To think that leggings as school uniform is not 'lazy parenting'?

[NewStateswoman]

Had a bit of a debate last night with a friend.

My DD wears black leggings to school. Her school isn't that strict about uniform; ties are optional, polo shirts are normal, etc. They do a daily mile run and lots of outdoors activities, and gym 3 times a week.

She's comfortable in leggings, they keep her warm, so that's what she wears (sometimes - she also has skirts and a summer dress).

But my friend was very scathing about the leggings! She says it's lazy parenting, to which I asked in which way I was a lazy parent for sending my daughter to school in comfortable clothes which adhere to the dress code.

She had no reply; essentially she just doesn't like leggings. It's sloppy, apparently, to let kids wear leggings, but other forms of black trousers are ok. I think she assumes it's to save me on ironing, maybe? Which it isn't.

So AIBU to let my daughter go to school in leggings?

Agreed.

Who are these people that stand by wardrobes of perfectly good clothes wondering what to wear

Why is it odd though An0n? They're only trousers.

I'd not wear them without a longish top at least, (I live in leggings) but then I mass buy cheapo leggings from primani, so they are definitely see through. Even in nice thick ones is feel paranoid. I see too many arses peeking through leggings, and I'm sure the women wouldn't do that on purpose!
I don't know. I don't like them as a trouser with a normal, especially in adults, as I think they just look so unfinished and odd. But each to their own.

Well I've just never seen it. I can't think of a school round her that doesn't have a uniform.

My DD had a navy cord dress with a floral blouse, red tights, school cardigan, choice of about 4 styles of black shoes and school coat and school bag from day one. Plus the whole PE kit which has about 8 items (gym kit different to field games) which has to be in the school PE bag. You can only buy all this from their school shop and all items are compulsory. If a child came in leggings, they wouldn't get past the head who shakes hands with them all in the gate. They might as well turn up in pyjamas.

Well, they are not trousers, they are footless tights. Of course 6 years old she is young enough to wear what she wants, same as babies and toddlers.

As mentioned before, this time of year more kids are in leggings or plimsolls instead of proper trousers or shoes because it is expensive to replace outgrown stuff now and again in September, so people make do for the few weeks.

Tbh I've never actually seen girls going to school in trousers either. Primary or secondary.

Never seen girls going to school in trousers? Do you live in the 1950s? Several of the secondaries round here don't allow it. All of the primaries do.

Wow, An0n I think our schools are at opposite end of the spectrum!

I would never, as an adult, wear a dress, a blouse, tights, and a cardigan, and only have access to a small range of shoes. So why do we do it to our children, whom we want to run and jump and play and be comfortable for almost 40 hours a week? And who the actual fuck thinks identical school coats and bags are necessary?

Argh, the whole concept makes me really cross

An0n that sounds like an interesting uniform (floral blouse and red tights?) but regardless it makes absolutely no difference to her learning.

Of course you should follow the school rules, and when we return to the UK our DC will be back in full and correct uniform but the reality of it is that uniform is just tradition. It honestly makes no difference to their education.

Sailorcherries uniform isn't required in Seconday school to prepare people for office dress codes. There's 320 million people in the USA, the majority of whom manage to meet their professional dress codes quite happily without ever having worn a school uniform.

That uniform sounds dreadful dd can't wear tights either so shed be screwed.shed be bleeding inside of a week. Who on earth thought kids who should be able to run about and play should have to wear that.

Smacks Of "girls just need to look pretty and sit/stand nicely like ladies" rather than just being kids and running about

My Dd school lists leggings as acceptable legware. Jeans too. As part of the uniform. I am a professional and wear jeans or leggings every day. I think children should be comfortable. DD school uniform is more like a team kit I suppose - shows membership / collectiveness. It is not to get them used to a life of unflattering uncomfortable clothing. Thankfully.

Try to go for a job interview with leggings , and see how it works

Try to go for a job interview in a gingham summer dress and your hair in pigtails and see how that works. Is that the standard by which we're validating the clothing of six-year-olds now?

Leggings (or, indeed, tracksuits and polo shirts) seem an extremely sensible thing for an active six-year-old to wear. They're flexible and comfortable and work in class and when doing more movement-based activities. I wish more schools took the attitude that yours does, OP -- or as with the school that LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett mentions, start off from the point of view that a uniform should be practical and just mandate tracksuits as uniform for young children (in KS1 or across primary).

My DD's 9 & 6, live in leggings or short.
They would LOVE to go to your DD's school!

Tell your friend she needs to mind her own beeswax.

Try to go for a job interview in a gingham summer dress and your hair in pigtails and see how that works

If the official uniform is smart trousers/skirt/dress then I do think it's a bit lazy to dress her in leggings just because it's easier and you can get away with it. Leggings are not smart trousers.

I help run forest school sessions and the info we give out used to just ask children are dressed in sensible clothing including full trousers and long sleeves. We have had to change that to full trousers and no leggings because the standard high street ones are just not suitable as trousers for climbing around the forest in. Children were freezing in winter and getting big holes from falling over or snagging them on thorns or branches in summer.

I just want to know what school it is that include a mile run EVERY day?!! /misses point of thread totally/

I agree with Plunkette, having also been to a school with no uniforms in a different country. It's just not something that enters anybody's head over there. I can't remember a single instance of anybody criticising anyone else's clothes, and this was when we were teenagers. School uniforms are simply a British anachronism.

I'd totally go to an interview in leggings too, I wear them with nice long dresses

So no, YANBU. Leggings all the way!

My 6 year old wears leggings. She's very fussy about what she wears and how and I expect like me she has sensory processing difficulties as part of autism.

The best part of being self employed for me a few years ago is that there was no uniform policy. I can't bear touching certain textures. I ran a successful business dressed in comfy leggings and tired dresses.

And quite frankly I think it's laughable that I should get my six year old ready for work place presentation standard at her age.

Both my children go to a school which has a relaxed uniform policy and I'm hoping both will go to the local outstanding secondary that has polo neck tshirts and sports type jumper as a uniform policy.

And school uniform is not a leveller. My daughter usually wears third time hand me down school uniform and it is obvious. The hand me down dresses and clothes she owns are by contrast in nearly new condition.

YANBU about the leggings. And In the past I employed people who wore leggings too. They did a grand job.

Notso how is it easier, for me? It's really not easier or harder for me depending on which style of trouser my daughter prefers.

Adara I think it's brilliant thedailymile.co.uk/

god, there's always one

actually TragicallyUnbeyachted, an age appropriate dress happens to be suitable for an interview. My daughters uniform would even be suitable for an interview as it happens, some schools seem to have better taste than others.

Adara the Mile A Day run has been something that was pioneered at a school in Stirling and has been spreading across the country.

The kids don't change into PE kit they just run/walk in their normal clothes. It doesn't take very long but it encourages daily activity in the kids.

NewStateswoman, DD hates normal trousers

So presumably it's easier for you as in no arguing/complaining/cajoling/battles if she wears leggings which she does like.

Leggings are NOT trousers! They are meant to be under a top longer than the arse.

Notso I've never considered it, because until recently she preferred skirts and dresses. She still wears a dress or skirt one or two days a week.

Jazzy, people keep saying that, but they are demonstrably trousers!!

"But why are they not trousers? Can anyone actually answer that?"

Because they are clingy, and thin-ish often black, like tights. Tights are underwear.

They can be made in different thicknesses and opacities / transparencies, but the clinginess and thinness is what makes people uncomfortable - because they look like tights (except without feet, which is invisible anyway if the person is wearing boots) - and tights always have a skirt or trousers or shorts on top.

You could define knickers as trousers (short ones, with a bow on the front, made of white cotton, usually worn in warm weather) if you wanted. You could decide that they do the same job, but everyone else would think "OMG that girl isn't properly dressed, she's out in her knickers."