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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be ? that a teacher told my dd (6yrs) to wear cycling shorts under her summer dress if she was going to be doing cartwheels?

400 replies

mulranno · 09/05/2013 17:07

?

OP posts:
HeffalumpTheFlump · 09/05/2013 17:30

I personally think shorts wouldn't be a bad idea, but perhaps a lighter pair than cycle shorts. I wouldn't want a 6 year old girl to be walking around in her knickers, so if they are doing lots of handstands I can't see too much of a difference, they are still showing their underwear.

pigletmania · 09/05/2013 17:33

Fine don't see anything wrong with it. My dd asvavhabt of stating with her legs splayed so everyone can see her knickers, I pop some shrts underneath to ensure her modesty

specialsubject · 09/05/2013 17:33

and to think we used to do PE in t-shirts and knickers... admittedly in a girls-only school...

pigletmania · 09/05/2013 17:33

Meant sittting

PrideOfChanur · 09/05/2013 17:34

Silly.When I was at school,many years ago
we did both PE and what was called Music and Movement(sort of dance/drama type thing!) in our underwear.Admittedly it was very substantial and uniform underwear,but even so...

StuntGirl · 09/05/2013 17:35

Utter bollocks.

I'd be talking to the teacher about it and suggesting that instead they teach the children not to tease others, rather than teach small children that girls must cover up the clothes have themselves been designed to cover them up...

cantspel · 09/05/2013 17:36

Back in the dark ages we all did PE in our pants and vests at primary. Boys and girls together the world didn't come to an end at the signt on your children in their underwear.

I think there is something wrong with the world if a 6 year old has to be modest about showing her pants.

Khara · 09/05/2013 17:37

We did pe in vests and knickers in the 70s and that was in a mixed primary school.

bollockstoit · 09/05/2013 17:38

We used to tuck our skirts up the legs of our knickers when doing handstands and things

ifancyashandy · 09/05/2013 17:39

Utter bollocks for the reasons all PP have said. I'd refuse if it were my daughter.

RiotsNotDiets · 09/05/2013 17:40

We did this at school by choice, I don't see a problem. Why would you rather your DD has her underwear on display if it can be avoided?

WorraLiberty · 09/05/2013 17:42

What we did in the 70's doesn't really compare to now.

We're living in a digital age and encouraging modesty in youngsters is probably a good idea, although it's sad that it's becoming necessary.

A couple of months ago my cousin emailed me a link to a Facebook page asking me to help report it and have it removed. There were 100s of pics of little girls 'upskirt' and the page was liked by about 375 people Sad

Most of them were on climbing frames at the park and the pervy comments were disgusting.

BackforGood · 09/05/2013 17:42

Absolutely ridiculous. She's 6! Why should she be worried about someone getting a quick flash of her pants as she cartwheels ?
I certainly wouldn't be happy that the teacher had put the question into the head of a 6 yr old.

TheseFoolishThings · 09/05/2013 17:44

This problem wouldn't even arise if both girls and boys wore the same uniform. Something comfortable, practical and easy to wear. In other wordes Not A Bloody Dress. In my very humble opinion anyway.

TheseFoolishThings · 09/05/2013 17:44

And yes I do know how to spell words Blush

squoosh · 09/05/2013 17:44

But what happens when the shorts over the knickers aren't 'modest' enough? Will they need to put a second pair of short over the first pair?

Ridiculous.

Feel like I've stumbled into a Mormon support group.

ChunkyPickle · 09/05/2013 17:46

Don't they just tuck their skirts in the legs of their knickers like we did?

Don't see why she would have to wear shorts really.. if she doesn't care, why should she be made to wear shorts so others don't comment - the others should be taught not to comment instead.

CabbageLeaves · 09/05/2013 17:46

All the girls do this at my DDs school..both primary and secondary. Gone are the days of knickers being big, navy and like shorts. It's often their choice and reflects the fact that they don't feel happy running around in their small knickers (anymore than a male child might?)

ipswitch · 09/05/2013 17:47

I wear cycling shorts under my dresses and skirts as an adult.
Lovely and comfortable, no chaffing and I havent even tried cartwheels yet...but might tomorrow!!!

MrsHiddleston · 09/05/2013 17:48

Seriously?!
She's 6!?! Why on earth should she need to wear cycling shorts under her dress? I'm actually quite disturbed that this appears to be quite normal. I imagine it would be rather hot and sweaty... And I fail to see the necessity.

ChunkyPickle · 09/05/2013 17:49

Ahem.. yes, well these days I might for chaffing reasons.. but then these days I wouldn't be cartwheeling or doing hand stands either.

I hope aged 6 my DS won't care much about how big his pants are still - they're children, and I would hope that he'll be confident about his body and not feel that he needs to hide more than absolutely necessary for the circumstances.

girliefriend · 09/05/2013 17:49

I heard another mum moaning as she had been told the same thing, it was the school policy that if your dd is wearing a summer dress they have to have cycling shorts underneath.

I was Shock and a bit Angry

It seems so cynical and ott, another little bit of our childs innocence lost Sad

StuntGirl · 09/05/2013 17:53

I don't even care if people get a flash of my knickers now and I'm in my twenties. Maybe I'm just a shameless hussy?

hambo · 09/05/2013 17:53

So, girls have to cover up because some (very very few) people might tease or like seeing their knickers? This is not the child's fault and she should not change her behaviour, the teasers or who ever else should change their behaviour. Infact the teacher may be the only person who sees a problem. YADNBU

meglet · 09/05/2013 17:54

In my day we didn't have a uniform at primary school so I would often wear trousers. I remember how much we'd get teased for doing handstands in a skirt.

I've bought DD culottes as part of her uniform, they seem more practical for tearing around outside.