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WWYD son’s school outfit choice

52 replies

anothereastlondonmum · 31/05/2026 19:41

My son’s (age 5, 6 in August) state school has no uniform. He has recently chosen and bought with his pocket money a lovely t-shirt which he’s pleased with. He’s in Year 1 for context. He has decided to wear his new t-shirt tomorrow. The dilemma is that it has a pink sparkly unicorn design on the front. It was clearly a “girl’s” t-shirt (as in, the store was mixed but it was in a girls section), and of course me and his Dad think it’s lovely he loves it so much. I wish I wasn’t worried but there are two known bullies in his class who are very “alpha” and have bullied a number of the children before including our son. they are very “male” and talk about weaklings etc and have bullied another boy relentlessly who is fairly feminine in his rates.

The school is currently dealing with the bullies so it’s not so much about that aspect as I have already submitted a complaint and met with the teacher. Things are happening but as of tomorrow the two boys are still
in DS class. My dilemma is more about the very immediate term issue of DS wanting to wear his cute t-shirt tomorrow the first day back after half term. Do I send him into the lions den or do I say it’s in the wash?

I am a moral person and feel cross I’m even thinking about such a moral compromise as this, but when it’s your child you just want to protect them from pain 😭

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 01/06/2026 19:05

Explain your concerns - I think if you wear the unicorn shirt those boys will be teasing you all day, and it may even get spoiled.

I'm sure he will be able to understand the choice, even at his age, especially if he has had trouble from them already.

It is depressing he can't wear his favourite t shirt, but we also have to learn how to navigate the real world. I would let him choose and learn, even if it's a hard lesson.

Cantbearssed · 01/06/2026 19:12

I work in a school as a TA and a few years back when in year 1 there was a boy who loved dressing up in “girls” clothes out of the fancy dress box. He’d often put on a sparkly Elsa dress and some sparkly heels (the teacher brought in) and quite happily and confidently walked around class and absolutely no kid batted an eye lid. I loved the fact he was just being himself and dressing up how he wanted.
Let your son wear the T-shirt with confidence and don’t worry about the other kids.

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