7 yo DD told by teacher she had to share her towel with another girl - AIBU to be unhappy about this?

[VelvetEmbers]

Y3 have just started swimming, and this week it's every afternoon.

Last night DD's towel was so sopping wet it looked like she'd thrown it in the pool. She told me she'd "had to share with Anna" (not her real name). Apparently Anna only had a small towel so the teacher told DD she had to share her larger towel.

Wouldn't have been quite so bad had she dried first and handed it over, but apparently they "both dried together".

Sharing towels is an absolute no-no as far as I'm concerned, for hygiene reasons, but I've been on MN for many years and I know some of my views are odd. I also realise that what a 7 yo reports as the truth can be a different version to that of the teacher. BUT assuming this is what happened, WWYD?

Threads like this amaze me. We are surrounded by germs all the time. We share germs and infect each other constantly. How does anyone ever eat in a restaurant if this sort of thing worries them? Other people touching plates etc.

My children manage to transfer nits to each other and to other children without even bothering to share a towel/hairbrush/whatever. It's just a normal life irritation and until ebola is rife in your swimming pool, I would chill out.

It wouldn't bother me at all. It is probably best not to look annoyed in front of your DD as that would give her the wrong idea about sharing. Maybe your mother reacted badly when you shared as a child.

Also take a look at kids' overall hygiene. They do much worse than this in an ordinary day - most of them miss the toilet at school, don't wash their hands, pick their noses, shove hands where hands shouldn't be shoved. A shared towel after swimming is the least of your worries.

there was just a big piece on the bbc about skin infection and towel sharing.
speak to the teacher but also to your dd wrt to personal hygiene.

Hygiene? They just got out of a pool that uses chlorine to combat all the sweat, urine, hair product, unwashed bodies, and god knows what else. The point of good hygiene has run off past the point of no return.

I've shared towels with friend who forgot theirs before, and they're returned the favor. Just talk to the coach about getting stock towels for children that forget theirs because really, it's not fair to have a child dry off with a damp towel because someone forgot theirs.

It's probably a risk for spreading worms, but frankly, everything is a risk for spreading worms amongst Primary school children.

Leave the poor teacher alone

All of those complaining about towel sharing, what do you think the teacher should have done? What if your child had forgotten their towel?

Quangle you have to draw the line somewhere though. For some that would mean they wouldn't be happy with a towel being shared.

Would you be happy sharing a pair of knickers with someone because you know, germs are everywhere, after all? Of course I think most people would draw the line at underwear sharing anyway but some people draw the line before that. There is nothing wrong with that IMO. I don't think that people should not draw the line wherever they want to just because germs are everywhere.

landrover she didn't forget her towel.

I wouldn't be happy about that. The hygiene risk is one thing, but I think it's about personal boundaries and respect as well. Fine if your dd was asked if she minded letting someone else use her towel after she had finished with it, not fine to make her share it at the time she is using it.

Even very small children have a right to have their dignity maintained when their personal care needs are being met, I don't see why the same shouldn't apply to an older child.

I really should develop some neuroses before I die of germs.

I actually think you might be right WooWooOwl. I think that's also what I was thinking but didn't know how to put it.

It's fine if you're okay with it, I just don't think it's right to make fun of people who aren't okay with it. Everyone has their own boundries when it comes to these things after all.

I also wouldn't complain to the teacher about it.

I think you ought to wash it at a million degrees. Other people - yuck.

I think it's a shame that OP's child had to dry with a wet towel becuae teacher made her share. Why not let the kids dry off and then 'share' the dryest towel with Anna? Or better yet ask at reception for a lost property towel, my leisure centre always has one or two.

beebs article

You wouldn't wear a worn pair of knickers or use a piece of used toilet roll, would you? It is unhygienic.

I would let it go this time but definitely raise it if it happened again.

Perhaps buy her a towelling bathrobe? Much nicer when you get out of the pool as you dry quicker. Also, a bit harder to share...

I was going to mention molluscum too. That's why we stopped sharing towels here. I felt the kids were just passing it back and forth. I'd just mention you'd prefer not to share towels as you are worried about it. It's perfectly possible to dry yourself with a small towel. Been there many times.

I would think that if they dried off together it was a bath sheet and they had half each.

I can understand the teacher doing this. Anna only has a tea towel and can't dry herself, also can't be left wet so look around for the largest towel sshe can share with.

I am with the other poster who said it doesn't add up.

I can tell you my DS's attempt at drying himself his towel means his towel is barely damp.

she probably messed around loads with it, dropped it in puddles, stood on it, shared with anna cos they both thought her towel was better, then wrapped her swimming cossie up in it
which is why it is sopping wet

Also thinks it's "ick".

My other issue with it is the teacher is in a position of authority so even if your child didn't want to, she would probably feel forced to. If she handed it over herself, that's one thing, but being "asked" by a teacher is essentially being told so I'd have a word with the teacher about that.

I'd probably pack an extra myself, or suggest the teacher do, problem solved.

When did AIBU become like this? People can be such assholes in this topic lately. Fine to say that you think it's an overreaction but all this FFSing...seriously?

Anyway, OP. I wouldn't be happy but I'd assume it was a one off. If it were me I'd probably donate a few towels that could be left at the pool so that there is an option if kids forget theirs.

So for all the people who are happy with towel sharing, you'd be happy with your kids sharing used underwear or toilet roll?