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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

364 replies

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:13

Just returned from rural primary school in Lakes. Young lads in school uniform shorts - it's minus 3 here. I class this as neglect. Discuss.

Are people struggling to afford winter school uniform? Aldi sells school trousers for less than a coffee (1.75 gbp?) Or worse are they indifferent?

OP posts:
jesterdourt · 07/12/2023 20:03

One of my dc refuses to wear school trousers & I've given up arguing with him, the deal is he wears them if it snows!

JaninaDuszejko · 07/12/2023 20:04

DS pefers wearing shorts. A teacher asked me if he had trousers in Y1 because he was still wearing shorts in January.

People seem to have forgotten that back in the dark ages primary age boys had to wear shorts all year round.

LBFseBrom · 07/12/2023 20:07

It could be regulation uniform. I know at my son's schools they all wore short trousers until aged nine or ten, then went into longs. Nobody thought anything of it, regardless of weather. I don't know if the uniform has changed in the intervening years but that is how it was. They also wore long socks.

Digestivechocolatebiscuit · 07/12/2023 20:12

Who made you judge and jury OP? Maybe their child prefers them? Maybe it's a case of a loaf of bread or trousers?
My ASD Grandson doesn't go to school but he'd wear shorts and t shirts in the Artic if he lived there..

SGBK4862 · 07/12/2023 20:16

Back when I was young, all younger boys wore short trousers (they weren't called shorts - those were things you wore on the beach) all year round. At some age I can't recall now, they graduated to 'big boys' trousers (I.e long). Girls dresses / skirts were also ludicrously short by today's standards and they wore knee high socks with them - tights were for snowy days. Most of us survived!

CarbsAreNotMyFriend · 07/12/2023 20:26

My son refuses to wear trousers, it's shorts in all weather and his friends are the same.

juicelooseabootthishoose · 07/12/2023 20:48

Most of the boys at my kids school only wear shorts all year round. Trousers are allowed-they wont wear them.

They hate that they aren't allowed once they transfer over to high school.

80skid · 07/12/2023 21:22

One of mine wears shorts all year round by choice. It's tricky to force him into a jumper or coat. We live 5 minutes from school and he's in a hot classroom all day. At play time he's running around. When home, he'll be in just pants or a onesie. He's perfectly fine, happy and has clothes to wear when he wants.

Obviously if we were going out for a long time in very cold weather, we would ensure his safety with more appropriate clothes, but I'm happy for him to make his own choices for the journey to school. We get plenty of comments and "looks" from other parents. He often comes out of school very cross and wearing a coat he's been forced to wear by staff. He takes it off as soon as he reaches me and stuffs it into his bag. It's not a battle I'm prepared to fight to be honest.

ilovepixie · 07/12/2023 21:27

My 28 year old nephew wears shorts all
Year round. Even in the snow!

SENDintheClowns101 · 07/12/2023 21:54

Jesus Christ - my son refuses to wear trousers to school. He’s neurotypical and far from neglected. He just hates wearing school trousers 🤣 just because something bothers you it doesn’t mean it bothers everyone 🙄

HRTQueen · 07/12/2023 21:57

It’s a peculiar English thing

lots of prep school boys wear shorts all year round until they are 7/8

a show of sturdiness

Bamboobzled · 07/12/2023 22:03

Normal at my kids school.even one of the teachers kids wear shorts. Some kids are hot blooded! Amongst my son's friends they all play football 4 times a week for a team so are always in shorts and won't wear their under armour half the time. It's not neglect in any form.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 07/12/2023 22:07

It's probably the child insisting

ViolaSmart · 07/12/2023 22:28

I work in a school in an affluent area. Lots of boys choose to wear shorts, even in freezing weather! Madness, but definitely their own choice and definitely not due to neglect!

My own Dd has always refused to wear tights or trousers to school, so at 13 still wears long socks with a skirt.

lilsupersparks · 07/12/2023 22:32

I only realised my younger son didn’t even have school trousers when it snowed last year. I had to send him in joggers (he wanted to still wear shorts)

His only pair of trousers is one pair of jeans and they are very rarely worn.

In his defence the classrooms are very hot and he runs around all playtime.

my older son is the ONLY kid still wearing shorts in this weather at secondary school. He wears shorts and a T shirt with a coat over the top for on the way to school. It stays in his bag all day.

he has jumpers and trousers but he does not want to wear them. Whether it’s genuinely that he feels warm or just teen bravado I don’t know but I have plenty of other things to worry about!

He rarely wears a jumper out of school either and is still wearing pants or short pyjamas so…

ViolaSmart · 07/12/2023 22:34

Cassepoia · 06/12/2023 09:17

my 4 year old DD point blank refuses to wear tights or trousers, I worry people think this about me! She takes them in her school bag to change into if she wants during the day, but she doesn't like the feel of them. I don't understand but short of pinning her down to get them on (and then she takes them right off) I'm not sure what to do. Saying that, I do live in the far south, so hasn't been as cold

Dd is now 13 and has always hated the feeling of tights, so refused to wear them throughout school. She still only wears a skirt with long socks!

Wisenotboring · 07/12/2023 22:49

Of course it isn't. My son always chose to wear shorts whatever the weather. I also teach and even this week it has been hard to get some of them to keep a coat on. They just get so hot running around.

Annio82 · 08/12/2023 05:54

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:19

I own 2 lads. They and I like to be toasty warm

Why are you projecting your own comfort level onto others?

I frequently don’t dress appropriately for the weather by other people’s standards. I tend not to worry about other people’s standards though, because what I wear actually has no impact on anyone else.

I personally think a uniform bank is a great idea. Our school PFA redistributes second hand uniform in good condition via their website. It saves money and gets use from perfectly good clothing. That said, your reason for this shouldn’t be being judgemental of other parents who are unlikely to be neglecting their kids simply by allowing them to wear shorts

Offeringalternative · 08/12/2023 06:15

Private school here - boys are in shorts and long socks all year. They love it, have never complained of being cold.
If school allows options then kids should be able to choose, nothing neglectful about it. School age children have a voice and can express their opinions and advise if they are cold.

GirlsAndPenguins · 08/12/2023 06:34

I work in a high school. The girls wear extremely short skirts and refuse to even entertain the idea of tights. They have to wait outside in the morning until their teacher brings them in. They could wear trousers. I’d be shocked if it were more than 5% that do.

megletthesecond · 08/12/2023 06:40

My DC's wore shorts to primary school out of choice all year round. They had lovely little golden coloured legs and white sock marks in those days. If you're active and wrapped up warm your knees don't really get cold.
It was a sensory thing for DD too.

SwimMum26 · 08/12/2023 07:03

When my son was in primary school, he absolutely refused to wear anything but shorts all year around. Even when it snowed. He was in a group of very sporty boys and they were all the same. It is not neglect but choice. It was also not a financial issue. The long trousers languished in the cupboard with the labels on and unworn. I eventually donated them to the school uniform shop.

Veggievic · 08/12/2023 07:37

My son is autistic and lives in shorts all year. Can occasionally get him in a pair of Jogging bottoms but hates school trousers . He's 12 now!

Katiebaby3009 · 08/12/2023 12:51

My 4 year old will only wear shorts. I have tried to get him to wear trousers but then he ends up going to school upset. I worry people think it’s neglect but would think anyone with kids would understand! The school prefer him to come in happy. And previous generations had to wear shorts all year round and survived! I would say don’t judge if you don’t know the circumstances.

Kathryn1983 · 08/12/2023 13:24

Oh get a grip lol
may school in primary the uniform was shorts and long socks all year round for boys and skirts and socks for girls back in the 80s and wind, rain or snow!

as far as I know the uk have had zero deaths or loss of limbs from shorts worn by children ti school 🤦‍♀️🤣

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