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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to make my children change out of school uniform after school

169 replies

gingerfrizz · 21/03/2012 18:38

I've never made them and they've never bothered, and it seems to be the same with many of their friends too. With 5 kids it saves on washing too.

The 3 youngest girls will happily play in the garden or go on playdates after school; the only time it's been an issue is at softplay where they have to take ties off for H&S reasons.

The elder 2 girls will go out with friends after school or if home, will either do homework or slob around and don't seem bothered, often won't even take shoes or blazers off.

Odd, or the norm?

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 22/03/2012 09:37

"To whoever it was that asked I work in a large department store.

Why would you say 'fish shop or with rhinos''

I am confused lol"

I imagine it is because to most people, having a shower the minute you walk in from work is generally usual for people who work in smelly environments. I shower or bath every day, but work in an office so I don't get dirty or smelly. Therefore I don't feel the need to shower the minute I get in the door.

lou2321 · 22/03/2012 09:40

Mine don't change unless they are going somewhere special like a party. I would rather not get 2 lots of clothes dirty every day - there's enough washing as it is. Also DS1 can often wear the same trousers more than once, they have a bath or shower before bed so never dirty! They have 5 tshirts and 5 jumpers as they are pale blue so rarely clean after a whole day anyway and 3 pairs of trousers.

Iamme43 - no one has said they don't bath or shower their children just that they may wear the same trousers or skirt twice!

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 09:43

I make mine change if their uhniform looks clean when they get home so I usually get 2-3 days out of it.

On the days when they do activities (dance for dd, taekwondo for ds) they change and dd prefers to take a change of clothes to dance with her (joggers and t-shirt to throw on over the top of her leotard afterwards rather than changing back into her school uniform.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 09:44

Dd and ds's uniform is expensive. Special skirts for dd from the supplier only and ds has to have M & S trousers as none other fit him.

Dd has 2 jumpers, two skirts and 3 blouses for the week.

ds has 3 trousers, 5 shirts and 2 jumpers.

southeastastra · 22/03/2012 09:48

my son's trousers are about £15, jeans are a tenner and less likely to get ripped to shreds when playing out

do all your kids who stay in uniform just sit indoors sedately Wink

DiscoDaisy · 22/03/2012 09:48

My 2 boys change when they come home from school and their uniforms usually get 2-3 days of wear.
My 3 girls tend to stay in their uniforms but they get home a lot later.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 09:50

And as for showers, dd and ds have a bath twice a week plus shower after swimming. When dd hits puberty and starts to sweat she will bath more often. Children don't need that many baths, dd suffered from excema and daily baths made her worse.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 09:51

Agree southeast.

Dd's skirts are getting on for £30. summer dresses are £25. Leggings/joggers and a t-shirt from Asda about a tenner.

iamme43 · 22/03/2012 09:53

Ah I see, I just find it easier to hop in the shower when I get home then the rest of the day is spent feeling fresh.

I still think it is lazy not to get your kids to change when they come home.

Could I ask their ages because it would seem totally nerdish to be in your uniform after school where I live at aged 7 or above.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 09:58

Pandemonia, most primary schools don't have blazers so uniform consists of polo shirt or shirt/blouse, trousers or skirt and a sweatshirt.

At £75 a time I certainly don;t have 5 blazers thought I do have a couple of spare outgrown/passed down ones!

TrinityRhino · 22/03/2012 09:59

Just to add to the mix.
Have you thought about the fact that if you are in uniform then you should be conducting yourself as part of the school.....

I can't explain myself and it's not something that bothers me btw

I also don't know if it's already been mentioned

GrinGrin

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 10:00

Also depends on what time you get home. If we get home at 4pm then you have the whole evening to play/mess up your uniform.

If you go to after school care/piano lesson, supermarket straight from school and don't get back in until after 6pm it hardly seems worth the effort changing just for the hour before bedtime.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 10:02

I am very aware of that Trinity.. its the same with dance/stagecoach/ When dd was in the panto she was told at rehearsals by her dance teacher that she was representing the dance school especially if she was in the logod dancewear.

Original poster
gingerfrizz · 22/03/2012 10:53

Trinity, that's not something that's even crossed my mind to be honest. Dose that mean that they should still be wearing it as per school rules if it's worn after school?

OP posts:
Original poster
gingerfrizz · 22/03/2012 10:53

Does not dose

OP posts:
DiscoDaisy · 22/03/2012 10:58

I know my elest daughter's school expect uniform to be worn correctly even out of school ie at the supermarket at 8pm.
If she goes shopping with me and can't be bothered to change out of her school trousers and shirt then she will put her tie and blazer back on so her uniform is correct.

ElphabaisWicked · 22/03/2012 10:58

In my mums day if they were caught in town in school uniform without their hat on they were disciplined. (normal state grammar school)

ariadne1 · 22/03/2012 11:02

Mine don't change.Why would I want them to dirty another set of clothes?
MYs DSs are at a state grammar and they are supposed to wesr their uniform properly and in full in public places.

Original poster
gingerfrizz · 22/03/2012 11:13

This might sound like a daft question, but does this mean that they're supposed to wear the uniform properly and neatly Discodaisy, or is it just a matter of having all the items on but not necessarily done up properly?

OP posts:
Mumsyblouse · 22/03/2012 11:17

I love how you are all saying you take the uniform off to keep it clean and neat for the next day.

My youngest (dd aged 6) comes out with her uniform with splodges of food, toothpaste, muddy shoes and quite often one bunch hanging down. A kind of girl version of Just William.

I obviously have the wrong type of children for this neat and tidy lark.

TrinityRhino · 22/03/2012 11:25

Elphabais got the word I meant

If you're in the uniform you are representing the school.

My kids change the minute they get home. They are no longer at school and no longer under school jurisdiction. Just came naturally to me to do that
Fuck all to do with washing though Grin

buttonmoon78 · 22/03/2012 11:53

OK here goes:

They all have 5 x shirts, 2 x bottoms (trousers or skirts), 2 x jumpers. DDs have 1 x blazer. They have clean shirts daily and clean other stuff usually alternate days.

Mine often stay in their uniforms all evening too (their choice) and bathe/shower regularly Hmm

The way I look at it is that their uniforms are usually Sainsburys (apart from blazers) so are cheaper to replace than non-uniform clothes! If ds trashes a school sweatshirt it costs £2 to replace. None of his other sweatshirts do.

If I could bring myself to care what anyone else thinks about it then it might bother me that people think I am lazy. I am fortunate that I couldn't care less Grin

Life is too damn short for a full clean uniform each day. I don't want to wash any more than I do currently with 6 in the house, one of which is a badly refluxy baby.

valiumredhead · 22/03/2012 11:54

Ds never changes unless he's going out to play footie in the mud.

EssexGurl · 22/03/2012 11:54

DS (y2) comes home with dirty shirt, jumper and trousers most days. He stays in uniform until bedtime. It all goes in the wash! He has three sets of everything. Never seen it as an issue until now.

buttonmoon78 · 22/03/2012 11:56

I don't get this obsession with washing stuff for the sake of it though. I guess I'm lazy and dirty too because I'll often wear a pair of jeans several times. AND I use the same towel for a few days too.

Happy as a pig in muck me. Oh, I am a pig in muck... Wink