to wonder why Y3 girls are not allowed to wear bikinis

[catwoo]

for school swimming.Apparently tankinis aren't allowed either. DD only has one piece costumes but taher fancies a bikini (she has an older sister).She has been questioning why not and it has made me wonder too.Boys can and do wear speedos which are essentially bikini bottoms, so why must a 7 yr old girl's midriff be covered and not a 7 yo boy's?

I don't know for sure but I would say a one piece is easier to get on and off by yourself when you're 7 and a one piece won't come off when you jump in/mess about in the pool.

DD's school had the same rule BTW.

I hate bikinis as they're a right faff on. If you're flat chested the top just shifts around causing a bloody nuisance and it rides up when you swim, I once exposed myself at that waterfall where the filmed the timotei shampoo advert when I jumped in and my top stayed on the water's surface. I like a one piece as it's anchored as it were. I assume the school shares my view.

Because it sexualises them. Bikinis are designed to show off your breasts. Most 7 year olds don't have breasts, and they shouldn't be showing them off.

Is it because " uniform regs " say 1 piece cossie?

I suspect it's just easier with jumping / diving not to have bits tht might fall off or need constant fiddling with to keep in place over on existent boobies. We certainly have not had 2piece cossies for swimming classes/ training. A 1piece costume is just a better / easier bit if kit for actually training in. Bikinis for play/beach etc

plus one piece swimsuits are less fuss and bother?

What would happen if she lost the top part? or the bottom part?

I would have thought a one piece for school swimming was common sense really. Bikini style tops ride up, which would no doubt cause much giggling amongst the kids for a start, and when you are jumping in and out of water and actually swimming rather than posing around by a holiday pool or on the beach, a costume is better to wear.

I think it will be because it's less of a faff (they're not always easy to fasten) and less bits to lose!

More for practicality than anything else imo.

The tops ride up when they dive/jump in and can hinder swimming.

Because bikinis are ick on 7 year olds

Boys don't have a one piece. Girls do. It's the rule. Bathers are easier. Personally, I think bikinis on young girls are awful.

can the girls just wear bikini bottoms like they do in France?

Or they could just wear a one piece swimming costume like school says? Just a thought....

To those who are wondering why they can't just wear bikini bottoms at 7yo - well I have a 6yo boy and a 4yo girl.

4yo girl knows women don't go about topless in the pool - she doesn't want to either.

6yo boy, well, he would not be able to stop himself giggling because again, he knows that women cover their top half in the pool. He thinks boobs are funny full stop actually.

I would presume the school rules are mainly for practicality - one piece instead of two. Additionally I do agree that bikinis on young girls are rather adult.

Because bikini tops ride up and cause hilarity

Because it reduces the competitive fashion element (My school had a uniform swimming costume)

Because adult women don't wear bikinis for proper swimming, only for leisure swimming (generally)

It would be inappropriate for a lot of girls that age to wear just bottoms and many would not want to.

Boys usually have to wear speedo type costumes rather than baggy holiday swimming type shorts so essentially both genders are being told to wear the conventional garments for serious/competitive swimming rather than for playing around the pool.

bikinis are for the beach and sunbathing, one piece costumes are for swimming in

dd wears one like this. She doesnt own a one piece costume and nothing is specified by the school. It is easier for going to the toilet as you dont have to take the whole thing down.

She might be grateful...typical swimming pool sides are freezing when you're wet, even when your midriff is covered!

If its the uniform code then you really should follow it. I don't have a problem with girls wearing bikinis my dd now 10 has worn them since toddlerhood as I found them easier to use. There are some bikinis that sexualise children but the majority do not.

Ds has to wear tight trunks for swimming, no baggy trunks allowed. No idea why. Just put her in what the school asks, it's not a big deal

Boys have to wear speedo type shorts for our school swimming lessons, to the disgust if my DS and his friends who favour the baggy shorts normally.

Tough - it's school, and the instructors ask them to wear swimwear that is functional not riding up / flapping about so they concentrate on swimming.

Bikinis on young children are nasty.

I agree with the school

What is your own personal reason for asking?

Baggy shorts make it hard for the instructor to see what the leg movement is like. They are also harder to actually swim in so a hindrance when you are learning.

Bikini tops ride up or come undone if they are the tie type.
Also, if you are constantly worrying about your costume you can't concentrate on yyour stroke. TBH I find that girls in tankinis spend an awful lot of time sefl conciously tugging and adjusting them during a lesson.

For those saying it is easier if they need the toilet in a 30-40 minute lesson if they go before hand they shouldn't need to during the lesson (and before people shout, no I don;t prevent them from going during, but I do remind them to go before they go in to change).