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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Staying in school uniform after school?

217 replies

Jupin · 13/10/2020 19:12

Thought I would start a thread to see what others do as my partner and his family always comment on the fact that my DS stays in his uniform after school and I don’t see the issue so wondered if it isn’t normal.

He has fresh uniform every day but keeps it on until he gets ready for bed. If he wants to get changed then he will just get ready for bed early but I’ve never got him to get changed into other clothes when we got home and partner thinks I should.

I never got changed after school apart from as a teen when I was going out with friends after school. But partner and family are really judgey about it like it isn’t normal and it’s not hygienic (not covid they have always felt that way).

So do your children get changed after school and Is there something I’m missing about why I should be making him change?

OP posts:
rainbowninja · 13/10/2020 20:33

Reassured by the amount of non changers, my 6 year olds uniform isn't normally salvageable after a days wear and she's quite happy it in it so she stays in it until she gets in her pajamas and then it goes in the wash

Avidreader12 · 13/10/2020 20:34

I always got changed out of school uniform when got home so my son does same thought it was normal but different families do different things don’t think Covid makes any difference

Whathappenedtothelego · 13/10/2020 20:39

Mine always change, and I always changed out of school uniform myself.
I also change when I get in from work, and always have done. No way I want to sprawl on the sofa in my work clothes.

I do insist on it with the DC, I just think it's more comfortable, and more hygienic.

I think we are the unusual ones though, judging from other children I see playing out/at after school activities.

lunar1 · 13/10/2020 20:40

Mine shower as soon as we get in and changed, everything goes in the wash. Same when my husband gets in from work.

In the current climate I think it's a bit grim to vein the house in clothes that have been worn outside all day.

lunar1 · 13/10/2020 20:42

Be in, not vein! Apparently I can't type at all today.

YellowJellyfish · 13/10/2020 20:42

Well I never, another MNet learning day for me! I thought everyone changed out their school uniform when they came home. Primary and secondary.

I was never allowed to go out and play after school still wearing my uniform. As a PP mentioned it was a lot more expensive back in the 70s so we had to keep our uniform in good repair, not run around getting it dirty. And as for the school shoes, def had to change them when we got home.

My kids have always changed as soon as they get home and I can't think of any of their friends who come round after school still in their uniform.

I've got to admit, I too would think it was an uncaring parent who let their kids still wear their uniform after school, but there you go, mumsnet has taught me otherwise! Who knew?

sunshinesheila · 13/10/2020 20:43

Mine don't.

MeltingIceCaps · 13/10/2020 20:45

I've got to admit, I too would think it was an uncaring parent who let their kids still wear their uniform after school

Uncaring in what way? Isn't it possible to be completely uncaring about what my kids wear at home while still caring deeply about them and their health and wellbeing?

BoardingSchoolMater · 13/10/2020 20:45

I still have a happy memory of DC1 and his chums "washing" their uniforms in a muddy wheelbarrow after school one day.

That's the only thing I remember about prep school uniforms, and whether the DC wore them when they came home or not. Whatever they wore, they could always be washed (in a washing machine, not in a wheelbarrow).

RB68 · 13/10/2020 20:45

pre covid no issue - personally I think getting changed is best move at moement

dementedpixie · 13/10/2020 20:46

Mine take their tie and blazer and shoes off and hang about in their shirt/skirt/trousers. If ds has a sports thing he'll get changed just before leaving for it

BoardingSchoolMater · 13/10/2020 20:47

@lunar1

Mine shower as soon as we get in and changed, everything goes in the wash. Same when my husband gets in from work.

In the current climate I think it's a bit grim to vein the house in clothes that have been worn outside all day.

I can't really imagine a universe in which this would happen. Is it like taking your shoes off when you go to someone's house?
RefriedBeanz · 13/10/2020 20:47

Pre-Covid, they stayed in their uniforms until bath time, then it was straight in pj’s. We didn’t get home until 4pm and they were in the bath by 6/6.30 so I didn’t see the point in changing them for such a short time.

Now, they come straight out of the their uniforms, which I wash, and into the bath, then into their pj’s. I just put their gowns over while they eat dinner so they don’t get food on them!

Either way, I wouldn't judge anyone for their after school clothes choices! Literally, no one else’s business.

AlwaysLatte · 13/10/2020 20:51

My sons stay in their uniform and as it saves on the washing (just the uniform in the laundry basket rather than clothes as well!) I don't mind (they do change if they go to a friend/to the park though).
With the exception of the tie and blazer though - they get hung up but as there are 6 sets of everything else hanging up on a Sunday night they're covered.

tealjourneys · 13/10/2020 20:52

I have 2 girls (15 & 13). I never made them change unless they had an after school activity. 13yo still doesn't change (usually) unless she has an after school activity. 15yo tends to come in, take her clothes off, and go to sleep for the next 2-3 hours, she'll wear one of those fluffy onesies if she needs to leave her room but doesn't exactly change until she goes in the shower (around 7:30-8).

charliebear78 · 13/10/2020 20:53

Both my boys( 6 and 13)get changed straight after School, and clothes go into the wash if needed.( they usually do, ones messy the other sweaty)
TBH it is the first thing myself and my partner do also. It is all about the joggers in this house!
A Shirt is not exactly comfortable to relax in-Plus my elder son usually goes out to play football after School at some point.
The younger one just likes to wear his own clothes and not his school uniform.

YellowJellyfish · 13/10/2020 20:53

@MeltingIceCaps As I've read from this thread it is indeed not a sign of bad parenting if kids are still wearing their uniform. I was obviously being a McJudgy Judgeface.

However when I was young, many thousands of years ago, the kids out playing in the street still wearing their uniforms were normally the ones where the parents didn't give a fuck. Probably, looking back, those were the warmest and cleanest clothes they had :(

Around here no one wears their uniforms in the school park or in the street to play. Not even to go round their mates houses. But the great thing about mumnset is you live and learn. And it appears to be the norm nowadays. Maybe because uniforms are so much bloody cheaper now.

scrivette · 13/10/2020 20:54

Pre Covid they didn't change but now they do. Although thinking about it, DC3 doesn't change upon returning from nursery.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/10/2020 20:55

We change as soon as we get back from school and work. I don't think uniform is comfy for lounging around the house in.

aToadOnTheWhole · 13/10/2020 20:56

I pick him up, he gets home, undressed and he goes straight in the bath and hair washed. Into comfies and then teatime. He'll play and then face washed and teeth brushed and into PJs before bed.

I always had a shower and got changed when I got in from secondary school. Primary school was face and hands washed and get changed.

My DH gets in, strips off and has a shower but he works on public transport.

No judgement on people that don't. Whatever is easiest in your own house isn't it? I'd do the same with DS regardless of corona. He's always been a sweaty, sticky, mucky little thing, even as a tiny baby Grin

NRatched · 13/10/2020 21:00

Mine usually stay in theirs til bedtime. Unless we are going out somewhere obviously, then they get changed into something nicer. Seems to be just making more washing for yourself, randomly getting them changed after school into something else, unless their school stuff is in a huge mess, if they come in covered in mud or something they get changed too.

I see it as..well on weekends, they wouldn't randomly get changed halfway through the day (except in same circumstances, dirty, or going out and what they have on is unsuitable) so..no different!

PatriciaPerch · 13/10/2020 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CeibaTree · 13/10/2020 21:03

We get the DC out of uniform as soon as we get in - not just for hygiene reasons but it kind of demarcates home-time from school-time, and it's just more relaxing for them to be in comfy lounge wear :)

SpaceRaiders · 13/10/2020 21:03

One of mine strips to her pants the moment she gets in. The other stays in her uniform mostly but will also strip. I can’t stand all the extra washing so it’s either stay in uniform or early bath and PJs.

kathrynjanewaykicksass · 13/10/2020 21:05

Mine can do as they please as long as they shower before bed then clean uniform each morning