AIBU school uniform

[Ijustdontknowwhattodo1018]

Am I being unreasonable to refuse to buy new shorts?

The school uniform states plain Black shorts for PE but the teachers have been commenting on my child’s shorts and telling them they are not appropriate.
They are proper ‘sports’ shorts and not that it matters but they are not cheap, they’re good quality, good fit, they don’t fall down etc.
I just don’t see what the problem is and what infuriates me is that they keep telling a 4 year old rather than telling me why there is a problem…after all, it is me who is buying the uniform and not my child.

Also, are we not supposed to be building children up, not making them feel self conscious?

Yes I agree just wondered why everyone was saying poor lad etc

I mean these aren't even cycling shorts are they OP. They are possibly ok for gymnastics at an advanced level or dance. But they look like spanx or shorts to wear under a dress so you can cartwheel without showing your knickers if you're worried about that.

Thank you! He’s moving to secondary school on September so all sportswear is branded. I couldn’t find any past a size 13-14 in January.

All speculation would be cut out if images were provided on the uniform list like they are at secondary school level. They want very specific items and ban everything that’s not an example by way of picture.

Just because one person doesn’t think the image the OP uploaded are plain black shorts, because they have a specific idea of what they think school shorts should be, doesn’t mean they aren’t. Even if they are yoga shorts (for a 4 year old 🤔) they are still plain black shorts…the child is 4 and doing roly poly’s at school, what does it even matter?! 🤦🏻‍♀️ BTW, they do yoga, gymnastics and ballet for PE in primary schools now. The shorts are perfect for all of those! 😉

Because the gender neutral way of writing doesn't come naturally to most. It's far easier to pick a sex and use it rather than go along with OP's unnecessary hiding it. So once someone assumed boy it's easier to just say the same.

All speculation would be cut out if images were provided on the uniform list like they are at secondary school level. They want very specific items and ban everything that’s not an example by way of picture
I agree with this, but also find it annoying that this is what it's come to with school uniform.
It's really not rocket science to buy school uniform if what you're looking for is school uniform rather than items that are fashion items in the school uniform section eg pinafores for girls with peplums on the side, black skinny jeans (because shops don't care that they're not uniform in many places, they've got the money once it's bought and worn).

Schools having to do what you outlined because a proportion of parents don't use common sense means that everyone else is stuck traipsing around trying to find a pair of graphite grey-black trousers with a straight leg, not tight fitting, no belt loops, hidden zip, no embellishments, nonstretchy fabric, no denim fabrics or denim look fabrics, and then by the time you find a pair that meet the criteria it's luck of the draw it they'll actually fit

@melj1213 why is that a problem?

I don’t think these are good p.e shorts so I wouldn’t buy them- presumably you think the same. You think p.e shorts should be longer and looser, so why would it matter that the uniform list specified that?

If you don’t think Lycra, spandex, hot pants, shirt shorts etc are suitable you won’t buy them so it doesn’t make any difference to you that they are on the list as not allowed- it would only be inconvenient to parents who did want to buy Lycra hot pants!

Trouble is the contradictory nature of uniform

So schools would allow a skort which are often tiny but those shorts wouldn't be allowed.. that doesn't exactly make sense does it. Kinda up there with things like- you don't have to wear the blazer but you must carry it around with you all day.

I dont know what other people did but much of my primary school uniform shopping consisted on click and collect at next. I can see how people wouldn't give it much thought about suitability if they clicked on the school uniform icon then just went down the list adding shirts amd socks and shorts..

Trouble is the contradictory nature of uniform

So schools would allow a skort which are often tiny but those shorts wouldn't be allowed.. that doesn't exactly make sense does it. Kinda up there with things like- you don't have to wear the blazer but you must carry it around with you all day.

I dont know what other people did but much of my primary school uniform shopping consisted on click and collect at next. I can see how people wouldn't give it much thought about suitability if they clicked on the school uniform icon then just went down the list adding shirts amd socks and shorts

I don't disagree with you, but I've got to the point on uniform where it isn't about whether I like each requirement or not, it's the requirements of school. I'd happily have no uniform or a dress code but know that's also going to have issues.

Much as I half eye roll at the blazer with you all day rule, it's probably because without it you'd be amazed how many pupils manage to not have their blazer with them whilst wearing a hoodie or other non-uniform items, and then they know their parents will kick off at school if their child is told that the hoody isn't uniform. Then there's the sad faces in local papers or all over social media claiming the mean evil school was happy for their child to FREEZE TO DEATH and it breaks their human rights because their child didn't have a blazer.

I'll confess, until I worked in schools I didn't appreciate the lengths some parents will go to to actively undermine the school. It's like they've got hangups from their old school days and think they're somehow proving a point by looking for a fight.

I think a pp hit the nail on the head when they said you look in the school section which has trousers which the school deem unsuitable but because they are in the school section parents think they are OK to wear to school then get pissed off with the school for moaning the trousers aren't part of the uniform despite them buying them from the uniform section.

Half term at least surely?? They must be an absolute state by the end of term

So did you ask at drop off today?

Says who? Multiple kids at my kids school where cycling shorts.

I said skintight very short very tight constricting hot pants are inappropriate for children in PE class, not that kids at your school don’t wear them.

There are things called PE shorts. For PE. Cycling shorts are for…professional cycling. Designed for that sport. Should we put children in tight polyester shirts with logos too?

There isn’t one universal definition of p.e shorts though, there have always been variations in what is available. Next, m&s and Asda all sell very short tight shorts in the p.e sections of their websites… if the school has a style they prefer they need to specify, otherwise people will buy whatever they like.

I just googled plain black pe shorts and in the first few images were short/tight shorts from Asda, decathlon and Matalan. It surely must be obvious to the school people will buy these.

They’re bike shorts, not PE shorts. You’re being provocative. You know what they mean. You see a billion other kids wearing appropriate PE kit and you went off-piste. Get the poor kid proper shorts.

Next, m&s and Asda all sell very short tight shorts in the p.e sections of their websites

That doesn’t mean you have to buy them. Common sense. Why buy very short very tight hot pants for a 4 year old to wear on PE class? I mean, read your own words. PE shorts are traditionally loose fitting, @TempestuousBehaviour.

The length has varied over the years but very short ones are impractical, the tiny ones worn by professional NBA basketball players in the 70s not withstanding 😅 Children do no need to be put in very tight, skin constricting hot pants from the disco days 😂

Very tight bike shorts are actually not good for you to wear, they’re so constricting. They’re designed for pro bike racers for speed, sleekness, and air dynamics in order to win races. They can be harmful in constricting private parts too much. Children in PE need to be unconstricted in the activities they all be doing. Please use your noggin.

they are doing, not all be doing lol.

Excuse the typos actually they’re autocorrect garbage. Annoying.

Yes, this is it in a nutshell!

There isn’t one universal definition of p.e shorts though, there have always been variations in what is available. Next, m&s and Asda all sell very short tight shorts in the p.e sections of their websites… if the school has a style they prefer they need to specify, otherwise people will buy whatever they like
I take your point and school should be specific in the OP's situation.

Equally shops don't care what individual schools say. Their aim is to make money and once the tags are out and it isn't being returned they really don't care if someone has bought 3 pairs of skin tight tregging-yoga pant style trousers that the school obviously says aren't in the uniform.

Twas ever thus.

One year I saw some children's pinafores with peplums on them when that was the fashion.There was that horrible trend for Skousers (black school type trousers with a weird skirt flap over the top) too 20+ years ago. The very fitted white shirts without proper collars, or that had no buttons until around the boobs were also a trend too.

Shops have always stocked items in their school lines that many schools probably wouldn't accept.

As a parent I don't understand why anyone would rely on "but the shop had it in their uniform section".

As a parent I don't understand why anyone would rely on "but the shop had it in their uniform section

People are busy. People are poor. No one had the time or the inclination to sit there cross referencing items. Asda shorts are three inches shorter than sainsbury ones let's get the shirts here and the shorts there..

They either wanna just go to sainsbury on the one day off they have that week , grab everything they need and get home before the toddler has a meltdown. Or pick up the package from next after work and hope they make the bus still.

Stock is also often an issue. Everyone wants the same items while asda decides that having 3 age 4-5 pinafores on the shelf is perfectly fine or someone's pulled out all the grey socks in m&s .. sometimes u just have to get a back up and hope for the best. U end up sending them.in in those " modesty shorts" while you wait for nexts' " back in stock" email

I wouldn’t buy them for all the reasons you said, i’m purely making the point that if a uniform list says ‘plain black shorts’ people will buy this type of thing- they are widely considered acceptable by parents and schools.

I have been to schools, had kids in schools and been supply staff in schools both primary and secondary and this type of shorts have been acceptable unless the school states a specific style. Possibly it’s a regional thing if they would be against school rules where you are 🤷‍♀️

Buy they are black and they are shorts so they fit the bill as ‘plain black shorts’.

Yeah, the shops don’t give a shit. They will stock what they can sell.

Schools don’t need to be single supplier to solve the problem- plain black shorts, should be loose fitting and to the knee- would mean most kids wore suitable shorts and the school would have a basis for telling parents that hot pants aren’t acceptable.