Don't you love this time of year when all the kids look like their clothes have shrunk?

[Zippidy123]

Just parked up outside DSs school (year 8). Every teenage boy coming out has half mast trousers on, nice to see that DS isn't the only one! Just got to get 7 more weeks out of his uniform. His jumpers are just as bad, riding up his back and arms. It's illogical to wait until September really but I don't think you can beat a new uniform to start the year in.

I've just got new school shoes... dont see the point in waiting!

I thought this was going to be about girls in crop tops and small shorts. I was all ready to say that I agree but my teen DD has the most amazing figure and looks lovely in hers and if I had such a tiny waste I'd have to admit I'd wear them too

My Y8 ds is also wearing shrunken clothes! I have no confidence that if I bought him new trousers now, that they’d still fit in September, so I am waiting. He had been growing constantly for a good year. He’s about 5’11” now. None of the men on either side of his family are less than 6’2”, do I reckon he’s still got a way to go. His feet have gone from a 9 to a 12 in a year. I’m starting the search for size 13 school shoes….

For the second year running DS1 needs new school shoes in June. I bought a cheap pair from Asda last year which cut his feet. I am not sure what to do this year. Buying expensive new school shoes now seems foolish, as his feet are growing so fast that he will need another new pair in September. However, I can't make the poor boy wear shoes that are too small for seven weeks.

DS2 just wears his brother's hand me downs, so he is easy to sort out.

I'd prefer it if the children could wear clothes more suitable for summer and that actually fit them like cargo shorts and a t-shirt which could be worn all through the summer rather than outgrown 'winter' clothes that are unfit for purpose when it's warm and sunny.

I never get the logic. I mean shoes maybe, but I never wait. They need it to wear now and can just go back in September wearing it. Saves loads of pressure, rush and expense in August buying uniform all new for September.

My DS is yr 11, and thankfully (M&S extra tall trousers are the best, though the waists are still pulled in tight as the length he needed vs waist size didn't match) his trousers touch his shoes just about, but his blazer sleeves are half way up his forearms and its like a cropped jacket. Still does up though! Rock on September and sixth form where he can wear tall fit clothes (he's 6'4) that actually fit

Ds (year 10) wears shorts to school all year round (his choice) which is brilliant as they don't get the grown out look!

Omg don’t! It never ends.
I bought DS16 2 pairs of age 17 joggers, he’s worn them twice and they’re 2 inches too short!
Most shops forget kids don’t go from aged 15yrs straight to adults.
Skinny bodies and long legs aren’t taken in to consideration

I can’t stand too short trousers so I don’t wait. My kids would hate wearing clothes that were too small.

I wouldn't wait.

One of mine has summer dresses or they can wear polo and skirt/shorts.

But shoes if theyve lasted september til now thats pretty good going. Why wouldnt new shoes now last another 9 months?

Dont really get the waiting til September thing!

My youngest DS prefers his clothes on the snug side so will carry on wearing the too small everything till he busts out of it.
I would replace shoes now though.

DD has 3 weeks left and she's squished into her Y7 skirt that I bought big!

I like watching the yr6 Sports day - that's where you can easily spot the last or only kids at the school who at any other time would have been bought new PE kit. Same for the year 6 class photos.

The trouble with buying now is that you've got a month and a half of not wearing them soon after, by the end of which they'll have grown again. Plus you have to buy them non uniform clothes to see them through summer because last year's summer clothes will definitely be too small. So you need to budget for that. And for holiday childcare.

Of course it would all be a bit easier if you could just buy normal clothes instead of always having to have two lots, slightly staggered. But apparently buying two lots of clothes means you level your kids up or something.

I never get the mindset of not replacing things until September. Replace things when they need replacing. If at all possible with a size too big so it lasts longer

Your school needs a mid-year uniform swap.

It is sweet and funny to see how much the kids have all grown in a year though 😀 bless them!

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads M&S I got size 13 black shoes for our giant. I actually now need 13.5 in football boots and shoes which are not the easiest to find. Bizarrely Puma do affordable large size runners. Found in Sports Direct.

Thank you @Forestcantrun

Yes, this is Ds2 except he is in yr 11 so has to last him for the next couple of weeks. We have done really well with his brother's hand me down trousers which has been a massive cost saving to us.

When exams are over I am going to contact my local food bank to see if they know any family who would benefit from a few sizes of school uniform trousers and jumpers for the local secondary. I would much rather give for free than charity shop it. Sadly our school doesn't do a uniform swap or second hand sales.

DS2 is leaving primary school this summer and his jumpers/trousers are all small - thankfully we can get away with tracksuit bottoms if it comes to it. I'm waiting until the last possible moment to buy his secondary uniform because he's having a growth spurt - including his feet - but I have a feeling it won't last him until year 8 unless I buy really big!

If anyone is buying M and s school trousers you can often unpick the hems for a little bit of extra growing room. Still doesn't stop DS looking like his trousers have mortally offended his ankles.

Those saying they'd grow ... I'd buy with a bit of growing room.

But reqlly they dont normally grow out of clothes every y weeks or we'd be saying in september that why buy then as they'd be grown by end october!

I'm watching DDs feet with a feeling of despair, she's just turned 8 in the last couple of weeks and is in size 3, I got her new shoes at Xmas and I don't think they'll make it to the summer holidays. At the point with 5 weeks till they break up she'll be wearing whatever shoes do still fit her whether they are uniform approved or not.

I guarantee if I buy her new shoes in June they won't fit in September. She grows like bamboo.

I’ve just had to order DS some new ones as he looks like he’s been stuffed in to his 😭.