Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have bought DS these trainers for school?

274 replies

AveAtqueVale · 18/08/2020 22:17

DS showed them to SIL on FaceTime earlier and once he'd gone she gave me and DH a massive lecture about how he'll be teased and bullied for such girly shoes. Tbh I'd thought they were fairly unisex? They fit the school brief of 'mainly white,' and his teacher's brief of 'please no laces' anyway. Is purple now off limits to boys as well as pink?! Confused He's six, he likes shiny things, and picked these himself out of 3 or 4 pairs I showed him.

I've been stewing on this all evening (clearly). To clarify, I'm not actually worried he'll be bullied. Just more wondering if my judgement is totally skewed!

To have bought DS these trainers for school?
To have bought DS these trainers for school?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Shedpaint · 18/08/2020 22:19

Can’t see a link?

zighead · 18/08/2020 22:20

They look fine to me. I would have been happy for my six year old son to wear them.

YesINameChangeEveryDay · 18/08/2020 22:21

How are they mainly white? They look lilac to me?
I don't think purple is a problem for boys but they're not white trainers.

Waveysnail · 18/08/2020 22:21

Sorry I think they are girly. Shiny bits reflect pink

ILikeGlitter · 18/08/2020 22:22

Were they in a specific boys or girls section?

I think they're fine for a 6yo boy or girl.

Shedpaint · 18/08/2020 22:22

Ah ok got it
I’m torn

I’m totally thinking kids should be able to wear what they like, purple and shiny is not just for girls and if he likes them that’s all that matters.
But
Kids are cruel. They will notice and they will comment.
Empowering him to ignore them is one way and probably the best long term strategy.

But having had a kid who has been relentlessly bullied for all sorts of shit I’m inclined to say try and fly under the radar if you can.

DelurkingAJ · 18/08/2020 22:22

DSs wouldn’t have blinked. Nor would I if they fit well. They’ll end up scuffed and muddy soon enough!

Princessbanana · 18/08/2020 22:22

I wouldn’t put them on my 6 year old, they do look like girls shoes.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/08/2020 22:23

If he's happy to wear them, then they are fine.

Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 18/08/2020 22:23

I’m also not sure if they fit the bill of “nearly white” but otherwise if he likes them then they’re fine!

PinkSnowAndStars · 18/08/2020 22:23

Yeah they are a bit girly. I wouldn’t have got them for my son. But if he picked them I don’t see the problem.

However other kids can be little shits and he might get comments

mygrandchildrenrock · 18/08/2020 22:24

They look fine for your son.

BuzzFeed773 · 18/08/2020 22:24

Those are clearly for girls. Sorry. Shouldn't matter, but does in the real world.

Budbudbud · 18/08/2020 22:24

If he likes them then he should be able to wear them but if you asked me if they were girls or boys I would say girls

SamSeabornforPresident · 18/08/2020 22:24

Sorry OP, I think they look like girls' shoes. If he'd chosen them, and had his heart set on them, fine, but if it's you choosing I'd probably go for something more boyish.

PolloDePrimavera · 18/08/2020 22:25

The poor little thing, he chose them! I only think they'd be odd if everyone else were wearing dark. Let him wear them. And I'm not sure he would be teased at that age anyway.

Waveysnail · 18/08/2020 22:25

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Orbit-Ride/p/26135009

These are white

wineandcheeseplease · 18/08/2020 22:27

Yeah I'd put them under girls not boys

IggyAce · 18/08/2020 22:29

Sorry they look girly to me too. I’d get plain white if white trainers is the schools request.
Off topic but why white trainers? Every primary round here requests black plimsolls, much easier to get and unisex.

newmumwithquestions · 18/08/2020 22:32

He’s 6. He chose them. I see no problem. Wtf has the world come to where a 6 year old can’t wear whatever colour they like (as long as school doesn’t have a problem).

My 5 (Nearly 6) year old DD was wearing shoes from the boys section to school pre lockdown. And will wear them this year if that’s what she chooses.

namesnamesnamesnames · 18/08/2020 22:33

He chose them, so they're fine. No child would get picked on for those in our school at that age, hopefully that's the same for other schools too. Most children wouldn't even look at other children's shoes when getting changed for PE, there isn't time!

Batmanandbobbin · 18/08/2020 22:33

I love them and my 6 year old DS would love them and have absolutely no issues wearing them at school/home/park anywhere. I think they’re retro not gender specific.

Sceptre86 · 18/08/2020 22:34

I think they are on the 'girly' side. If he chose them himself though, I would say that is fine. As a pp said how come they want kids to wear white shoes as opposed to black which are less likely to get mucky ?

BuzzFeed773 · 18/08/2020 22:34

White trainers as in private school uniform list? They mean white all over, and there may be a school uniform shop or independent sports shop locally stocking them for your school.

Notimeforaname · 18/08/2020 22:37

I think they're absolutely fine for boy or girl.
It's great he got to choose, we never had a say on the crap that was put on us at that age 😂