What are some parents thinking

[sonlypuppyfat]

Well I don't know if I'm brave enough for this but, today a really hot day DD yr 7 went on a school trip. It was a walking trip, up hills etc for geography. They didn't have to wear school uniform but old clothes they didn't mind spoiling, DD wore a white t shirt grey leggings and a white cap. Lots of her friends were in black jeans and black tops one girl even had a black cardi on. Also DD had to give her sun block out to loads of her friends who were getting sunburn, why we're so many of the children so unprepared for the weather?

Because according to mumsnet life style, 7 years old humans beings are capable of their own decisions, reaponsible individuals and how dare you criticise the way they dress. Did you instruct your daughter how to dress in a hot weather? She'll be spoiled

Not 7 years of age but year 7 so 11 years old? They probably decided what to wear themselves, I agree about the suncream though but I am just basing this on my own 11 year old self as mine aren't at that age yet.

My year 7 daughter wouldn't take any notice of me if I told her what to wear.

Oh I forgot that endelessworries

Some parents won't want the battle.
Some parents leave the house before Y7 kids go to school!

Y7 are old enough to dress themselves appropriately, if they want to suffer then so be it.

They will be the same Y7's who were freezing their arses off in winter, refusing to wear a coat. At that age they can choose what they wear themselves and hard luck if it makes them suffer.

I'd have told mine that they'd boil to death in that get up then rolled my eyes when they ignored my sound parental advice

My year 7 step son would chose his own clothes probably black jeans black top

He'd then instantly regret it and whinge about being too hot all day!

Surely year 7 mums aren't still putting their clothes out are they?

Surely it's not out of the question to say to an 11yr old, " you're not wearing that!"

If it wouldn't actually kill them, I'd suggest rather than insist age 11. Only thing I'd indist on is a hat and a drink. Black jeans - meh, probably won't do it twice. And I wouldn"t send suncream because they'd have applied it before they went.

Why would you insist though? Theyre not toddlers! In a few years time they'll be going into the adult world.

Well DS wore a t-shirt that was far too small for him this morning.

He's only three though and I simply didn't have the energy to argue.

Disclaimer : it was just an inch too short when he raised his arms, it wasn't miniature or anything.

My Y6 dd insists on wearing a big jumper every day of the year - including this week. She doesn't want her body to show . She may be an extreme case, but I think lots of girls that age have strong ideas about what they feel comfortable in.

My year 10 DD wore black tights and black cardi to school today. I tried telling her she'd boil but she wouldn't listen. She was probably boiling but it's her own lookout.

Surely an 11yr old is still a young child?

Surely it's not out of the question to say to an 11yr old, " you're not wearing that!"

I'm now doubting that OP actually has an 11 year old, or she would realise that is the absolutely worse thing to say. Telling them what they are wearing is just perfect fora warm day would perhaps work better?

[It took me 20 minutes to persuade DS that as sports day was on a field with no shade on one of the hottest days of the year, it really wasn't optional to wear suncream.]

My dd used to have some pretty hard to handle issues with clothes when she was 5/6/7. Not so much these days. She's almost 9. You have to pick your battles as parents as some children will have such issues at 11. I suggest to my dd what to wear these days as clothes are no longer a major issue but by 11, I can imagine she won't listen.

Black clothing isn't the problem people think it is. White is far worse. Black clothing is actually quite good in heat. It absorbs more heat from the sun yes, but also much more from the body, which is what you want. If there's even the slightest breeze black clothing helps radiate the heat away from the body. White and lighter colours just let you cook yourself.

If you're going to wear jeans on a hot summer day, black ones are the best choice.

Sunscreen I'd make sure they had available and remind them to take it/use it, but again if they managed to forget it that would be their problem. They were obviously capable of realising they needed it and asking someone for some, so no great disaster there.

My DD is quite a quiet gentle child and I think reading some of these replies might be a little young for her age, perhaps I am being unreasonable then!

I wouldn't be persuading an 11 year old to wear suitable clothes for 20 minutes. If mine has made an unsuitable choice herself, she gets told to change, no ifs or buts. I'm the parent and she's still a child. Some parents seem unable to say no to anything.

In some cases maybe the kids don't have any summer clothes. Or perhaps nobody ever told them that you dress for the weather. I agree with you, while you can't tell them what to wear at that age, you can provide weather appropriate clothing and sunscreen.

Surely most year 7 children will be 12 by now?

Absolutely they will be selecting their own clothes. At that age my DD would have chosen to wear whatever she liked best, with complete disregard for the actual weather.

I do agree they should have had suncream but again, they probably just "accidentally forgot it" as it's uncool or something.