something with 1cm squared of pink on it if you can. Or don’t. But please be happy about lovely school things in front of your children, it must be so disheartening to children when they are excited about something and then they have their adult just moaning about what a massive pain in the arse they are for daring to attend a school that suggests opening their wardrobe and looking for an alternative outfit once a term.

But for those who do not like them, as mentioned above, these days truly are not fun. They aren’t lovely days for everyone and many children, if told they need to wear something pink for example, will worry if they then don’t.

Aside from all this, there will be parents who will feel obliged to go and buy something which is barely worn again. The charities could do with the money that gets spent on being pink or blue or Christmassy and landfill could do without being made bigger.

There is a middle ground-£1 for this charity and you get to wear non school uniform. If you want to wear the colour associated with the charity, it is pink.