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?

Giles - maybe you could wear cycling shorts under the dress and nobody would know, but they wouldn't let you wear leggings and there are no trousers in the school shop. I have never heard anyone complain about tights. It's actually one of the more relaxed independent primaries in this area. All the schools have summer dresses. Many have blazers and ridiculous hats as well, or long tailored wool coats in the winter that aren't waterproof even.

Not in my own (limited) experience Plunkette

In my schools, it was exactly the opposite. And it wasn't just the clothes, but the shoes, the jewelry, then the handbags for the girls.

In my time (the olden days ) Primark wasn't fashionable --probably didn't even exist, so labels were king. I know I was lucky that I could wear pretty much what I wanted. When i see parents complaining about buying a new school sweater for £6, I am happy that's all I have to buy, and I can afford to let my kids shop reasonably where they want for their "private" clothes.

I'd be complaining about tights dd hasn't worn them since she scratched so badly she caused a weeping wound the tights stuck to it and the whole thing got infected...

I can see the point of a uniform without being perfectly uniform. It means parents/kids know whats put on in the morning but it's not unnecessarily obsessive.

Leggings are excellent in that they don't restrict movement. Kids can romp around with ease.

In schools where girls aren't allowed leggings or tights with summer dresses what do Muslim girls wear in the summer? At DDs school all the Muslim girls wear leggings under their gingham dresses in the summer.

What I don't understand is why some schools have an overly neat stuffy restrictive dress code. Tie and blazer. The kids look like they are going off to work in an office for the day rather then running around doing gymnastics at playtime.

When I was a child I wore leggings and a tshirt until I was about 12. Leggings are a type of trouser.

Just because people started wearing them under dresses and you can now get thin leggings that are akin to tights doesn't mean that you can't still get proper leggings that can be worn as trousers.

Anything that requires adjustments or changing out of just to enable kids to do a simple thing like play on the playground equipment is not fit for purpose and I can't fathom why they girls of course always the girls insist on it being worn.

Your "friend" is rude. Also she is a rather odd to be bothered about what someone else's child wears on their legs. It must be nice to have such a boring stress free life where her biggest worry is your 6 year olds clothes.

I just think they look awful. The person who invented them if still alive should be put in prison for life.

I like lazy parenting - in fact, I generally prefer the lazy option to putting lots of hard work and and effort into things. Why is lazy parenting an insult? Perhaps think of it as efficient parenting?

Wow I feel a bit like I been gone back in time reading this thread. Are people really saying that primary aged girls don't wear trousers to school in England? I am in Scotland and I would say the majority wear trousers, culottes, city shorts with tights or shorts! They also wear pinefores, skirts and summer dresses with tights or leggings for PE days. Some even wear gingham culottes this year. Some wear blouses, some polo shirts. Also a mixture of jerseys, sweatshirts and cardigans. They are just clothes. No one seems to mind as long as they are in the school colour and some variation of grey/black/white. It works and the the teachers can get on with teaching the children!
PS We also have the daily mile come rain or shine - again I thought that was also the norm!!

My kid lives in leggings as do nearly all of her female classmates. They're extremely comfortable. They don't wear uniforms in her school thankfully.

Leggings are trousers for children... The adult ones are a completely different material.

HildaOg
Trousers for children. Spot on.

Not for teens or adults.

Though someone will inevitably say "why should that make a difference?!" in faux outrage. It's does. And only on MN do people pretend otherwise.

This thread has been fascinating! I'm glad to see I'm not considered to be a total slattern by most

I confess to feeling a bit paranoid now though, maybe I won't be sending her in leggings after the summer. It's a bit of a shame though, they're by far the comfiest and most practical option.

I'm still lost as to why her wearing them makes me lazy. And I still believe that they ARE trousers!

They're trousers for younger kids OP. They're really not for anyone above the age of 10.

Leggings are NOT trousers. Her top needs to cover her bum.

Children's leggings are trousers!!!! The material is very different from adult leggings which are basically footless tights!

Why what happens when a six yr old doesn't cover their bum?

Does the world stop spinning on it's axis?

in places where non uniform is a daily occurrence there is considerably less concern about what clothes anyone is wearing.

The concern about wearing the "right" thing is caused by the fact that it's unusual to be out of uniform.

THIS! I have experienced both uniform and non-uniform as a parent and as a child. Non-uniform is vastly easier and pleasanter in a number of ways.

It's funny Gennifer because I had always been a traditionalist when it comes to uniform, moving to the USA and seeing my DC in a non-uniform school has really changed my views on this.

Leggings are not instead of trousers, they are trousers
No, they aren't. Leggings are glorified tights. Trousers have a proper waist-band and they stand away from your body. They tend to have pockets.

The adult leggings my teenage DD and her friends wear are exactly the same material as the ones the kids ones I see for sale or worn by my younger child's friends. Thin, stretchy and clingy not like footless tights.

My problem with them at my kids school's is they aren't the uniform, same as black trainers aren't. It's annoying when schools have policies and don't follow them through and equally as annoying when other parents CBA to stick to the rules.
In my kids infants the choice is navy joggers or grey school trousers/skirt/dress, at the secondary it's black tailored trousers or a knee length skirt. Black leggings are not featured in either but seem to be the most popular choice for girls

MsJudgemental your name is apt!

Why does her top 'need' to cover her bum? Does everything you wear come half way down your thighs? Are you worried you'll get the vapours if you can see the outline of a six year old's arse?

Iona I actually just checked the dictionary definition (what have I become?) and pockets is bugger-all to do with it.

"a piece of clothing that covers the lower part of the body from the waist to the feet, consisting of two cylinder-shaped parts, one for each leg, that are joined at the top."